200e

On Sep 28, 2008, at 12:33 PM, Jan-Hinnerk Helms wrote:
> ...the 261e has a hybrid sound generation path with the
> modulator and principal oscillator still being digital and the
> waveshaper being analog. Please correct me if I am wrong.

This is also my understanding.


> I tried out the 261e at NAMM–I know, this is most certainly not the
> best environment to do the qualities of any instrument justice–and
> noticed that when FM'ing the modulator with the principal, and
> gradually increasing the modulator pitch to its top registers, the FM
> result at the principal output turned into some sort of digital noise
> in the upper registers of the modulator. I guess this is a result that
> is to be expected given the digital nature of both modulator and
> principal being digital, right?

Yeah, the FM would have to be done in the digital domain, so the upper  
ranges might be compromised.

I would to see the FM performance of the 261e improved, but I would  
guess that the embedded processor that implements the oscillator is  
running at or near capacity. I am looking forward to investigating the  
FM capabilities of the Buchla-flavored Zeroscillator.


> Now, if both modulator and principal oscillators were analog, I guess
> (a) the FM result were different (no digital noise), and
> (b) the ranges of the fundamentals of the oscillators were not limited
> to 7040 Hz. (Assuming that the resolution of the 200e's storage system
> can be scaled to accomodate a wider oscillator frequency range).

But it would make the waveform generator more expensive, as there  
would need to be high quality pitch DACs, and might make pitch  
tracking somewhat worse. I'm not saying it isn't an interesting idea,  
though.

Chris Muir
cbm@well.com	
http://www.xfade.com