So, the TI's sound engine.....
 

Apart from the Hypersaw and the wavetable synthesis, are there any other differences in the actual sound source synthesis palette?

I was wondering, for example, why you couldn't have several different saws, squares etc., to choose from, as opposed to having just one of each (and then the spectral waveshapes)?

Like, selecting a saw with a Juno-type character as one oscillator to play off against a Jupiter-type square as the other osc, or a whole multitude of other combinations of what's out there. Or even the ability to graphically design oscillators (similar to Z3ta+) and then import them as PCM osc's into the Virus?

the z3ta sounds like crap imo
maybe if you run it thru the virus filters it could sound less plastic.
anyhow to answer your questions i think emulating different types of analog wave forms will take more dsp power.
maybe we will be able to see this in the virus digital modular.

Hey. It's one of the best VSTi's around and it sounds very good.

i realy prefer minimoog v,gmedia oddity and imposcar.

The fact of a graphic waveform designer (via software) is that you could almost effectively design, warp and import any of those oscillators as PCMs.

Would adding, say, twice as many sampled PCM waveshapes (of classic synth oscillator shapes, or user-created PCMs) take up all that much extra DSP? It'd be great to be able to pick from ten or so different type 'saw' waveforms with different characters, for example, to make up and mix together as different oscillators, as opposed to having just the one saw, or the like.

Each so-called saw/square/sine/etc. waveforms are quite different for every synth. Few are mathematically correct (apart from the digital synths). Take a peek [here].

I reckon this would be a RAM issue, not a DSP one.

different tools for different purposes.

i find theres rarely any good or bad music making tools out there. just different tools that focus on different aspects of the same thing. something that sounds good to the ear. zeta sounds pretty good to my ear. i dont think its plasticy. at least, not always. very tight bass and sub end. quite punchy which is nice. can do supersaw leads quite authentically which most synths (hardware or otherwise) havep roblems recreating. mind boggling variety of sonic possibilities. the mod matrix is huge and the capacity to truly WARP and fuck your sounds up are staggering. overall an amazing, if extremely complex and CPU hungry synth. out of the others you mentioned i only had impOSCar which was, in a word amazing for warm basses and reeces. unfortuneatly i dont use it so much because my virus b is so unbelievably fat in the bass department that i end up making all bass end sounds on the virus now. i guess i need to find another way of putting impOSCar to another purpose. cant let a good synth go to waste can we? :wink:

the waveforms sit in the memory section?
i already thought the virus cpu generates them.

i tend to use soft synths when my virus poly is up
sometimes i rerecord thich parts with the virus and sometimes if they sound good enough and i want some other charectoristics in my track i just leave it that way.

It does generate the traditional waveforms, but "PCM samples" as Timo was suggesting would by definition have to use RAM.

i see...
so what not creat a memory slot and sell a memory expension for the virus? :wink:

What actually happens to the 64 wave-shapes when partially mixed (say, 50:50) with the saw wave of the Virus presently? Are they morphed mathematically (using vectors, formulae, or otherwise, perhaps?) from one to another, or just added (cross-faded) together?

They are crossfaded.

Thanks Ben. So the fade from the actual Saw to Square waveforms are morphed, then (as opposed to cross-faded?).

No - they're crossfaded too.

Ahhh, interesting! So, the stock saw and square waveforms are basically PCM samples, too? If not, why would anyone wish to generate those waveforms on-the-fly using valuable DSP, when a PCM sample of a saw could be used as if it were one of the other 62 waveshapes? Or does generating a saw/sq in realtime use less DSP than playing back a PCM sample? I'm a noob where synth design is concerned, just an end-user really, so sorry for the basic Q's.

Ah, the Square wave at least can't be a sampled PCM file, as it employs PWM, of course (silly me), but the Saw waveform stays relatively static - So having a sampled set of saw waves with different characters would work, but having a set of classic square waves wouldn't be possible without using extra DSP as they will each need to call upon PWM to make them each as flexible as normal.

The main 3 waveforms - Sine, Saw and Square, are calculated with DSP.

it sounds like the rest of the waveforms are samples then?

Nice idea, only the missed 1 important element- a joystick or a X/Y pad (kaos type pad).

I need a new virus like my old indigo, the polar fits the bill but i find this to be one of the most ugly an off putting machines out there.

Is there a different color scheme like Silver case, black knobs an blue LED's oh an NO woodgrain?

Hi-tech machines, but they all try to make them look retro...how bout carbon fiber front panel with kevlar sides and blue LED's with black knobs????

the desktop and the keyboard look dope (except for the wood sides), why make the small keyboard the ugly white elephant?

im not buying an ugly machine...
:x :x :x

Well - you can't please everyone! Personally, I think the Polar is beautiful, and so far it's looks seem to be causing more excitement than the Indigo's did.

I love the polar's look!

At first I was a bit skeptic with the color of the knobs(will have to wash my hands 500 times a day now) but still, the color of the unit just looks fine!

And I'm sure the leds will be gorgeous ;)
I gotta say that blue was kick ass tho

The Polar is on my list too. I think it's a great, futuristic look, and very unique to boot. As is the name. I love it. I did find it strange, however, that Access decided to put a walnut strip at the front. What's that all about?

Even Hartmann put one(!) wooden cheek on one of the Neuron's sides, but not the other. Lol. Whatever floats their boat, I guess.

Also , the polar is going to look great onstage when you play live. I was thinking about puting a cutom handle so I can play it upright on stage while I am singing vocals.

you are the first person i have heard that doesnt like the look of the new polar.

ive preordered the keyboard version - but damn it was a hard decision. I just couldnt justify paying the same price for half the keys.

personally i think the polar is the best looking va ever made - and prob the most original. congrats to access for their innovation :wink:
(...and thanks to DS for his marketing ideas he he)

Wasn't it DS that said he was gunna paint his TI in the same colour scheme as the Roland-Jupiter?! I'm happy Access didn't follow his ideas on that one! :D

I think the new range looks cool indeed.

nothing to do with colour schemes this time HC
access are giving him official credit for coining a term used in their press releases :D

Digital Screams - Marketing and promotions - Access Music :lol: hehe

Heheheh! Now that's a classic! What was it DS?

i cant remember the exacting wording and i dont want to misquote so i will wait for DS to respond on this one....

but i do know hes getting a free shirt out of it :D

i wonder why access is waiting so long with the release of some nice demo-mp3's.

i guess a couple of people - well known to this board - are working 24/7 to get that job fixed.

;-)

Hey! I already released a demo mp3 of TI... I wonder why Access didn't like my idea.

Indeed it's very odd that there are no demo mp3's yet. I hope it's not because of technical difficulties with the synth itself.

Na, they just wanna make a big splash around Namm time.