PW_Guitarist Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 QUOTE (invisibleairwaves @ Sep 16 2010, 09:28 PM) Phew. I just had to do a school project where I had to create a short piece of music using only FM synthesis. No presets, we had to program everything ourselves. And MAN, was it ever rewarding. FM is so underrated. It doesn't deserve the bad rap that cheesy mid-80's pop gave it; it's capable of so much more. I once read that the 3 basic things you need to program the FM Synthesis on a DX7 is trial, error and luck. That pretty much sums it up. I have an old DX7 that I use as a controller (love that modulation wheel that stays in position, wish the old Rolands had that) and I was never able to program it. Unlike the old Roland Linear synthesis architecture, or the virtual synth emulators of today, it is impossible to predict who those algorithms will affect the operators. It's just blind luck I can get anything out of it at all, and the presets are a bit cheesy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisibleairwaves Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 (edited) QUOTE (PW_Guitarist @ Sep 22 2010, 09:46 AM) QUOTE (invisibleairwaves @ Sep 16 2010, 09:28 PM) Phew. I just had to do a school project where I had to create a short piece of music using only FM synthesis. No presets, we had to program everything ourselves. And MAN, was it ever rewarding. FM is so underrated. It doesn't deserve the bad rap that cheesy mid-80's pop gave it; it's capable of so much more. I once read that the 3 basic things you need to program the FM Synthesis on a DX7 is trial, error and luck. That pretty much sums it up. I have an old DX7 that I use as a controller (love that modulation wheel that stays in position, wish the old Rolands had that) and I was never able to program it. Unlike the old Roland Linear synthesis architecture, or the virtual synth emulators of today, it is impossible to predict who those algorithms will affect the operators. It's just blind luck I can get anything out of it at all, and the presets are a bit cheesy. Once you learn some of the math behind it, it's a little less hit-and-miss. If you break it down into simple operator pairs, you can get a rough idea of what kind of sound you're creating. Then choosing the algorithm is just a matter of figuring out how many layers you want in the sound and what you want them to sound like. One of the really nice things about FM8 is the spectrum and waveform displays...you can see in real-time what the frequencies and amplitudes of the sidebands are, and what the resulting waveform looks like. The lack of that display is part of what makes DX7 programming so hard, although I suppose you could hook up a spectrum analyzer to the DX7's output. I'll have to try that sometime. I'd love to get one of the Roland LA synths though...I've been lusting after a D-50 for a while. Edited September 22, 2010 by invisibleairwaves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Barchetta Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I guess I should rear my fugly mug in the keys section. I currently only have one keyboard; It's a Williams electric piano with weighted keys. It has a decent acoustic piano sound and it has pretty good Hammond Organ and Mellotron-y string sounds. I learned most of the Rush keyboard stuff on it. I'd kill to have a full Oberheim OB-X 8 voice and Minimoog setup; ala Moving Pictures/Signals era. That would be boss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdFireYYZ Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 My "gear" is a Roland Juno Di Synth (61 key) and a Casio WK500 (76 key) Workstation. I also have a Wurlitzer semi-upright 88 key piano. I had a chance to get a Hammond Composers series organ for free, but the only day I could pick it up was the day I was leaving for vacation. I want a Moog Little Phatty and a Roland Fantom badly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angua Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 The prophet 8 has a Tom Sawyer setting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Distant Signals Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 QUOTE (invisibleairwaves @ Sep 22 2010, 06:53 PM) I'd love to get one of the Roland LA synths though...I've been lusting after a D-50 for a while. I picked up a D50 a few months back. LOVE IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowItIs Posted October 8, 2010 Share Posted October 8, 2010 So... I have a set of Taurus Pedals. Does that put me in the synth thread or the bass thread? Just got them a few months ago as a gift from my Hubby (who plays the keyboards and some guitar). I've always loved the great rumbling growl of the pedals. So now I'm learning to actually play them. Right now, I'm working on Subdivisions. Thankfully I have the sheet music. Any suggestions as to what other songs/parts to