[sdiy] Timbral musings

[Ian Fritz]

Hi JH --

Good points. I need to do more experiments driving waveshapers with 
variable amplitude signals.

I would emphasize, though, that waveshapers have interesting static 
properties, in that they get you spectra that aren't otherwise available. 
So used without dynamic modulation they are still very useful as starting 
waveforms for use with VCF's etc as are the more standard starting 
waveforms.  In fact this is mainly how I use them.

   Ian


At 07:57 AM 2/17/2003, jhaible at debitel.net wrote:

> > ..wave shapers are often 'disappointing' because the
> > harmonics produced have a constant phase relationship
> > (exactly what a real-world instrument DOESN'T have).
> > I'm not knocking wave shapers, they are a terrific tool,
> > but running a static program source into them is not
> > terribly useful... they rally shine for LFO modification, though!
>
>
> From my own experiments with waveshapers:
>
>There are basically two ways to "breath life" into a waveshaper:
>
>(1) modulation of the waveshaper's transfer funtion
>
>(2) finding a transfer function, and "sweet spot" along
>     this transfer function, where a pleasant change of timbre
>     comes from varying input level.
>
>#1 is quite obvious.
>
>#2 has it's most prominent example in the classic guitar - distorting
>    amplifier configuration. It's advisable to always have a VCA between
>    the VCO and Waveshaper. If you modulated the VCA with an envelope
>    and with a controller like velocity, you have a similar control
>    over dynamic waveshaping as an average guitar player has. (And
>    the git player has a lot of other means for expressive playing ...)
>
>Bottom line: Waveshapers are a great tool to get interesting sounds,
>but it needs a VCA and a few controllers _at least_ to get them
>out of the "boring static" domain.
>
>JH.
>
>
>
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