Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

There is an excellent Masterclass on the microwave wavetables in the latest
'sound on sound' if u'r interested. I guess the answer to most of your
questions is yes but being only a lurker so far (don't own an evolver yet) I
don't know what kind of uploading capabilities it has.

M-.-n
http://n0s.10pm.org/

>There is an excellent Masterclass on the microwave wavetables in the latest
>'sound on sound' if u'r interested.

I am interested, but I can't access the website to read it, as that 
article is for subscribers only. The latest issue in Australia is 
always a couple of months behind UK release, I can't buy it here yet.

Could you provide a little detail on what they say. Is it useful? Are 
there dedicated editors or do you load it into a soundfile editor?


>I guess the answer to most of your
>questions is yes but being only a lurker so far (don't own an evolver yet) I
>don't know what kind of uploading capabilities it has.

 From the user manual, wavetable data dump specs...


Waveshape Data Dump
Status Description
1111 0000 System Exclusive (SysEx)
0000 0001 DSI ID
0010 0000 Evolver ID
0000 0001 File Version
0000 1010 Waveshape Data
0vvv vvvv Waveshape number, 0 - 127, corresponds to Waveshapes 1 - 
128. Only Waveshapes 96 - 127 can be sent to Evolver and saved as 
user programmable; others will be ignored.
0vvv vvvv 293 bytes in "packed MS bit" format (see next page). The 
293 bytes = 256 data bytes, in the format of MS byte/LS byte, for the 
128 16-bit words that make up a waveshape. The ROM Waveshapes are 12 
bit two's complement (to match the VS), but the User Waveshapes (97 - 
128) can be a full 16 bits.
1111 0111 End of Exclusive (EOX)


I am wondering if these wavetables could be loaded into something 
like a wavetable editor designed for the microwave or similar 
wavetable synth.


Thanks,
Simon
Canberra
AUSTRALIA

>From: Simon <simon@...>

>Are there any Evolver wavetable editing programs available, or being worked 
>on?
>
well, I'd really like to write one, as I need a project to learn windows 
programming... but to be honest, I think that by the time I learn about 
system calls, someone else will have written one already...
My programming experience is for systems with up to 64k of memory space. 
Actually, my strongest programming language is a soldering iron.
:-P

>Are the Evolver wavetables compatible with other wavetable synths?

I don't think so. Evolver user waves are 16 bit signed. Microwave are 12 
bit.

>Is
>there any other wavetable editing software available that could be
>adapted to work with Evolver wavetables?
>
Not really.

>Would there be any point in being able to edit wavetables yourself?
>
Evolver doesn't have wavetables, it has user waves.

That's something that got me before too.... I was confusing the ROM waves in 
the evolver with a wavetable (though I still think a mod destination for 
oscillator wave would be an awesome addition to the evolver)

Remember there is just one wave list, with the waves stored in an arbitrary 
fashion. so you can't define the sequence of waves that would get swept 
through like you can in a waldorf or PPG wavesynth.

Evolver is a vector synth, and does its magic by just having four waveforms 
in a patch, and then mixing between them.

>Would you need to just pencil in on a waveform, or paste audio in
>from other sources?
>
My program, if I were to write it, would let you draw waveforms, and would 
let you mathematically define waveforms (ie, would draw the waveform for you 
based on a mathematic description)

Copying audio from something else may be useful, but would be *very* 
limited. remember a waveform slot in the evolver is just 128 words. so its 
not a sample as such, it's a single cycle.

>What sort of features would you need in a wavetable editor?
>
create/define waveform
upload
download
save to disk
load from disk


julian


"Give a man a stick of gum and he will chew for a day. Teach him how to 
scrape gum off stuff and he will chew for a lifetime"






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Julian, you wrote... 

"Remember there is just one wave list, with the waves stored in an 
arbitrary fashion. so you can't define the sequence of waves that 
would get swept through like you can in a waldorf or PPG wavesynth.

If I'm understanding your statement correctly, note that you CAN 
define a sequence of waves to sweep.  You do it with the sequencer, 
with which you can specify exactly what waves you want to sweep 
through and in what order.  Just specify the sequencer track that you 
want to use to sweep waves by using the "Shape Seq" parameters in row 
two for Osc 3 & 4.  Then jump into sequence mode and choose your 
waveforms for each of the 16 steps (or less).  The only limiting 
factor is the number of steps in the sequencer (16)... but even that 
has a workaround!  ;)

Back to the original topic - a wave editor...  That's something I'd 
really like to have.  Along with all my other stuff, I have a pretty 
extensive collection of single cycle waveforms that would be nice to 
have in the Evolver.  If I get the time and the necessary info, I 
might try to program one myself.


