The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Hey 
Anyone here ever seen the movie swordfish or listen to paul 
okenfold? He did this one song called unafraid and it really has 
some awsome pads in the background loaded with reverb. anyone have 
and sounds like that? or the  presets to some kickass pads?

--- In AN1x-list@yahoogroups.com, "Aaron" <aaronrash@e...> wrote:
> Hey 
> Anyone here ever seen the movie swordfish or listen to paul 
> okenfold? He did this one song called unafraid and it really has 
> some awsome pads in the background loaded with reverb. anyone have 
> and sounds like that? or the  presets to some kickass pads?

Aaron, I'm not familiar with Oakenfold song you mention and I've not 
seen Swordfish, but here is a 'how to' article contributed from a 
former list member (Phil Booth) that you might find useful:

How To Program Synth Strings
By Phil Booth from JDLX-Musique.com
Originally posted Summer 2000.
 
August 8, 2000 ~ Have you ever wanted to know how to make "String" 
type sounds - also known as "Pads" - with your synthesizer? Check out 
this "How To" article from AN1x User Phil - from Australia no less!

"You can start with any Waveform, but a "Saw" is a good one to begin 
with...

Essentially a Pad sound will have a slow attack and generally a 
longer release, i.e., when you press down the key, the volume of the 
note rises slowly and sustains until you release the key, then the 
note slowly fades away.

To get the volume to act in this way, select the "VCA*" Knob 
Parameter Group.

*Note: "VCA" stands for (V)oltage (C)ontrolled (A)mplifier. In the 
true analogue world, a voltage is applied to the amplifier - as the 
voltage is increased, this in turn raises the amplification (or, 
Volume).

To have the volume rise slowly when you press the key, you'll need to 
turn up the "Attack' (within the (A)mplifier (E)nvelope (G)enerator). 
The "Decay" adjusts the time taken to come back down to the volume 
set by the "Sustain". The "Sustain" should be raised to the point 
that you wish the volume to remain at whilst the key is still held 
down. Finally raise the "Release" value to set the time taken for the 
sound to fade away.

There you have it.... Instant Pad sound!

To give the sound a bit of character. That is, to have its tonal 
characteristics change over the time the note sounds, you'll need to 
have the filter 'move' with the sound.

Select "VCF*" Knob Parameter Group.

*Note: "VCF" stands for (V)oltage (C)ontrolled (F)ilter and works 
under the same principal as the "VCA".

With the understanding of the Amp Envelope (ADSR), you can apply 
changes that affect the filter in the same way.

NOTE: When making changes to the ADSR settings of the Filter 
Envelope, you may need to adjust the 'depth' that the filter works to 
by using the "FEG Depth"

Knob, and also the "VCF Cutoff" so that the changes are occurring 
within an audible range. Add some "Resonance" and you're sure to hear 
the results.

Finally to get some motion in the sound over time, you can modulate 
the "VCF Cutoff" via an "LFO*".

*Note: (L)ow (F)requency (O)scillators don't make an audible sound. 
Instead, the rising and falling voltage is applied to the Filter to 
cause it to rise up and down at the same rate.

Press "PEG/LFO" in the Knob Parameter Group, select an "LFO1 Wave" 
type. Adjust it's speed (LFO1 Spd). Note: a low value = low speed 
(Ideal for slow, evolving pad sounds).

Finally go back to the "MIX/VCF" Knob Parameter Group and adjust 
the "FmodDepth". This knob determines what sort of range the Filter 
will move through as the LFO cycles up and down. A value of "0" 
equals no movement.

By playing with the "attack" of the AEG, you can move from a 'bowed' 
sound to a 'plucked' sound. Also, if you have a low 'sustain' in the 
FEG, the lower the 'decay' of the FEG (particularly with a bit 
of 'resonance' added) you can create a more pronounced 'plucking' 
sound. You may have to adjust the 'Cutoff' and 'FEG Depth' to hear 
the modifications. 

For another variation of the tone, why not use a "Pulse" wave and 
then modulate it with an LFO. After selecting the "Wave" to "Pulse" 
and adjust the tonal character using the "PW" to adjust the width, 
apply some depth to the modulation using the "PWM Depth" knob, and 
then use the "PWM Src" knob to select one of the two LFO's. Adjust 
the speed of the corresponding LFO and you're in business!

The are literally an infinite amount of variations and configurations 
possible. 

Have Fun!"

Phil Booth <accession@...>