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Re: AppleCrate Synthesizer goes multi-voice...

Simon Williams wrote:

Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote:

<snip>


I still haven't got around to implementing "sub-voices" which will
provide three levels of "velocity" or amplitude.  All the support
is in the syntheziser, but a little bit of code needs to be added
to the compiler and some new multi-level instruments need to be
created.



That would probably be more than adequate for this purpose. I was
wondering about that as the "organ" voice (for obvious reasons) is much
more prominent than the string and percussion voices... 

I'm working on the amplitude sub-voices right now.  ;-)

I'll also have to build an "electric guitar" voice.  That
"organ" voice is just a "cheap substitute".  ;-)

As the number and size of the instrument voices increases,
I have to be cleverer in oscillator allocation to keep the
total number of voices low enough to fit in 36KB (with the
music).


I'm looking at implementing the MIDI "channel volume" control, but
it will be pretty annoying to have to load even three different
volume versions of each percussion voice--maybe there is a tendency
to only use a single volume for these.



I recall finding the "accent" feature on my old drum machine quite
useful, though it only provided 2 velocities. Given the limitations of
5-bit sound, I'd say that providing 2 or 3 velocities on the snare alone
would be the ideal "cost-effective" solution.


That would be doable.


Another possibility for economizing would be to use the same sample at
different pitch/envelope combinations for the open/closed hat and
cymbals... toms could be treated likewise. Though I have a feeling that
might be much easier said than done.


The closed hi-hat is quite short, and so is not much of a problem.

The open hi-hat and the crash cymbals are more of a problem (because
they play longer), but I may have a fix for that, too--repeating
1/40th second chunks and switching as the amplitude decays.  The
problem is that their waveforms are essentially noise, so getting
it to match up inaudibly is an issue.


To paraphrase Johnson, "[An unaided Apple II synthesizing music]
is like a dog's walking on his hind legs.  It is not done well;
but you are surprised to find it done at all."  ;-)



I think this dog is speaking Norwegian... [Johnson via BlackAdder]


Ha!  ;-)


I'm not likely to use the AppleCrate synthesizer to listen to music,
but it has certainly been an instructive project, with surprising
results!



It might not replace the iPod, but I think it might be of interest to
quite a few "non-mainstream" musicians as a creative platform.


I'm pleased to hear that.

I guess if people like the distortion of vacuum tubes, then
almost anything can be an interesting sound.  It certainly
qualifies as "retro".  ;-)

-michael

8-voice music synthesizer using NadaNet networking!
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/