work on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdFireYYZ Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Anyone see the Slim Little Phatty? I want it so bad. It goes for $850. I'm going to wait a while to see if it goes down in price a little. Check out the demo: http://www.moogmusic.com/littlephatty/?sec...roduct_id=21398 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarkus406 Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 QUOTE (ColdFireYYZ @ Sep 28 2010, 09:44 PM) My "gear" is a Roland Juno Di Synth (61 key) and a Casio WK500 (76 key) Workstation. I also have a Wurlitzer semi-upright 88 key piano. I had a chance to get a Hammond Composers series organ for free, but the only day I could pick it up was the day I was leaving for vacation. I want a Moog Little Phatty and a Roland Fantom badly Our synth setups are relatively similar! I have a Roland Juno-Stage with a Casio WK3500 I'd also kill for a Fantom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVman9 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Been experimenting with a range of Arturia's products as well as SonicProjects' Oberheim OB-X modeler. I can see how Geddy got so addicted to synth stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaheavypsy Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaheavypsy Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 (edited) QUOTE (invisibleairwaves @ Sep 22 2010, 05:53 PM)Once you learn some of the math behind it (FM synthesis) , it's a little less hit-and-miss. Like Fast Fourier Transforms or Laplace Transforms? Edited December 24, 2010 by papaheavypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psionic11 Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 QUOTE (HowItIs @ Oct 7 2010, 08:29 PM) So... I have a set of Taurus Pedals. Does that put me in the synth thread or the bass thread? Just got them a few months ago as a gift from my Hubby (who plays the keyboards and some guitar). I've always loved the great rumbling growl of the pedals. So now I'm learning to actually play them. Right now, I'm working on Subdivisions. Thankfully I have the sheet music. Any suggestions as to what other songs/parts to work on? Late congratulations on the Taurus pedals! The post definitely belongs in the synth rather than the bass section... Some suggestions on songs to learn for the Taurus, assuming you're playing bass guitar as well: Red Barchetta Big Money Jacob's Ladder Distant Early Warning Tom Sawyer La Villa Strangiato Marathon Xanadu Freewill The Spirit of Radio YYZ (middle section + keys, so your hubby can play the guitar solo) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psionic11 Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 QUOTE (papaheavypsy @ Dec 24 2010, 03:32 AM) QUOTE (invisibleairwaves @ Sep 22 2010, 05:53 PM)Once you learn some of the math behind it (FM synthesis) , it's a little less hit-and-miss. Like Fast Fourier Transforms or Laplace Transforms? I'd say the more intuitive harmonic series would give you a better foundation for building FM sounds. Like the harmonics found on a guitar string (or like the overtone series if you play a brass or wind instrument): first harmonic ==> fundamental tone second harmonic ==> octave third harmonic ==> octave + fifth fifth harmonic ==> double octave sixth harmonic ==> double octave + third seventh harmonic ==> 7th (a bit flat) eighth harmonic ==> triple octave Using those ratios between the main operator and the modulating operator will give you pleasant or consonant tones. Use non-harmonic ratios, and you get metallic and noisy sounds. And besides thinking about only the ratios between two operators, you have to keep in mind the intensity as well. There's a variety of tones you can get using just one ratio, but varying the amount or level of the modulating oscillator. Complex in words, intuitive to do once it "clicks".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psionic11 Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 QUOTE (psionic11 @ Dec 26 2010, 03:38 PM) QUOTE (HowItIs @ Oct 7 2010, 08:29 PM) So... I have a set of Taurus Pedals. Does that put me in the synth thread or the bass thread? Just got them a few months ago as a gift from my Hubby (who plays the keyboards and some guitar). I've always loved the great rumbling growl of the pedals. So now I'm learning to actually play them. Right now, I'm working on Subdivisions. Thankfully I have the sheet music. Any suggestions as to what other songs/parts to work on? Late congratulations on the Taurus pedals! The post definitely belongs in the synth rather than the bass section... Some suggestions on songs to learn for the Taurus, assuming you're playing bass guitar as well: Red Barchetta Big Money Jacob's Ladder Distant Early Warning Tom Sawyer La Villa Strangiato Marathon Xanadu Freewill The Spirit of Radio YYZ (middle section + keys, so