The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

Jim,

>I guess what I am asking..I know you have to have the VC0 going, and I 
>liked your explanation of FM, but still am not sure..what is the bare 
>minimum? Does the FM have to be present to get sound? What about the PEG? 
>I am guessing no, because I can set it to all 0 parameters and get notes..

The only thing you need to get a sound is at least one VCO level = 127 with 
a sawtooth or pulse wave, the VCA level = 127, the VCA EG's sustain = 127, 
and the cutoff frequency of the VCF set to 127.  (Actually, there are an 
almost infinite number of other combinations that make noise, but that's 
one of the most basic.)  The sound will be pretty tame, but there you are.

>I guess some of the parameter names are screwing me up a little..again I 
>think in a few places I have seen one option for parameters where you can 
>choose among several input types where you can set it to "fixed" and I 
>though this meant "not modulating" or effectively "off"..but thought to check.

"Fixed" means "fixed frequency" -- i.e., not modulated.  It does not 
necessarily mean "off."

>Also wondered..in general what is the ring modulator, (I thought from 
>electronics days it is one that goes around picking several different 
>inputs in turn...) and what is its' best use? I thought I noticed that for 
>some piano presets the ring modulator affects more the hard hits and makes 
>them more interesting..like a real electric piano when you hit the hammers 
>hard?

A ring modulator takes two inputs and produces the sum and difference 
frequencies of the two, without the fundamentals.  It's most often used to 
create clangorous, bell-like tones, or to impart an atonal feel to a 
sound.  The reason that it's useful in e-piano sounds is that most e-pianos 
only work as designed over a limited dynamic range.  If you push them hard, 
the "normal" operations break down, and all kinds of noises which are not 
related to the intended pitch get added to the sound.  These noises are 
musically useful in the right context, and have come to be part of the 
recognized sound of the e-piano.


Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions"
www.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389  voice
978.776.0096  fax
bruce@...