[sdiy] sync sound (Jupiter 8) & Spliff

[ChristianH]

Hi Martin,

I didn't have that particular song in my ear, so I listend to the 85555
album last night.
Let me answer with a definite and sincere 'I don't know'. I played that
song several times, but it leaves me clueless. At times I wasn't even
sure if it's a synth at all, that effect reminds me of 'pinched harmonics'
playing style on the guitar (slightly touching the oscillating string
e.g. an octave above the fretted note, so the fundamental is damped).
But then, there is definitely something syncing as well, and I think I
hear Reinhold's CS 80 as well. I'm not sure if guitar synthesizers would
be able to follow pinched harmonics, without producing glitches from the
frequency detection.

I considered simple cross fading as well, but probably there would be a
certain amount of beating, this sounds more as if both pitches are
coming from the same oscillating source. If the album hadn't been
released a year too early, this could be done with a DX7 - no problem
for identical frequencies here.

I played a bit with the Jupiter, and with a traditional sync sweep
there's a kind of audible rise (there's something similar in 'Damals' as
well, but I think you're after those long sustained sounds), remotely
similar to portamento. I never _consciously_ listend to sync sounds
before, and last night I noticed a distict appearance of each single
harmonic during the sweep, similar to a hi res filter. At least on the
JP-8, I didn't compare with other synths.

Although I don't think this relates to that song, I found another way of
fading in an octave. Set the LPF to high resonance, frequency just below
the octave harmonic. Then, using the pitch bender (env isn't slow enough
on the JP-8), rise the cutoff to exactly the harmonic, which is strongly
emphasized.

I'm not that familiar with the CS 80, but since Reinhold has used it for
years, I wouldn't be surprised if it's involved in that sound. Maybe
some skillful playing, something like zero verlocity and then applying
poly aftertouch on a high note.

regards & sorry for all the non german list members who have no idea
what we're talking about... :-)
Christian

P.S.: Some time ago I was thinking if and how those guitar pinched
harmonics could be done on a synth. 
This probably can't be done well simply with filtering, since it touches
the oscillating process as well. I think it would require access to the
basic oscillation feedback loop. Either a self-oscillating filter (maybe
beefed up with nonlinear feedback to produce more than just a sine, here
we go again), or even manipulating the reset loop in a VCO core (aftertouch
controlled narrow notch filter before generating a pulse for resetting
the saw?). After all, a standard VCO circuit is synced from its own
signal, why not insert some processing there.
Did anybody do some research in this area?




On Wed, 24 Oct 2001 13:41:49 +0200 Czech Martin wrote:

> In the 80s there was a band called "Spliff" in Germany, maybe also known
> in Austria. (they first came up as "Nina Hagen Band", then
> "Spliff Radio Show"). They only had two hits "Carbonara", "Das Blech"
> which went to gold. They were too much ahead of their time, that's why.
> 
> They had strange lyrics but (my opinion) excelent keyboard
> sound (Reinhold Heil), well, the other instruments were also very
> good recorded/engineered. Brilliant productions.
> 
> Anyway, the track "Damals" has a very interesting
> sync sound (that is: I think that it must be sync).
> I can only describe it as octave flipping, the tone starts
> lower and then turns into the octave above, and maybe even higher.
> Such effects may be also obtained via electro acoustic feedback
> with a guitar/amplifier.
> 
> I think it was made with a Jupiter 8.
> I've been never able to synthesize this sound since it is very hard to
> analyse for me, so I can not guess into the right direction.
> 
> Perhaps there are some "sync" experienced people on this list,
> that could give me a hint. I realize that most people on the list
> don't know what I'm talking about.
> 
> http://grodecki.com/SPLIFF/spliff.htm
> 
> 
> m.c.