New Ideas for Pulsar Modular

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Fri Oct 05, 2001 4:57 pm

This thread is for Ideas specific to Pulsar Modular - when we get enough cool stuff, I'll email CW with the requests or something.

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Fri Oct 05, 2001 4:57 pm

an "about" page for modular patches - like shareware devices have (ie. ingo's guitar amp). then essential info about the structure of the mods is readily available, and proper credits can be given to the author. . .

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Fri Oct 05, 2001 4:58 pm

the custom oscillators and filters of the Pro One by Zarg Music/John Bowen available as Modules in the modular - this might have to be a joint effort by CW/Zarg

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Fri Oct 05, 2001 4:59 pm

Rotor Oscillators, a la Zarg's Rotor synths - I here there is a rotor scope atom . . .

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Fri Oct 05, 2001 5:00 pm

granulator

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Sat Oct 06, 2001 3:36 am

Great idea A.

I'd be happy to see almost ANY development for ModV2. But first up I'd like a better sequencer - maybe a display with 32 steps. And an "export to audio" function would be superb. It's so good in Rebirth (and various other programs) to be able to have a drum or synth loop and export to a perfectly cut wav file.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Sat Oct 06, 2001 11:18 am

How about the ability to send MIDI out -- on the sequencers as note data, and maybe even "CV" signals generated by LFOs, the sequencers (anything really)...

yade · Post by **yade** » Sat Oct 06, 2001 12:23 pm

A module which can be interfaced with non sharc-dsp (intel/motorola) software?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: yade on 2001-10-06 13:23 ]</font>

massusen · Post by **massusen** » Sat Oct 06, 2001 2:48 pm

Morphing targets- like in the NordModular and JP8000(8080). It would be amazing; to be able to tweak- at your own specified amount- several knobs( not only modulationinputs- but all knobs!) all assigned through the morphing target to- say, the modulationwheel, or velocity. Total madness!

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Sat Oct 06, 2001 3:50 pm

On 2001-10-06 13:23, yade wrote:
A module which can be interfaced with non sharc-dsp (intel/motorola) software?

what do you mean? I doubt it is possible, whatever you mean. Pulsar only runs on SHARCs . . .

castol · Post by **castol** » Sat Oct 06, 2001 3:52 pm

a quad crossfade module. a la the tg33. with a visual x, y joystick and cv inputs to control the x and y axis.

i'm trying to work out how to do this with the crossfade modules, but as i've not dealt with a modular synthesizer before i'm having a little trouble susing out if this is possible/how to do.

i'd also appreciate a oscilloscope module so as to be able understand what some of the more esoteric mod routings/signal chains do to a signal.

being able to enclose a group of modules into a macro of one object would be nice. i have been playing with a graphics synth i discovered lately that has this option (onadime composer).

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Mon Oct 08, 2001 2:49 pm

How about going in a totally different direction? I've seen some requests on alternate synthesis techniques like physical modeling, granular etc.. I think it would be logical to have some sort of fft or stft analyzers with minimal support for algorhythmic

