multiple EG bank

[jhaible]

It's surely possible, and it's implemented (in software) in several
commercial synthesizers. No problem to build something like that
in analogue hardware, too.

The big question is: Is it worth the effort ?
And an even more important question: Is it comfortable to use ?
In theory it's total bliss to have control over so many parameters -
but in practice it is often not. I mean there is a good reason for these
fourier based synths didn't have big commercial success.
IMO the goal for developing a good synth is to get maximum control
from a reasonable number of parameters. That's why the DX-7 with
its FM (PM ... hi MC. !) was so much more sucessful than additive
concepts. Mind you, the DX-7 has *few* parameters in comparison -
and still too many for most people to feel comfortable programming it.

There are other concepts of quasi-additive spectral shaping that better
fit to analogue implementation. Vocoders are a good example. My own
Interpolating Scanner (combined with a EMS filterbank) is another
possible approach. Both concepts are limited to a few band pass filters
(8 in my Scanner, something between 8 and 22 in analogue vocoders),
but even with such a limited number of filters that would be many,
many Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release parameters. I mean, just go and
*write down* "Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release" 22 times. Now think
of building it. Now think of adjusting these 88 parameters for every
sound.
And what have you gained ? A sound with a sophistcated harmonics contour
that sounds - *boring*.
Why ? It will always sound the same. Because you have not yet implemented
anything to modulate these 88 ADSR parameters in real time. So you
want to add velocity, after touch, random voltages to each parameter.
How many parameters now ? I've stopped counting.
To handle something like that, it's important to find clever algorithms
to distribute modulations to the different channels. Graphical input
like on the Axcel Resynthesizer is the best thing in this direction I've
seen so far, but still it's not much fun to program (your fingers start to
hurt
after 10 minutes).

JH

> Hello
> Has anyone heard about something like a "multiple Envelope Generator
bank"?
> (own definition)
> Theoretically, a waveform is splitted into its harmonics and each one
> receives its own ADSR curve. I thought about asociating some band-pass
> filters (max 4) to a set of envelope generators. These EGs should have a
> "initial delay" setting for building up complex dynamic progressions. Has
> this been done either commercially or privately?. I think that the Kawai
> K5000 does something like this, but of course that is digital additive
> synthesis :P)
> This is purely experimental and speculative, so any idea or comment will
be
> appreciated.
> --
> ==========================================================
> Carlos Vila Deutschbein        si04697 at salleURL.edu
> Enginyeria La Salle            www.salleURL.edu/~si04697/
> ----------------- Barcelona, Spain -----------------------
> ==========================================================
>
>
>