HELP! New at synthesis-

Hi btdvox.

The Fusion has 120 MB of sampled wave ROM, just so you know.

FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis: This type of synthesis was developed in the 1970's but wasn't seriously implemented until the Yamaha DX-7 was released in the early 1980's. It is both theoretically and functionally more complex than both analog synthesis and sample playback synthesis. The basic idea is that you have a "Carrier" waveform (sine, square, triangle, whatever) and one or more "Operator" waveforms (sine, square, triangle, etc). You modulate the frequency of the Carrier wave using the amplitude of the Operator waves. Using filter and amplifier envelopes, some very interesting sounds can be attained.

Analog Modeling synthesis: This is a type of Physical Modeling synthesis, limited to emulating electronic circuits rather than physical instruments. Analog Modeling synthesis uses mathematical equations to represent the way electricity flows through various electronic components. By mathematically representing the design of a real analog (electronic) synthesizer such as a Moog, the sounds produced by the Analog Modeling synth will sound almost identical to an electronic instrument using real electronic components to create the sounds (such as capacitors, resistors, transistors, etc).

Physical Modeling synthesis: (This form of synthesis is included in the Fusion as well). Physical Modeling uses mathematical formulas to represent the physical behavior of real instruments (usually wind instruments as they are easier to represent mathematically than other instruments). There are not many electronic instruments that use this synthesis method, primarily due to the high speed processing that is required, meaning high cost and low profit for manufacturers. Yamaha was one of the first to implement it in a synthesizer with the VL-1. Roland uses Physical Modeling for their COSM effects processors as well as for some aspects of their V-According.

Sample Playback synthesis: Almost all modern synthesizers use this method of synthesis because of its value. Very good sounds can be produced at a very low cost to the manufacturer. This method of synthesis basically plays back recorded sounds and controls volume with an amplifier envelope and can apply filtering with a filter envelope. All of Roland's music workstations use Sample Playback synthesis (including the Fantom-X). Artemio's comments about emulating an analog synthesizer are correct. You can simulate the behavior of an analog synth (or analog modeled synth) using various techniques within the Fantom synthesizer engine. The Fantom also includes a "mono synth" attached to the D-Beam. It is an analog modeled synth (monophonic) but cannot be controlled by the keyboard and seems more of a gimmick than anything very useful, unless you are VERY accurate with your D-Beam usage.

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

I've never been deep into the subject, but if I remember well there are some built-in samples that have basic waveforms such as sine. So if you build a patch around those, applying modulation and filters, this should be close to an analog modeling synth and one that's playable by the keyboard IMHO.

The Fantomenal K

Hi there,

Can you tell us what kind of music do you want to make or what kind of band do you want to play in?

What is your budget? It really isn't necessary to spend 2 grand on a workstation keyboard unless you have to have an all in one package for things like gigging.

FM synthesis can make some incredible sounds, but it is very difficult to understand and is the most likely synthesis method to get you frustrated. FM is so difficult that it has taken 2 decades to build up a nice library that is based on the Yamaha DX7. Unless you go with an instrument that is compatible with DX7 patches then you will have a very limited set of presets to work with. Most recent equipment that will load DX7 patches are Yamaha Motif with a PLG plug-in board, Yamaha DX200 groovebox, Yamaha FS1R rack synth, and Native Instruments FM7 softsynth. I doubt the Alesis will load these patches.

Most people think of the Fantoms as ROMplers (strictly sample playback), but there is great capability in there to do just about anything a virtual analog can do. I feel it is really the easiest synth to program.

Give us some more info on what you want to do with your music...

Hi MIDIguru and Nathan wonderful explanation, thank you for it! I actually have a Fantom X and am wondering how i can start off with say a sine wave or a square wave as K60 said and then build on from there using the Fantom X like i cant see any OSC parameters im not use to it yet but im trying to figure how to make cool electronica sounds I am actually trying to make some stuff for some jingles and just some stuff for websites that my friends want and also want to start to get into some dance clubs with a band.

