Kurzweil PC3/K/LE NXTP Demo Patch -- San Pedro

[poserp]

I've done enough telling, now it's time for showing:

 

http://www.ksetlist.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=710

 

Let me know if you can't access that file (i.e. you don't want to create a ksetlist account) and I'll post it someplace else; at the moment that seems to be the best clearinghouse for PC3 files.

 

Anyways, this is a demo patch showing what NXTP is all about. I've included another program as well, "NXTP San PedroFM" that's the basic FM synthesis behind the program. The "NXTP" part is implemented in "NXTP San Pedro" and demonstrates how frequency-dependent FM and other techniques can be used to create a more realistic "electric piano".

 

Since we no longer have Sonikmatter, forgive me while I use this space to talk a bit about the extra synthesis that's going on here.

 

Currently, most synths do some combination of AM, FM, physical modeling, additive, subtractive, and/or wavetable synthesis. These are fine and good, and there are many sounds that can be done using these techniques, but there are limitations. For instance, the main limitation with physical modeling is computation power; that won't be a limit for too much longer, but at the same time as computers get faster the physical models become more complex. AM and FM create interesting spectra but the capabilities for controlling the resulting partials are somewhat limited. You can get pretty far if you understand the math behind both techniques, however there are more advanced frequency shaping things that either can't be done or are much easier if you throw in classical subtractive filters.

 

What I'm trying to do is find shortcuts. For instance, by combining FM and subtractive synthesis, I think we can approach more complex synthesis tasks (wind instruments, electro-acoustic pianos, etc) without the expensive computations of physical modeling. This is what I am doing with NXTP -- using combinations of FM, subtractive, and various proprietary VAST synthesis techniques together to create "realistic" instruments (or get more "realistic" than you can by using any of the aforementioned synthesis methods in isolation).

 

I think the results are pretty good, although there's much work left to be done. With San Pedro you can adjust things like cabinet and tone bar resonances and have these interact with each other in interesting ways. It's implemented as two parallel bandpass filters (one with a fixed frequency, one that tracks the notes played) into an FM operator, so the basic signal path is two FM operator pairs in series, mixed together and sent through two parallel bandpass filters, with a final FM operator at the end that can be mixed with the summed output from the filters. So, the filters provide control over the output of the first two FM operator pairs and impart the "fingerprint" of the cabinet and individual tone bar on the signal. Then, when FM is applied to the result, the sidebands produced carry that same signature.

 

So, enjoy and feel free to leave feedback. Thanks!

[Dave Weiser]

Brilliant as ever PoserP!!!

[poserp]

And now, some sound examples.

 

 

This contains the basic FM synthesis patch demo and demos of four of the "presets" for NXTP San Pedro. The basic FM is based on the classic DX ep sound, but with a few mods to make it more like a Wurlitzer. If you have the patch, the Data slider can turn down/off the "tines" to get even closer to a wurli. All mods are simple FM and envelope tweaks and could be replicated on other FM-capable synths with at least four operators. Here are some short descriptions for the San Pedro preset demos:

 

Preset 1 -- a mellow EP sound

 

Preset 2 -- a stronger sound, somewhat similar to a Wurlitzer, good for driving chords.

 

Preset 3 -- similar to the "classic" DX sound, but with (IMO) a bit more soul.

 

Preset 4 -- similar to a clavinet. The program has some envelope release baked in; removing that would help improve the clav-ness along with some careful tweaking of the filters. Or, you can do something completely different and come up with all sorts of variations to create your own sound.

 

Anyways, enjoy! When I'm done voicing the presets for San Pedro I'll probably post them as well.

 

Note -- if you're listening to the playlist, the order is San PedroFM, Preset 4, Preset 3, Preset 2, Preset 1.

[poserp]

Ok, I've updated the original KSetList post to include a link to the PC3 file that contains all 10 of the presets for NXTP San Pedro. I've also updated the SoundCloud set to add demos for all of them as well (and put the demos in order).

 

In case you're not a Kurzweil person, lemme explain a bit what this is all about. The idea is to create a single Program that can create a wide range of sounds, then control that using the nine sliders, switches, and other real-time controls on the PC3. So, what I've done here is create a single Program, then tweaked the sliders to create 10 different "presets". These presets can either be played as-is or can be used as a basis for further programming by adjusting the sliders and other controls or by hitting the "edit" button. So, players who want to keep it simple can mess with the sliders and get instant gratification. Those who want to dive in more can do that as well.

 

NXTP will contain 10 of these Programs (I call them "models") with 10 presets apiece for a total of 100 Programs. It will also contain 20 or so custom effect chains that use a common set of controls so you can easily switch the effects used in the current Program (or you can use them with your own Programs).

 

Anyways, thanks for reading and Enjoy!

[Synthaholic]

I really like San Pedro Preset 1 but it sounds to me like an acoustic, not "a mellow EP sound".

 

With the forthcoming set include acoustic and fusion/non-rock lead guitars? Or are you concentrating on variations of piano/EP/clav/harpsichord?

 

Really impressive work, PoserP! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/HandsomeTramp/smilies/thumbsup.gif

[poserp]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

I feel that most of the advancements in piano-like instruments halted sometime in the mid-1980's. Since then most efforts have focused on reproduction -- sampling and physical modeling, for instance, are largely driven by the desire to recreate existing instruments rather than create new instruments to play.

 

NXTP is all about creating new instruments to play. It is interesting that some of the "models" I've made can sound somewhat like preexisting instruments, but the the primary focus is new sounds. The real challenge is to create something new that also connects with keyboard players -- doubly so for me since I'm primarily a guitarist. I would like for keyboard players to play these Programs and feel like they're playing a real instrument, and I'd like to provide a wide scope for experimenting with these Programs so that players can really create their own "sound" that stands apart from the usual suspects.

 

I think it's possible to do this; the DX7 demonstrated that this was possible with its signature EP sound. So, even though the DX7 is a synth and that sound is just another patch, it has developed a life of its own (for better or worse...) and left its imprint (again, for better or worse...) on various styles of music.

 

I've named all of the Programs in this set after various areas I'm familiar with (or like, or like the name of) in Southern California. I've imagined backstories for these instruments -- for instance, the NXTP Yermo in my mind was created by a lounge player who split his time between Vegas and LA, so he set up shop in Yermo and spent his time experimenting with various kinds of keyboard instruments (what else are you going to do in Yermo?). In the end he created something that he could use for gigs in both cities. And, while he died in anonymity, his keyboard design lives on.

 

Anyways, at the end of the day I hope that players will use these sounds and enjoy them as if they really existed as stand-alone instruments.