Quilcom Spectre: A more intuitive additive synth

[Spogg]

Hi guys!

Here's my Quilcom Spectre synth.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xne9gk6t40fxm ... 0.zip?dl=0

It's another additive type synth for sure but I've tried to make it a bit more intuitive to get results. Since sound design with this seems easier to me I've been able to quickly provide 35 presets to get things going and to show some of the possibilities.

Notes:

There are 20 Partial strips; 10 panned to the Left and 10 to the right. The stereo field can be varied between max and mono prior to feeding into the effects rack.
The knobs are, I hope, fairly obvious in their function but I should tell you the FM knobs are pre-fader self-feedback for Phase Modulation within each partial strip. The exception is the bottom two strips whose FM source is from the partial above it in the racks.
The "Set all" strip does just that and the knobs aren't saved in the Presets. If you operate any of these knobs all the knobs of the same name will be matched to the Set all knob. In this way I would suggest you get the overall envelope etc. about right first then edit individual partial strips as needed.
Also note that the response of the Set all knobs is very laggy in Flowstone but dead slick in the VSTi included in the zip (tested in Reaper 5). NO idea why...
The Reset button is for clearing any stuck notes, which is a lovely 'feature' of Flowstone's MIDI handling. I only ever get a stuck note occasionally and that ties in with extensive use of the Sustain (Hold) pedal. I'm told this is normal but it's a shame.

I think and hope that all will be clear after messing around with the Spectre for a bit. If not, just say.

This one has been my favourite of my synths so far so I hope at least one other person will get a bit of enjoyment and interest from it.

EDIT: I've added Martin Vinacek's excellent comb filter in an independant noise strip, at the bottom of the GUI, which has great flexibility. There are 5 new presets that make use of it; numbers 36 to 40. The other presets are unchanged. I think the versatility of this synth has been usefully expanded by this addition. Get it here (the 1.0 is still available):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n4366qbpfe1j4 ... 1.zip?dl=0

EDIT 2:
The version 1.1 when exported as a dll VSTi had clicking audible when additional notes were played in a chord (found by accident, not feedback!). This was in Reaper 5.04 and not audible when running in Flowstone. I've had this before and it's down to using delays (any delay) in a polyphonic stream. Maybe it's only Reaper that does this...?
So I've made version 1.11 which has a poorer but working comb filter of sorts. Doesn't sound as good as Martin's but the result is useable and much better that straight filtering of noise. My comb uses 3 state variable filters in series with a variable offset of tuning frequency for each stage. So a bit naff but working and no clicks.
I've left the version 1.1 available because not everyone may get the clicks and Martin's comb IS better.

Version 1.11 has the five presets using the noise strip edited to sound ok.

Here it is:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n0ry91abekjaf ... 1.zip?dl=0


Cheers

Spogg

[martinvicanek]

Thanks Spogg, another great orange synth! The wide range of presets is inspiring. Julia has struck me with her calm, modest timbre - ideal for Bach. Christine has a very personal attitude, like a taste of oak in a 2008 Rioja wine. Good job once again!

Some of the programs use noise, which for me feels a bit detached from the tonal aspect of the sound. I found that a good blend is achieved when you run the noise through a tuned comb filter.

Keep on the good work!
Martin

[Spogg]

Thanks Spogg, another great orange synth! The wide range of presets is inspiring. Julia has struck me with her calm, modest timbre - ideal for Bach. Christine has a very personal attitude, like a taste of oak in a 2008 Rioja wine. Good job once again!

Some of the programs use noise, which for me feels a bit detached from the tonal aspect of the sound. I found that a good blend is achieved when you run the noise through a tuned comb filter.

Keep on the good work!
Martin

Hey thanks Martin!

TBH I've never felt very happy when I make a preset with noise; never sounds right somehow (unless it's a percussive sound). I shall experiment with a tuned comb filter but can you upload a good one for me because I'm feeling lazy today

Cheers

Spogg

[martinvicanek]

I shall experiment with a tuned comb filter but can you upload a good one for me because I'm feeling lazy today

Here is one which I ripped off of another project. If you poke inside there is that comb filter module. Inside that is the feedback delay loop where you can set the feedback amount. A negative number will give you odd harmonics, which make a nice cohesion with a triangle wave. Note that this is a plain vanilla demo without further effects. I would suggest to add perhaps a slight delayed 2 Hz tremolo and a fair amount of space delay. Play with a dynamic keyboard and use pitch bending if you are into this kind of stuff (I am ).

[Spogg]

Wow Martin thanks SO much

Not only have you done it again and immediately answered my needs, but you've created a synth dedicated to a certain type of instrument. I was startled when I fired it up and heard the quality of the emulation.

I'm tempted to modify the Spectre to include this filter...

Cheers

Spogg

P.S. That lottery generator you made me needs more work I think...

[tulamide]

You're making it very hard for me. I would love to give you feedback to your synths. Unfortunately they are way too demanding.

My experience with Spectre: Extracted, running the fsm. Could see some Ruby Error for the fraction of a second, then crash to desktop. Started Flowstone, then loaded the fsm. No error this time. Without having done anything but loading the fsm, cpu load is already at 10%. Played one note, cpu load at 20%. Curious about what happens when the 4 SSE channels are exceeded. Played 5 notes, cpu load at 40%. Switched to another preset. Played one note - crash to desktop without any notification. Frustrated.

But I like the new GUI. It is more organized and appealing (and smaller!). You obviously took more care than for the earlier synths. Well done!

[Spogg]

Hi and thanks for the feedback so far...

@Martin:
I've added an independant noise strip which makes use of your totally excellent comb filter. I've quickly made 5 presets 36-40 which make use of it. It's in the first post and here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n4366qbpfe1j4 ... 1.zip?dl=0

Many thanks for this!

@tulamide:
I really do appreciate your GUI comments. I did take on board as many of your comments regarding layout as I could (well, maybe not about the colour scheme I guess ). The new noise strip has detracted from it a little but I think it's worth it.
It's a real shame you can't get it to play with your CPU. I did find that the VSTi works well in Reaper 5. Did you try the plugin? It's in the zip. Also I have no idea why the "Set all" knobs are so laggy in FS but slick in Reaper.
What spec is the PC you tried it out on? FS 3.08.1 or earlier?
My interest is in monster synths, especially additive ones, so I guess that not everyone will be able to use them. Maybe, one day, I'll make some music to show off this synth and see how it performs on my system with multiple instances. One day, when I have a fire extinguisher to hand.

Take care y'all

Cheers

Spogg

[tulamide]

I will give the VST plugin a try.

I'm on a Athlon II X2 250 (2 cores @ 3 GHz), FS 3.0.6 and probably just not the audience for monster synths

Btw.: A new part of the GUI design is on the way, I was just so distracted from the new oscillator!

[BobF]

Hi Spogg,

Yes, I like this one the best so far also. Lots of great sounds, just wish I could play keyboards. So much variations in the sounds make it really cool. And martins comb filter plus your noise is super.

Keep it up!

As always, BobF.....

[Spogg]

Thanks Bob!

Unfortunately on my system, running Reaper 5.04, the VSTi export has clicks audible when you play a staggered chord.
I've explained more in my Edit 2 of the original post and there's a new version 1.11 there to download. Here too:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n0ry91abekjaf ... 1.zip?dl=0

Cheers

Spogg