section 15: designing strings, choirs, acoustic inst, effects
15.1 formant effects:
Good vocal effect sounds require a “ formant” type of effect. Although other synthesizers are
better equipped for pure formants, the Andromeda has two resonant filters; that alone is
enough to construct a good vocal patch with two formant peaks.
The default program “ Wheeldown = Yeah” is a good example of this type of effect. In this
patch, filter 1 is set on bandpass mode, filter 2 is set as normal (lowpass). The filters are set in
parallel. Both are resonant, but not enough to self-oscillate. When the mod wheel is adjusted,
the bandpass filter cutoff is modulated by an amount close to –12 . Meanwhile the lowpass
filter cutoff is modulated by +15.
The net effect is a nice “ closing” type sound that is somewhat reminiscent of a human voice.
Suggested by Mike Peake on the Andromeda mailing list was a book called “ The Speech
Chain” , if you really want to get into this stuff. It contains a chart of vocal formants, and
their filter cutoff points. This can be used if you want to seriously program some nice vocal
formant type sounds. Elsewise, experiment with two resonant filter peaks in parallel.
15.2 thinner pwm method from mike peake:
(good for soft strings and synth sounds!)
Marcus Ryle clued us in to this trick. We made it possible in the A6 as a result of his input.
If you select a Negative Sawtooth in an oscillator and mix it's square wave with it, at one point there
is some cancellation and if you then PWM the square, it's a nice effect. It's certainly thinner than
regular PWM. I've dumped a Program into the A6 collection to demonstrate. Both oscillators are
doing it. Try setting Osc 2's PWM Mod Source to LFO 2 for inverted modulation from the same LFO
to both Oscillators. It sounds much more "synthy" than the Program as it's presented. It's an edit of
Erik Norlander's Astrology Pad, by the way. Turn the suboctaves down to zero as well if desired.
15.3 thicker strings with unison detune:
From Chad Gould:
Using Unison Detune on a 2-voice PWM patch seems to be the "easiest" way to create something
creamy. Find a PWM sound you like, then scale the PWM speed to the keyboard in what you think
sounds best (you do this by adjusting the LFO speed via keytracking). I found this technique while
examining Mike's excellent Cantus Firmus patch; adding the Unison Detune to some sounds gives it
this nice oozing thickness. Depending on your PWM settings, osc settings, etc. you can get nice
lush strings and choir sounds, as well as other pads. Weepy Strings and Angels In the Sky are two
patches I did that I know have this technique.
15.4 acoustic “piano” simulation tips:
From Colin:
I was trying something out, and when I hit a few notes - something just about the tone shouted
piano to me, so then on I tried to get my patch closer to the real thing. It has the charatceristics of a
piano , but if you don't play it like a piano, it doesn't sound that close to the real thing :)
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