Also just wanted to know if there is a Ring Mod to each sound or can i apply it, im right now using the Pitch env and thats making all sorts of weird funky sounds- just wanted to know if there were OSC parameters and how to make those virtual analog type sounds using the TVA,TVF, OSCs, Ring Mod and whatnot- i just cant find them. I heard the Fantom X is capable of doing almost all this with very barely any limits which bought me right away and coming to this forum it seems it can but i dont know how- Also nathan can you give me some tips on simulating Analog sounds!:( Thanks!

Also on the Flash Demo for Fantom X at rolandus they have a song called Breakbeat and drum n bass for examples!

Hi again.

I can give you some information, but Artemio is really the guy to talk to for excellent analog emulation with the Fantom-X so I'll leave that to him.

With regard to the OSC (Oscillator), you're looking for the "Wave" tab in the Fantom-X Patch Edit screen. Roland calls their oscillators "Wave Generators" as they really aren't oscillators like in analog synths.

As for synth features which help create unique and analog-like sounds, you'll find many of them in the Wave tab such as FXM (Frequency Cross-Modulation), and Analog Feel (which slowly varies the pitch to emulate a real analog synth). In the TMT (Tone Mix Table) tab, you'll find the "Structure" parameter. The Fantom has 10 pre-defined Tone structures which allow you to connect the WG, TVF, and TVA of Tones 1 & 2 (or 3 & 4) in a variety of configurations including the use of a 18 dB gain booster or a ring modulator. These structures allow you to connect the TVFs from both Tones in series effectively doubling the filter cutoff rate or to combine 2 different filter types with separate envelopes for each.

Also, each of the 4 Tones in a Patch have 2 LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators) which can allow for very creative sounds. There is also a step-LFO for each Patch which is selectable as one or both of the LFO types for each of the 4 Tones in that Patch.

Artemio's Tweak Book should be a wonderful reference for emulating analog sounds with the Fantom-X. You can download it here: http://artemiolabs.com/books/fsxtweakbook/

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

This is another of those threads that provides a wealth of information for practically everyone that uses electronic keyboards. JMIO

Signed, "Nature is hard enough on us, let's not be hard on each other."

" In the TMT (Tone Mix Table) tab, you'll find the "Structure" parameter. The Fantom has 10 pre-defined Tone structures which allow you to connect the WG, TVF, and TVA of Tones 1 & 2 (or 3 & 4) in a variety of configurations including the use of a 18 dB gain booster or a ring modulator."
Hey Nathan thanks for the info! Very helpful so these Structures are waves such as saw-tooth, square, sine etc correct- for somereason i cant find it! ill keep looking! Thanks though. veyr happy that this is in the Fantom !

Hi again.

btdvox: No, the sine, square, saw, etc. waveforms are available in the Fantom-S and Fantom-X (in the Wave tab), but not in the TMT tab. The Structures are used to define the route the sound travels before reaching the DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters). The audio signal can be routed in 10 different ways. The basic waveforms such as sine, triangle, square, saw, pulse, etc. can be found in the INT A bank of the Fantom-S and Fantom-X within the Wave tab.

Regards,

Nathan Sheldon
http://www.nathansheldon.com/

Thanks Nathan!

"The basic waveforms such as sine, triangle, square, saw, pulse, etc. can be found in the INT A bank of the Fantom-S and Fantom-X within the Wave tab."

For some reason I cant find these forms in the Wave tab under INT A i only find waves like AC-PNO 1, wah guitar etc etc. Are they not named sine, triangle etc?

thanks

There are 1228 waves in bank A. Synth waves are around numbers 500-600. As in my TweakBook:

Sine: 578-579
Triangle: 574-577
Saw: 546-558
Square: 560-567
Pulse: 568-573
Pink noise: 596
White noise: 595
Low pulse: 1220, 1221
Low square: 1222
Low sine: 1223
Low triangle: 1224
Low white noise: 1225
Low pink noise: 1226
DC: 1227


A.

ohhhhh! haha I didnt get what those number meant ever i was like that doesnt seem like any frequency number..... Thanks man