MOTM

In a message dated 3/20/2000 12:56:36 PM, ken.tkacs@... writes:

>I was just thinking about how most synthesizer 'modifier' modules function
>by changing the relative amplitudes of a sound's partials. This is true
>of

<edit>

>is there anything
>that lets you change the frequency, rather than amplitude, of individual
>partials with respect to one another? Ring Modulators and Frequency shifters
>work 'all or nothing' in a linear (sic) way.

<edit>

>I guess FM synthesis attempted to address this in its way. And every now
>and
>then someone gives thought to perhaps new basic waveforms, but none have
>proven themselves as useful as the 'big 4.'

Ken, I haven't heard partials used in this way for so long, I thought you 
were talking about partial differential equations for an embarrassingly long 
time.

I agree entirely with what your saying, however, I think viewing waveforms as 
a composite of harmonics lends itself much more to digital (through Fourier 
analysis). It seems that when you view a sound as a waveform you are more "in 
tune" with the basic ""philosophy"" of "analog synthesis." As such, I think a 
more easily solvable engineering problem would involve manipulating the 
waveform in unconventional ways.

And my recent "bugging" of Larry involves mixing waves from a single 
oscillator (in and out of phase wrt each other) to produce another 
interesting wave (though nothing terribly special) -- BTW, the old Emu VCOs 
had a mixer output, I don't think the pots went negative though.

>I dunno... seems like there should be more devices in this category, that
>function in this domain. Something to retune partials in ways different
>than
>a Ring Modulator.

So this is where I usually start to rave about the unique timbres available 
from the Wave Multipliers (made by a competitor) in the hope that Paul will 
eventually be able to offer a similar type of module in the MOTM format. 
Timbre modulators of this type may not do precisely what you ask Ken, but I 
find they can easily make a one VCO patch sound great. In my experience, it 
is easy to get sounds like pick (or hammer) noise, or overblowing (flute, 
reed or trumpet) types of sounds which will "morph" into a more basic wave 
via VC. 

But recently my attention has been grabbed by a similar timbre modulator 
which is being made by Tony Allgood -- see his new Wavefolder PCB. Tony, does 
this compare in operation to the Wave Multipliers module? What size MOTM 
panel will it fit in?

JB