Ski
www.ex5tech.com



--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, "mr julian" <jujulilianan@h...> 
wrote:
> 
> >From: Simon <simon@a...>
> 
> >Are there any Evolver wavetable editing programs available, or 
being worked 
> >on?
> >
> well, I'd really like to write one, as I need a project to learn 
windows 
> programming... but to be honest, I think that by the time I learn 
about 
> system calls, someone else will have written one already...
> My programming experience is for systems with up to 64k of memory 
space. 
> Actually, my strongest programming language is a soldering iron.
> :-P
> 
> >Are the Evolver wavetables compatible with other wavetable synths?
> 
> I don't think so. Evolver user waves are 16 bit signed. Microwave 
are 12 
> bit.
> 
> >Is
> >there any other wavetable editing software available that could be
> >adapted to work with Evolver wavetables?
> >
> Not really.
> 
> >Would there be any point in being able to edit wavetables yourself?
> >
> Evolver doesn't have wavetables, it has user waves.
> 
> That's something that got me before too.... I was confusing the ROM 
waves in 
> the evolver with a wavetable (though I still think a mod 
destination for 
> oscillator wave would be an awesome addition to the evolver)
> 
> Remember there is just one wave list, with the waves stored in an 
arbitrary 
> fashion. so you can't define the sequence of waves that would get 
swept 
> through like you can in a waldorf or PPG wavesynth.
> 
> Evolver is a vector synth, and does its magic by just having four 
waveforms 
> in a patch, and then mixing between them.
> 
> >Would you need to just pencil in on a waveform, or paste audio in
> >from other sources?
> >
> My program, if I were to write it, would let you draw waveforms, 
and would 
> let you mathematically define waveforms (ie, would draw the 
waveform for you 
> based on a mathematic description)
> 
> Copying audio from something else may be useful, but would be 
*very* 
> limited. remember a waveform slot in the evolver is just 128 words. 
so its 
> not a sample as such, it's a single cycle.
> 
> >What sort of features would you need in a wavetable editor?
> >
> create/define waveform
> upload
> download
> save to disk
> load from disk
> 
> 
> julian
> 
> 
> "Give a man a stick of gum and he will chew for a day. Teach him 
how to 

> scrape gum off stuff and he will chew for a lifetime"
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online 
> http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

>From: "Ski <ex5tech@...>" <ex5tech@...>

>If I'm understanding your statement correctly, note that you CAN
>define a sequence of waves to sweep.  You do it with the sequencer,
>with which you can specify exactly what waves you want to sweep
>through and in what order.  Just specify the sequencer track that you
>want to use to sweep waves by using the "Shape Seq" parameters in row
>two for Osc 3 & 4.  Then jump into sequence mode and choose your
>waveforms for each of the 16 steps (or less).  The only limiting
>factor is the number of steps in the sequencer (16)... but even that
>has a workaround!  ;)
>
aaah, the flexability of the evolver strikes again!!!
:-P

Though the limit here is that you are locked to the sequence progression... 
using an LFO to sweep through a wavetable as you play is a bit of a 
different thing.

>Back to the original topic - a wave editor...  That's something I'd
>really like to have.  Along with all my other stuff, I have a pretty
>extensive collection of single cycle waveforms that would be nice to
>have in the Evolver.

Yeah. it would really be a good thing to have.
A wavetable editor would be an excellent starting point for a standalone 
evolver voice editor/librarian too.

>If I get the time and the necessary info, I
>might try to program one myself.
>
good luck!!



julian



"Give a man a stick of gum and he will chew for a day. Teach him how to 
scrape gum off stuff and he will chew for a lifetime"


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Ouch!  I've never actually owned a VS or a Wavestation, and I forgot 
that they could sweep a wavetable with an LFO.  

Too bad that "Wave Shape" (or even "Sequence Step Value"!) isn't on 
that already long list of the Evolver's "Modulation 
Destinations".  ;)  You COULD simulate the real thing (to a degree) 
and imitate an LFO's output by not only ordering the waves in the 
desired sequence, but having a few "repeat" waves in the list to 
represent the "flatter" portions of the LFO wave you're after (like 
the soft peaks of a sine wave).  

