[sdiy] Solina-like String Ensemble effect PCB

[Thomas Hudson]

Absolutely beautiful. I could put those samples on loop and listen  
over and over.

I definitely want a board when you're ready to offer them.

On Oct 15, 2007, at 12:37 PM, JH. wrote:

> Hi,
>
> many of you have shown interest in my PCB project to emulate the  
> string
> ensemble effect of Solina, Crumar, and other similar keyboards.
> I have finished the prototype and have put up some sound samples.
>
> Setup for demos: OB-8 (mostly set to a boring single-oscillator,
> unmodulated sound) -> JH Triple Chorus / String Ensemble Effect ->  
> Reverb
> (String Ensemble Effect is sometimes bypassed to show the dry sound.)
>
> Plain and simple string sound (1.1 MB mp3)
> http://www.jhaible.heim.at/triple_chorus/ 
> jh_string_ensemble_demo_just_strings_r8b.mp3
> I start with a dry sound just to show you how much the Ensemble  
> Effect is
> altering it, and I switch back to the dry sound towards the end for  
> the same
> reason.
>
> Enhancing a bell sound (740 kB mp3)
> http://www.jhaible.heim.at/triple_chorus/ 
> jh_string_ensemble_demo_bells_r8b.mp3
> I think the effect is interesting for other sounds than just mere  
> strings,
> as well.
>
> Chorale sound (equalized ensemble effect) (470 kB mp3)
> http://www.jhaible.heim.at/triple_chorus/ 
> jh_string_ensemble_demo_mideq_chorale_r8b.mp3
> I wouldn't sell this as a specialized choir effect device, but it's
> certainly an alternative to the straight Solina-like stuff.
> All done with the on-board 3-band Equalizer (which was inspired by the
> Crumar Performer).
>
> Stereo effect using individual outputs (390 kB mp3)
> http://www.jhaible.heim.at/triple_chorus/ 
> jh_string_ensemble_demo_stereo_r8b.mp3
> Yes, we can do Stereo, with the individual outputs.
> My first thought was to take the 3 individual outputs and mix them,  
> one
> panned left, one center, and one right. But then the "Ensemble"  
> effect falls
> apart, and the modulation sounds overly strong. I think you can do  
> a lot of
> experiments with mixing the individual outputs, and will find  
> interesting
> configurations.
> The above sound sample was made with a very simple setup, however:
> The full mix (main output) goes to one channel, and one individual  
> channel
> goes to the other. The two channels are then panned almost (but not  
> totally)
> left and right on the mixing desk.
>
> Playing around with the EQ section (1.5 MB mp3)
> http://www.jhaible.heim.at/triple_chorus/ 
> jh_string_ensemble_demo_playing_with_eq_r8b.mp3
> Just some aimless turning of the 3 potentiometers in the EQ  
> section, while
> my OB-8 arpeggiates away. I obviously change the OB-8 sound to  
> something
> percussive towards the end, and I also adjust the OB-8's filter  
> envelope
> setting slightly for the percussive sound, but I think it's quite  
> clear what
> comes from the OB-8 and what comes from the Crumar-like 3-Band EQ.
>
> Adjusting the waveform pot to find the "sweet spot" (790 kB mp3)
> http://www.jhaible.heim.at/triple_chorus/ 
> jh_string_ensemble_demo_waveform_adjust_r8b.mp3
> What is "the Solina Sound"? I think without any modulation waveform  
> clipping
> (like the sound sample starts; please also see the discussion of  
> this topic
> above!), is a tad overly lush for a solina. Or maybe it isn't.  
> During this
> sound sample, I chance the modulation waveform from no clipping to  
> almost
> totally clipped and back, and I think the "Solina sound" is where the
> waveform is just ever so slightly clipped.
> This soft clipping (the "waveform" trimpot on the board) is  
> different from a
> simple attenuation of the modulation CV. It's possible to attenuate  
> (or to
> boost) the modulation CV, too, by changing 3 resistors on the  
> board, if you
> want to make further experiments.
>
> More information, and pictures of the prototype, here:
> http://www.jhaible.heim.at/triple_chorus/triple_chorus.html
>
> JH.
>
>
>
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