control.
The general "lean" towards subtractive and FM is actually sort of getting old... and I think there's only so much you can do with these methods.. What's interesting is that the STS5000's time stretching and pitch/formant shifting ability relies heavily on phase vocoding and heterodine analysis/resynthesis... So it means that Pulsar does have a way to do FFT related tranformations in real time.. Perhaps a spectral morph synth/effect shouldn't be too hard to implement since STS5000 seems to handle phase vocoding to a pretty high level. (though it probably won't reach kyma's level in terms of quality)
And perhaps a small scripting or programming package to tranform the analyzed data would be nice. As you all know, sts5000 requires a short analysis before you do the pitch/formant shifting abilities but what if you would alter the data with certain codes? What if there was a linear predictive or some sort of predictive module or perhaps even a 4 pole pitch detecting code and you could control read pitch information off an FFT analysis? Then you could control an EP's note number with your voice... and then perhaps modulate the EP/strings morph ratio with the amplitude of your voice.. you see where I'm heading? With some more heavy R&D it could even be possible to only use the odd harmonics of strings blended with the even harmonics of a guitar.. the possibilities are endless..
Sorry for my blabbering, I've had too much csound lately and I'm practically going berserks trying to help my friend finish up his graduation thesis... sheesh.. I still don't get why I'm feeding him with vital ideas..
But anyway, a little of juice from this field of dsp research could help in building some new wacky synths.
How about analyzing a specific audio, chopping it up into specific time segments(which could be changed according to how much amplitude change there is in the next segment), look for the average amplitude action there are, and then giving that as a label for each segment... that would give us a matrix right? (probably amplitude action for one axis and perhaps some other derivative as another axis) Then, that matrix, or a 2D plane could be used in conjunction with another axis.. say the cut off of a simple resonant lowpass filter.. that would give us a 3 axis 3 dimensional "space" sort of. Then... this is the punch line. You could end up with a 3 dimensional vector synthesizer with FFT/granular characteristics! Wow! Now that's a monster I'd like to work with.
Oh well, I'm getting a bit personal with this FFT thing.. but, you get the idea.. it can open new horizons, and with a little developement from creamware, it seems pretty realistic to me. errr... maybe JUST to me.

Ah ha! How about colaborations with IRCAM or ICMC people? They've got some really crazy/strange ideas.. I just read a '98 paper about having artificial lips made of latex blow a trumpet to see how real it can get... physical modelling? I don't know but it sure is a wacky synthesizer! haha:lol: So I think we could use a little of their craziness.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2001-10-08 15:56 ]</font>

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Mon Oct 08, 2001 2:55 pm

On 2001-10-06 16:50, algorhythm wrote:
On 2001-10-06 13:23, yade wrote:
A module which can be interfaced with non sharc-dsp (intel/motorola) software?
what do you mean? I doubt it is possible, whatever you mean. Pulsar only runs on SHARCs . . .

That actually might be interesting, even if it did generate latency -- perhaps with the newer 8x8 modular, you could simply route outputs to ASIO, effect it with whatever ASIO/VST instrument you had in mind, and return it back to your modular patch for further manipulation, MUAHAHA

alfonso · Post by **alfonso** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 12:44 pm

i'd like so much track sequencer modules(like reason's) , maybe single tracks with midi out and key edit, and an empty modular that loads patches (think to have one in your background.pro!). aahhh....

ciao, alfonso.

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:19 pm

An updated sequencer section would be fantastic. Maybe 32 steps with the ability to input steps direct from the keyboard instead of selecting numerical values on tiny sliders. Combine that with "export to audio" and you're finally talking serious sequencing and loop building.

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 9:20 am

Yikes! They better implement a way to tune filter cutoffs in Hz!! None of this 0-127 business... or is there a way? I mean, musically arbitrary numbers and units are ok but when you're trying to do something from specific analysis and data, they'd better go with scientific units.

yade · Post by **yade** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 10:50 am

perhaps with the newer 8x8 modular, you could simply route outputs to ASIO, effect it with whatever ASIO/VST instrument you had in mind, and return it back to your modular patch for further manipulation, MUAHAHA

Never thought about that... ofcourse!!!

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Wed Oct 17, 2001 5:43 am

How about some different sound sources - not just standard oscillators, but something a bit more environmental and uncontrolled. I'm not sure exactly what, but I'm sure you know what I mean - something for industrial and ambient.

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Wed Oct 17, 2001 9:38 am

Spirit wrote:
How about some different sound sources - not just standard oscillators, but something a bit more environmental and uncontrolled. I'm not sure exactly what, but I'm sure you know what I mean - something for industrial and ambient.

not sure what you have in mind, but run something in one or more of the EIGHT the audio ins! - TV, Radio, a Mic out of the window, the output of "Dope" or the "Filther" a HW synth or another pulsar synth, etc. etc. Process it beyond recognition in the Modular = ambient or industrial sounds depending on extent and type of processing and original input signal . . .

alfonso · Post by **alfonso** » Wed Oct 17, 2001 11:50 am

inputs and outputs for any tipe of signal (also modulation, freq., envelope etc.)!
i have many ideas for new modulars with such ins and outs....
cheers, alfonso.