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Difference between revisions of "Synth block"

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__TOC__
 
__TOC__
=Available on which Fractal Audio products=
+
=Available on which products=
  
 
* '''Axe-Fx III''': 2 blocks
 
* '''Axe-Fx III''': 2 blocks
* '''FM3''': yes
+
* '''FM3''': yes @@
 
* '''Axe-Fx II''': 2 blocks
 
* '''Axe-Fx II''': 2 blocks
 
* '''AX8''': 1 block
 
* '''AX8''': 1 block
 
* '''FX8''': 1 block
 
* '''FX8''': 1 block
  
=X/Y and channels=
+
=Channels or X/Y switching=
  
* '''Axe-Fx III''': 2 channels
+
* '''Axe-Fx III''' and '''FM3''': 2 channels
 
* '''Axe-Fx II''': no
 
* '''Axe-Fx II''': no
 
* '''AX8''': no
 
* '''AX8''': no
 
* '''FX8''': no
 
* '''FX8''': no
  
=What can the Synth do=
+
=About the Synth=
  
 
<blockquote>"The Synth block is a very simple monophonic synth. It doesn't compare to the polyphonic capabilities of something like the FTP and it can't control outboard MIDI synths." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/fishman-triple-play-axefx-ii.92984/#post-1117064 source] </blockquote>
 
<blockquote>"The Synth block is a very simple monophonic synth. It doesn't compare to the polyphonic capabilities of something like the FTP and it can't control outboard MIDI synths." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/fishman-triple-play-axefx-ii.92984/#post-1117064 source] </blockquote>
  
=How to control the Synth=
+
The Synth block requires monophonic input. This means that you have play REALLY clean. Always hit single notes and avoid overlapping notes.
  
The Synth block requires monophonic input. This means that you have play REALLY clean. Always hit single notes and avoid overlapping notes.
+
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw_zUNmaPqM&t=6s Introduction video]
  
=Turning off voices saves CPU=
+
=CPU usage=
  
The Synth has 3 voices. Turn off voices that you don't use to save some CPU.
+
The Synth has 3 voices. Turn off voices that you don't use to save CPU.
  
=Parameters table=
+
=Parameters =
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
! '''Parameter'''
+
! '''Parameter (per voice)'''
! '''Axe-Fx III'''
+
! '''Axe-Fx III / FM3'''
 
! '''Axe-Fx II'''
 
! '''Axe-Fx II'''
! '''AX8, FX8'''
+
! '''AX8 / FX8'''
|-
 
| ''Per voice'':
 
!
 
!
 
!
 
 
|-
 
|-
 +
 
| Type
 
| Type
 
! yes
 
! yes
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=Tips=
 
=Tips=
  
==Start a simple Sine tone==
+
=Frequencies of musical notes==
 +
 
 +
[https://pages.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html Read this]
 +
 
 +
==Simple Sine tone==
  
 
Set a single voice to Sine and turn off Tracking.
 
Set a single voice to Sine and turn off Tracking.
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==Warm up the Synth sound==
 
==Warm up the Synth sound==
  
To warm up the Synth, add a Drive block before or after it, such as a RAT model.
+
To warm up the Synth, add a Drive block before or after it. Try the Rat model.
  
==Fatten the Synth tone==
+
==Fatten the Synth sound==
  
 
To fatten the Synth, use at least two voices and detune them slightly. [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/the-synth-block.109523/#post-1310172 source]
 
To fatten the Synth, use at least two voices and detune them slightly. [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/the-synth-block.109523/#post-1310172 source]
  
==Create a drone note==
+
==Drone note==
 +
 
 +
# Turn off Voices 2 and 3.
 +
# In voice 1 switch off Tracking and adjust pitch with the Frequency parameter.
  
Turn off Voices 2 and 3. In voice 1 switch off Tracking and adjust pitch with the Frequency parameter. [http://pages.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html Look up the frequencies of notes]
+
[http://pages.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html Look up the frequencies of notes]
  
 
Tips:
 
Tips:
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* Make the sound fatter by using two Synth voices set to the same frequency.
 
* Make the sound fatter by using two Synth voices set to the same frequency.
 
* Make the sound less boring by adding a low-pass Filter with lfo-controlled Frequency.
 
* Make the sound less boring by adding a low-pass Filter with lfo-controlled Frequency.
* Make the sound wider by adding a 100% wet Multi-Delay (Axe-Fx III: Plex Delay) set to Detune.
+
* Make the sound wider by adding a 100% wet Multi-Delay or Plex Delay set to Detune.
* Change the pitch of the drone note, by switching the Synth between channels (Axe-Fx III only) or by using Scene Controllers, attached to the Pitch parameter of the voice(s).
+
* Change the pitch of the drone note, by switching the Synth between channels or by using [[Scene controllers]], attached to the Pitch or Shift parameter of the voice(s). Or just send the Synth into a Pitch block (changes the pitch of all voices).
 +
* Use the Sequencer controller to have the Synth block play lines.
  
==Create pink or white noise==
+
==Pink or white noise==
  
 
The Synth block can generate white or pink noise.
 
