Quilcom QX7: Paying homage to the DX7 synth
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:09 pm
Hi all
This synth was inspired by Martin Vicanek's topic and the discussion that followed on.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3611
This is NOT an emulation of the grandfather of all digital synthesisers, the DX7, but it uses the same scheme of FM, using Phase Modulation, as in the original.
Iv'e provided 6 Operators (Oscillators with envelopes) with broadly the same facilities as the old man. The routing of these, known as the Algorithms, is catered for by hard-wired selection of the original 32 patterns and in addition Algorithm 0 is wired as a 6-stack with overall feedback which was not in the original. This is called the "User" Algorithm. You can view the Algorithms sheet from within the synth using a view button which will help to keep track of what is going on.
There is also a freely wireable Patch Bay for making your own Algorithms from the front panel. This wonderful creation was by Nubeat 7 so many thanks to him. I've configured this for using up to 10 patch cables. The original DX7 had a maximum of 9 connections so all reasonable variations should be catered for.
A few things are better than the original DX7 in my opinion:
-It's 16 bit audio, not like the original's 12 bit.
-Each Operator can connect or not to the polyphonic pitch envelope; the original's Pitch envelope affected all Operators equally.
-The LFO is polyphonic so its delay setting is active for individual notes.
-Each Operator has a range of waveforms and noise and isn't limited to Sine waves like the original. This extends the possibilities considerably.
-The decay and release stages of the Operators' envelopes is exponential (thanks to Martin Vinacek) so is more natural and dynamic.
-Parameters are fully variable and not quantised as they were in the DX7
-There is an effects chain whereas the DX7 had none.
Some points are different:
-The key to amplitude and rate scaling is less sophisticated but I believe is adequate for changing the results across the keyboard so higher notes can be given shorter decay and release times for instance.
-It's orange
I've made a few presets just to demonstrate a very limited subset of the huge range of possibilities so I hope these will whet your appetite and encourage experimentation. The DX7 had so many presets made by Yamaha and 3rd parties and I do believe that even more is possible with this take on a truly classic synth.
I'd love to hear any presets you come up with...
Have fun and let me know what you think. Please?
Cheers
Spogg
UPDATED 2.6.2020: Now version 1.12 with an extended factory preset bank by Manfred:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8m64vk2fu920h ... 2.zip?dl=0
This synth was inspired by Martin Vicanek's topic and the discussion that followed on.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3611
This is NOT an emulation of the grandfather of all digital synthesisers, the DX7, but it uses the same scheme of FM, using Phase Modulation, as in the original.
Iv'e provided 6 Operators (Oscillators with envelopes) with broadly the same facilities as the old man. The routing of these, known as the Algorithms, is catered for by hard-wired selection of the original 32 patterns and in addition Algorithm 0 is wired as a 6-stack with overall feedback which was not in the original. This is called the "User" Algorithm. You can view the Algorithms sheet from within the synth using a view button which will help to keep track of what is going on.
There is also a freely wireable Patch Bay for making your own Algorithms from the front panel. This wonderful creation was by Nubeat 7 so many thanks to him. I've configured this for using up to 10 patch cables. The original DX7 had a maximum of 9 connections so all reasonable variations should be catered for.
A few things are better than the original DX7 in my opinion:
-It's 16 bit audio, not like the original's 12 bit.
-Each Operator can connect or not to the polyphonic pitch envelope; the original's Pitch envelope affected all Operators equally.
-The LFO is polyphonic so its delay setting is active for individual notes.
-Each Operator has a range of waveforms and noise and isn't limited to Sine waves like the original. This extends the possibilities considerably.
-The decay and release stages of the Operators' envelopes is exponential (thanks to Martin Vinacek) so is more natural and dynamic.
-Parameters are fully variable and not quantised as they were in the DX7
-There is an effects chain whereas the DX7 had none.
Some points are different:
-The key to amplitude and rate scaling is less sophisticated but I believe is adequate for changing the results across the keyboard so higher notes can be given shorter decay and release times for instance.
-It's orange
I've made a few presets just to demonstrate a very limited subset of the huge range of possibilities so I hope these will whet your appetite and encourage experimentation. The DX7 had so many presets made by Yamaha and 3rd parties and I do believe that even more is possible with this take on a truly classic synth.
I'd love to hear any presets you come up with...
Have fun and let me know what you think. Please?
Cheers
Spogg
UPDATED 2.6.2020: Now version 1.12 with an extended factory preset bank by Manfred:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8m64vk2fu920h ... 2.zip?dl=0