Synthesizers
These modules synthesize sound, so they have no audio input.
The left inlet receives a list of two integers: MIDI note number and MIDI velocity (both 0-127). To play a note, you need two such lists, one for note on, with non-zero velocity, followed by another for note off, with zero velocity. Note off triggers the release stage of the envelope.
- WAVR
This is a basic wavetable synthesizer with the classic oscillator waveforms: sine, triangle, pulse, and sawtooth. The pulse and triangle waveforms have adjustable duty cycle.
A vibrato feature lets you use several waveform shapes to add low-frequency modulation to the main oscillator signal.
Set the amplitude envelope for a note using the attack, decay, sustain, and release (ADSR) dials.
Set the polyphony to the maximum number of simultaneous overlapping notes you think you will need, taking into account that long envelope release times tend to increase the number of simultaneous notes required. If you set the polyphony to 1, then you can adjust the portamento time, the time it takes to slide between consecutive notes.
- FMODR
This is a simple FM synthesis instrument. You can think of the sound it makes as the result of extreme vibrato — vibrato made by a modulating oscillator (the modulator) affecting the frequency of the oscillator you listen to directly (the carrier). The frequency of the modulator is much higher than would be appropriate for creating vibrato; the result is the production of additional frequencies (sidebands) surrounding the carrier fundamental frequency. For classic FM synthesis, both the carrier and modulator should be sine waves. Using other waveforms makes the sound much more complex, even noisy in a metallic sort of way.
Increasing the index parameter (normally called modulation index) increases the brightness of the sound. Changing the harm parameter (harmonicity) changes the structure of the partial frequencies surrounding the fundamental. (The index must be greater than 1 for you to change harm.) Toggling the ‘i’ button lets you set harm to a floating point value, allowing the formation of enharmonic partials.
The vibrato, envelope, and portamento sections work exactly as they do for WAVR.
- NOISR
This module generates filtered noise notes using a band-pass filter applied to either white or pink noise. Higher values of Q create narrower bandwidths — narrow enough to result in sound that is close to a sine wave. The pitch of this note depends on the MIDI note number passed to the left inlet, as with the other synthesizer modules.
- STRUMR
This is a Karplus-Strong plucked string model (or simulation) that produces fake harp, guitar, etc. sounds. These will never be mistaken for the real thing, but the sounds can work well put through certain kinds of effects. The plectrum parameter models the rigidity of a guitar pick, with low values producing a darker sound and high values producing a brighter sound.
This synthesizer is not so happy with notes in extreme registers and may produce loud feedback-like sounds in response.