The Synth block can generate white or pink noise.
  
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_noise White noise in Wikipedia]
+
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_noise White noise in Wikipedia]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_noise Pink noise in Wikipedia]
 
  
==Create a siren==
+
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_noise Pink noise in Wikipedia]
  
Select a Square waveform and attach a LFO to the FREQ parameter of a single voice. Add a large Reverb.
+
==Siren==
  
==Emit a calibration tone==
+
Select a Square waveform and attach a LFO to the FREQ parameter of a single voice. Add a lot of reverb.
 +
 
 +
==Calibration tone==
  
 
<blockquote>"Set the synth block to a 1K sine wave at -12 dB. Turn OUTPUT 1 to the maximum level position." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/calibration-tone.109698/#post-1312732 source] </blockquote>
 
<blockquote>"Set the synth block to a 1K sine wave at -12 dB. Turn OUTPUT 1 to the maximum level position." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/calibration-tone.109698/#post-1312732 source] </blockquote>
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<blockquote>"There's actually a hidden calibration tone that is used during functional test. The Synth block is reference quality. I use it all the time to generate test tones. The output is spectrally purer than my $2000 Stanford Research Systems Synthesized Function Generator." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/calibration-tone.109698/#post-1312815 source] </blockquote>
 
<blockquote>"There's actually a hidden calibration tone that is used during functional test. The Synth block is reference quality. I use it all the time to generate test tones. The output is spectrally purer than my $2000 Stanford Research Systems Synthesized Function Generator." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/calibration-tone.109698/#post-1312815 source] </blockquote>
  
=More information about the Synth=
+
=More information=
 +
 
 +
Look for synth presets created by Simeon, Swedish Chef and Admin M@. Search the forum and visit [http://axechange.fractalaudio.com Axe-Change].
  
* Forum members Simeon and Swedish Chef created great synth presets. Search the forum and visit [http://axechange.fractalaudio.com Axe-Change].
+
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthesizer Wikipedia: Synthesizer]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw_zUNmaPqM&t=6s Introduction video]
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthesizer Wikipedia]
 
  
 
[[category:Axe-Fx2]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx2]]
[[category:FM3?]]
+
[[category:FM3]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:AX8]]
 
[[category:AX8]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]

Revision as of 09:08, 19 October 2019

Available on which products

  • Axe-Fx III: 2 blocks
  • FM3: yes @@
  • Axe-Fx II: 2 blocks
  • AX8: 1 block
  • FX8: 1 block

Channels or X/Y switching

  • Axe-Fx III and FM3: 2 channels
  • Axe-Fx II: no
  • AX8: no
  • FX8: no

About the Synth

"The Synth block is a very simple monophonic synth. It doesn't compare to the polyphonic capabilities of something like the FTP and it can't control outboard MIDI synths." source

The Synth block requires monophonic input. This means that you have play REALLY clean. Always hit single notes and avoid overlapping notes.

Introduction video

CPU usage

The Synth has 3 voices. Turn off voices that you don't use to save CPU.

Parameters

Parameter (per voice) Axe-Fx III / FM3 Axe-Fx II AX8 / FX8
Type yes
Track yes
Frequency yes
Shift yes
Tune yes
Duty Cycle yes
Pan yes
Filter Frequency yes
Filter Q yes
Attack yes
Level yes

Tips

Frequencies of musical notes=

Read this

Simple Sine tone

Set a single voice to Sine and turn off Tracking.

Warm up the Synth sound

To warm up the Synth, add a Drive block before or after it. Try the Rat model.

Fatten the Synth sound

To fatten the Synth, use at least two voices and detune them slightly. source

Drone note

  1. Turn off Voices 2 and 3.
  2. In voice 1 switch off Tracking and adjust pitch with the Frequency parameter.

Look up the frequencies of notes

Tips:

  • Try the Sawtooth waveform.
  • Make the sound fatter by using two Synth voices set to the same frequency.
  • Make the sound less boring by adding a low-pass Filter with lfo-controlled Frequency.
  • Make the sound wider by adding a 100% wet Multi-Delay or Plex Delay set to Detune.
  • Change the pitch of the drone note, by switching the Synth between channels or by using Scene controllers, attached to the Pitch or Shift parameter of the voice(s). Or just send the Synth into a Pitch block (changes the pitch of all voices).
  • Use the Sequencer controller to have the Synth block play lines.

Pink or white noise

The Synth block can generate white or pink noise.

White noise in Wikipedia

Pink noise in Wikipedia

Siren

Select a Square waveform and attach a LFO to the FREQ parameter of a single voice. Add a lot of reverb.

Calibration tone

"Set the synth block to a 1K sine wave at -12 dB. Turn OUTPUT 1 to the maximum level position." source

"There's actually a hidden calibration tone that is used during functional test. The Synth block is reference quality. I use it all the time to generate test tones. The output is spectrally purer than my $2000 Stanford Research Systems Synthesized Function Generator." source

More information

Look for synth presets created by Simeon, Swedish Chef and Admin M@. Search the forum and visit Axe-Change.

Wikipedia: Synthesizer