your hubby can play the guitar solo) Oh yeah, just thought of a couple more songs with good Taurus parts: Time Stand Still (the corny video thread reminded me of those D A E bass lines) Show Don't Tell (easy D C parts) How's it going, How It Is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLPalacioATX Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 My name is Christian. I'm new here. I play bass and keys and I am a Rush fan. [support group clap] So current keyboard gear ... Korg Z1 Korg Triton Pro Korg Trinity TR Casio AZ-1 keytar (mainly drives the Trinity) Akai AX60 (used it for Tom Sawyer sweep and The analog kid pulse but unfortunately it is on its last LFO) Roland PK-5 http://www.beyonddarwin.com/images/DSC01038-1.jpg Past rig was... Ensoniq ASR-10 Korg X2 Akai AX60 Roland PK-5 http://www.beyonddarwin.com/images/msBRKeys4.jpg Is there anyone that is good with programming a Z1? My dying Akai has a randomiser that is good for The Camera Eye but I need to reproduce it on the Z1. I am kinda new and the actual programming part and the manual is not being much of a help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 QUOTE (CLPalacioATX @ Jan 16 2011, 03:14 PM)Is there anyone that is good with programming a Z1? Whew, I just popped two Tylenols thinking about that one! I've had mine for 11 years and I never could get the hang of it. Anyway, welcome aboard. Nice rig ya got there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friendlyfloridian Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 I use an AKAI MPK49 midi controller into a Macbook Pro with an i5 processor. My main synth is Absynth 5 but I also use Ableton Live 8 for live gigs and studio production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psionic11 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) QUOTE (CLPalacioATX @ Jan 16 2011, 06:14 PM) My name is Christian. I'm new here. I play bass and keys and I am a Rush fan. [support group clap] So current keyboard gear ... Korg Z1 Korg Triton Pro Korg Trinity TR Casio AZ-1 keytar (mainly drives the Trinity) Akai AX60 (used it for Tom Sawyer sweep and The analog kid pulse but unfortunately it is on its last LFO) Roland PK-5 http://www.beyonddarwin.com/images/DSC01038-1.jpg Past rig was... Ensoniq ASR-10 Korg X2 Akai AX60 Roland PK-5 http://www.beyonddarwin.com/images/msBRKeys4.jpg Is there anyone that is good with programming a Z1? My dying Akai has a randomiser that is good for The Camera Eye but I need to reproduce it on the Z1. I am kinda new and the actual programming part and the manual is not being much of a help. Very nice rig, including the guitars. Which Rush songs can you play, and which ones do you find yourself coming back to most often? And where are you from? Looks like Eastern Standard Time? Edited March 17, 2011 by psionic11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Distant Signals Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) I just added my 8th keyboard to my collection. Picked up a Roland JP-8000 off ebay. I'll get a picture of them all setup shortly Edited March 30, 2011 by RUSH-2112 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friendlyfloridian Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Can u guys tell me what u think of my new song? http://www.therushforum.com/index.php?showtopic=66476 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaheavypsy Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 QUOTE (friendlyfloridian @ Mar 1 2011, 11:07 AM)I use an AKAI MPK49 midi controller into a Macbook Pro with an i5 processor. My main synth is Absynth 5 but I also use Ableton Live 8 for live gigs and studio production. Absynth and Ableton Live... very good choices! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Distant Signals Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 My new configuration. http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/269027_1867820498491_1330422684_31650536_4336066_n.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdFireYYZ Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 QUOTE (RUSH-2112 @ Jul 6 2011, 09:07 PM)My new configuration. http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/269027_1867820498491_1330422684_31650536_4336066_n.jpg Nice! All I have is a Roland Juno Di and a Casio WK-200 (which I rarely use), along with a old Wurlitzer piano. I'd love to have a Roland Fantom G-8 and a Minimoog. I was looking at the Gaia, but I think I will hold off before buying another synth. I'm not in a band, so I really wouldn't have much use for it. The Juno was affordable and is great for what I use it for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
how it ought to be Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) Edited July 18, 2011 by how it ought to be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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