I've looked, and I don't think there's any way to actually use an LFO 
to specify or modify wave shape selection.  However, with the 
Evolver, I'll never say "never" or "can't"!


Ski
www.ex5tech.com
EX5Tech Evolver forum:
http://www.ex5tech.com/ex5ubb_cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=23



--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, "mr julian" <jujulilianan@h...> 
wrote:
> 
> 
> >From: "Ski <ex5tech@e...>" <ex5tech@e...>
> 
> >If I'm understanding your statement correctly, note that you CAN
> >define a sequence of waves to sweep.  You do it with the sequencer,
> >with which you can specify exactly what waves you want to sweep
> >through and in what order.  Just specify the sequencer track that 
you
> >want to use to sweep waves by using the "Shape Seq" parameters in 
row
> >two for Osc 3 & 4.  Then jump into sequence mode and choose your
> >waveforms for each of the 16 steps (or less).  The only limiting
> >factor is the number of steps in the sequencer (16)... but even 
that
> >has a workaround!  ;)
> >
> aaah, the flexability of the evolver strikes again!!!
> :-P
> 
> Though the limit here is that you are locked to the sequence 
progression... 
> using an LFO to sweep through a wavetable as you play is a bit of a 
> different thing.
> 
> >Back to the original topic - a wave editor...  That's something I'd
> >really like to have.  Along with all my other stuff, I have a 
pretty
> >extensive collection of single cycle waveforms that would be nice 
to
> >have in the Evolver.
> 
> Yeah. it would really be a good thing to have.
> A wavetable editor would be an excellent starting point for a 
standalone 
> evolver voice editor/librarian too.
> 
> >If I get the time and the necessary info, I
> >might try to program one myself.
> >
> good luck!!
> 
> 
> 
> julian
> 
> 
> 
> "Give a man a stick of gum and he will chew for a day. Teach him 
how to 

> scrape gum off stuff and he will chew for a lifetime"
> 
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> Help STOP SPAM: Try the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* 
> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

>From: "Ski <ex5tech@...>" <ex5tech@...>

>Ouch!  I've never actually owned a VS or a Wavestation, and I forgot
>that they could sweep a wavetable with an LFO.
>
oopsie. not what I meant to say.... sorry, I'm getting a bit confused too, 
so I'll take a deep breath and make sure I use the correct terminology... 
:-P

I'm pretty sure the Prophet VS does not let you sweep through the waveforms. 
it just lets you crossfade between the oscillators (like the evolver does) 
This is called "vector synthesis"

PPG/Waldorf synths do "wavetable synthesis" They let you define, and sweep 
through wavetables. But it's also a bit more complex than that, for at least 
with a Microwave, using "UPAW" (User Programmable algorithmic waves) waves 
in a wavetable, it will produce waves that are a cross between two waves 
during a transition between two points along the wavetable.... tricky.

Wavestation lets you crossfade between oscillators, but also does something 
called "wave sequencing" which is a bit like defining a wavetable inside a 
patch, specifically for that patch... but without the crossfading between 
waves in the wavetable. But of course, crossfading between oscillators with 
different waveshapes (and wavesequences)

Anyone spot any errors in this? I'm quite open to correction here, as I know 
I'm not the world authority on all the synths mentioned above. Just trying 
to share what knowlege I have...

>Too bad that "Wave Shape" (or even "Sequence Step Value"!) isn't on
>that already long list of the Evolver's "Modulation
>Destinations".  ;)

Yeah, well when I first got the evolver thats what I thought too... "if only 
it could also do wavetable stuff like my microwave does" Now from what 
you've said, you're right in that this will be limited to the wave list, 
which is not actually a wavetable. but still, the effect you can get from 
moving up and down just a couple of waves on an LFO would be quite 
interesting, I think.

>You COULD simulate the real thing (to a degree)
>and imitate an LFO's output by not only ordering the waves in the
>desired sequence, but having a few "repeat" waves in the list to
>represent the "flatter" portions of the LFO wave you're after (like
>the soft peaks of a sine wave).
>
yeah I'm going to have a play with this tonight and see how it goes.

I've had my evo for about a month now, but havent had nearly enough time 
with it, as I've just finished moving house, and only got my studio fully 
setup again this last weekend.



julian


"Give a man a stick of gum and he will chew for a day. Teach him how to 
scrape gum off stuff and he will chew for a lifetime"



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