[sdiy] String Filter - Answers (different than NM post)

[Kenneth Elhardt]

Les Mizzell writes:
>>Would somebody please repost the links to the sound files?<<

So you don't even listen to my demos anymore?  To keep it short here is one
demo from my first post using an older generic string filter.  I'll refrain
from reposting all the other info, charts, and demos as they became obsolete
after created several different string filters adjusted to individual
instuments.  Those demos are after the dotted line.

One pitfall that I've encountered is when using the same string filter for a
ll the instruments in an ensemble. I did one recording I didn't even place
online because the entire orchestra sounded like it was playing through a
tin can even though the individual instruments sounded pretty good by
themselves. When I thought about it I realized that they were all
emphasizing each other. Where as in a real orchestra, different instruments
have different frequency responses and they smooth and average each other
out. This is just one more reason to do it digitally where you can change
filter settings unlike a fixed analog filterbank. None-the-less I tried to
do a number of things differently to minimize that bad effect in my
following Bach performance of a small up-close chamber group (with sampled
harpsichord). Still it's a quite resonance sounding and badly distorts and
sounds like total crap in many other ways through computer sound systems.
Needs to be played through something that can handle severe resonances
popping out all over the place, such as quality headphones. Even there,
there were some problems, such as the popular Sony MDR-7506 which sounded
ear-piercingly nasal in the 2K to 4K range. If using those, or others with
the same problem, listen to the second file labeled (Sony). If using
Sennheiser HD-280, AKG K240, Fostex T50RP (needs treble boost if possible),
or most others, try the first one labeled (Senn).

Filesize 809,553 bytes:

http://home.att.net/~elhardt4/Nord_Baroque_Strings_Senn.mp3

http://home.att.net/~elhardt4/Nord_Baroque_Strings_Sony.mp3


---------New, string filter adjusted to real instruments--------------------

Sorry, but I'm still weeks behind and still haven't had time to catch up on
posts.  Hope to do so by/over the weekend.  Problem is I need this internet
computer downstairs, so I'm disconnected weeks at a time.  Didn't want
mailbox to overflow so downloading mail now and figured I'd throw up some
recent string filter mods I'm working on.  These obsolete the last ones I
did and these soon too will be obsolete too.  The first demos used a generic
filter for all string sounds and there was no distinction between
instruments such as violin and cello.  These ones I did a first pass on and
moved bands around trying to create peaks and dips where they would be on
the real instruments.  Next pass I'll get compare to specific samples that
have certain characteristics I want and try to modify the string filters
even closer to the real thing.  Following are some short demos ranging from
about 6 to 38 seconds.  Should be listened to through good headphones (I
have not heard them through anything else).

This is a real viola sliding up in pitch on a string followed by the Nord
Modular doing the same thing.  Even at this level, they are very close.

Filesize: 95 KB

http://home.att.net/~elhardt4/Viola_Slide_Real_vs_Nord.mp3


String filter adjusted to violin.

Filesize: 568 KB

http://home.att.net/~elhardt4/Nord_Violin_Maneuvers.mp3


I'm playing the Nord violin with my right hand over a sampled string orch
preset from a Roland synth in the background.  In the low range the nord
actually sounds better than just about all the violin samples I own,
noticable in particular near the end of the piece.

Filesize: 515 KB

http://home.att.net/~elhardt4/Nord_Violin_Romantic.mp3


Irish reel with nord violin doubled with jig flute sample just for the hell
of it.

Filesize: 140 KB

http://home.att.net/~elhardt4/Nord_Violin_Celtic.mp3


Best part about this piece are the cello parts which also end in a plucked
chord at the end (yes, they can do pizzicato too).  Orginally the piece
wasn't too bright so I ran it through custom sharpening code I wrote to
brighten it up, but that really brought out the noise too.

Filesize: 573 KB

http://home.att.net/~elhardt4/Nord_Strings_Beatles.mp3


-Elhardt