Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Hi there Mango,

You asked:

"How to make "String" type sounds..." (also known as "Pads")


Start with any Waveform...

Essentially a Pad sound will have a slow attack and a generally longer
release.
ie. When you press down the key, the volume of the note rises slowly and
sutains until you release the key, then the note slowly fades away.

To get the volume to act in this way, select the "VCA∗" Knob Parameter
Group.
∗Note: "VCA" stands for (V)oltage (C)ontolled (A)mplifier. In the true
analogue world, a voltage is applied to the amplifier - as the voltage is
increased, this in turn raises the amplification (or, Volume).

To have the volume rise slowly when you press the key, you'll need to turn
up the "Attack' (within the (A)mplifier (E)nvelope (G)enerator). The "Decay"
adjusts the time taken to come back down to the volume set by the "Sustain".
The "Sustain" should be raised to the point that you wish the volume to
remain at whilst the key is still held down. Finally raise the "Release"
value to set the time taken for the sound to fade away.

There you have it.... Instant Pad sound!

To give the sound a bit of character. That is, to have its tonal
characteristics change over the time the note sounds, you'll need to have
the filter 'move' with the sound.

Select "VCF∗" Knob Parameter Group.
∗Note: "VCF" stands for (V)oltage (C)ontolled (F)ilter and works under the
same principal as the "VCA".

With the understanding of the Amp Envelope (ADSR), you can apply changes
that affect the filter in the same way.

NOTE: When making changes to the ADSR settings of the Filter Envelope, you
may need to adjust the 'depth' that the filter works to using the "FEG
Depth" Knob, and also the "VCF Cutoff" so that the changes are occuring
within an audible range. Add some "Resonance" and sure sure to hear the
results.

Finally to get some motion in the sound over time, you can modulate the "VCF
Cutoff" via an "LFO∗".
∗Note: (L)ow (F)requency (O)scillators don't make an audible sound. Instead,
the rising and falling voltage is applied to the Filter to cause it to rise
up and down at the same rate.

Press "PEG/LFO" in the Knob Parameter Group, select an "LFO1 Wave" type.
Adjust it's speed (LFO1 Spd). Note: a low value = low speed (Ideal for slow,
evolving pad sounds).

Finally go back to the "MIX/VCF" Knob Parameter Group and adjust the
"FmodDepth". This knob determines what sort of range the Filter will move
through as the LFO cycles up and down. A value of "0" equals no movement.

The are literally an infinite amount of variations and configurations
possible. The AN1x is well featured making it an incredibly versatile (and
much respected) synth.

This should help give you a guide into what's happening behind the scenes.
With all the technical jargon involved: LFO, AEG, FEG, ADSR, 123, ABC (:D)
etc., things can get pretty confusing to comprehend at first. If you need
further clarification of what I've described, please don't hesitate to ask
me and I'll do my best to explain it further.

Once you've learned how the different parameters interact, you can apply
this knowledge to any (virtual) analogue synthesizer with predictable
results.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on! :)

Merry Music Making!

Phil