The hitchikers guide trough the VZ-1/10m/8m... ...how to program that slighlty different FM (Phase Modulation) Synth ... Version 0.3 (far from ready) Last change 13.09.2004 Please excuse my english... Send comments to flotorian@yahoo.com or flotorian@freenet.de Prologue: I bought this synth used and without a manual, so I hope this document is not too boring. But I think my findings are probably interesting vor other VZ user too... 1. The Modules... First of all there are 8 Oscillators called modules with 8 Waveforms (Sine, Saw1 - 5 and 2x Noise). Second, those moduls are always grouped as couples and the outputs of those couples are always mixed together. However you connect them, if it's Phase (Phase Modulation or digital FM), Ringmodulation or Mixed, it will be mixed togther to a single output that can be used to phase modulate the next output. 2. The Frequency If you set the connection between the two or more modules of a couple to phase, only the frequency of the first modul is defining the frequency of the couple and the frequency ration between Carrier and Modulator is always 1:2 and the modulation minimum is 50%, even when you mute the Modulator. Always the last even module plays the sound. If you have two with phase connected couples (for instance 1/2 is modulating 4 that is controlled and modulated by 3) the uneven modules are defining the frequency of the couples. So if you set Oscillator 1 one octave above Oscillator 3 you have the frequency ratio 2:1 between 2 and 4, that way you can archive Yamaha "digital" FM - Synth like sounds with up to 4 Osc. in a row. Examples for FM algorithms with the VZ Synths: 1 3 5 7 | | | | 2-4-6-8- Output ... - = ext. Phase and |= Phase when 1,3,5,7 are muted and the waveforms are set to sine you'll get the following digital FM algorithm... 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 The frequency of 1,3,5,7 define the frequency of 8,6,4,2... Also possible is following digital FM algorithm 1 2 5 6 \| \| 4 8 With the following algorithm 1 3 5 7 | | 2-4-6-8- Output ... 3 is defining the frequency of 4 and 6 is defining the frequency of 8. The Modules 3 and 7 have to be muted... 3. How to... - create a usable square wave... For instance with following setting... 1 waveform = Sine, envelope depth about 50... | 2 wavefrom = Saw 5, envelope depth about 50 - do a "filtersweep" (well it's an digital FM sweep) with that square wave 1 3 | | 2-4- Output 1 and 2 are set like in the example above, 4 is muted, 1 and 4 are both set to the same frequency and the Envelope 2 is acting filter (or DCW) envelope like. - do the same thing with a saw... Well, take the example above set the connection between 1 and 2 to mix and mute oscillator 2. Also possible is to mute Modul 1 and set it Saw 5 and Modul 2 to Sine... Even so possible is to mute Modul 2, set it to sine, set Modul 1 to mix and Saw 5. That way the envelope of modul 1 acts as filter envelope... 4. How to translate typical FM freuquency relations to the VZ-1 DX FM -> Coarse 1 = 0 2 = 12 3 = 19 4 = 24 5 = 28 6 = 31 0.5 = -12 0.25 = -19 0.125 = -24 0.065 = -28 0.0325 = -30 5. Ringmodulation The VZ-1 has a quite flexible Ringmodulation implementation, by far more powerfull then you might have experienced from your other hard or software synths unless you own a Kawai K5000 which has a quite comparable version of ringmod with the exception that it's behind filters which are not avaiable in the VZ-1. So if you have the M1xM2 (X stands for Ringmodulation, since this is indeed a multiplikation of the two signals) the M1-Envelope is controlling the M1xM2 Singnal (what is the Result of the ringmodulation), while M2-Envelope is controlling how much of the original M2 signal will be mixed to the signal as in mixed mode. This is M1xM2+M2, what is widely known as Amplitudenmodulation. So if Ringmod is set and the M1- and M2-Envelope settings are identical M2 is Carrier and will be ampitudenmodulated by M1.