V-Synth Tip. Blending filters (Like the Radias).

[Hollowcell]

As I have a bit of gear lust for the Radias, I thought I'd try to recreate the way it can blend between filters as you sweep cutoff and rez for both.

Although the V-Synth can do it (as I'll explain in a sec), it's not as easy to do as the Radias, plus you lose some functionality. On the other hand though, you can do more than the Radias in other ways.

Here's how:
1: Use the same waveform/sample for each OSC.
2: Set the V-Synth so each OSC and each Cosm will in paralel (Structure setting 3).
3: Set up two different filters on each of the Cosm blocks.
4: In the matrix set the XY-up to control OSC 1 level, and XY-left-right to control OSC 2 level. You have to use the XY setting that goes from the bottom left corner up, and the bottom left corner accross. Using the setting that starts from the centre won't work.
5: In the matrix use another destination for cutoff control.

And that's it. You may have to play around with param-amounts so as the two OSCs blend away from eachother easily and also without volume spikes, but this gives you the exact same effect as the Radias for blending between two filters.

The downfall: You can only use one waveform/sample as otherwise you will be blending between two different waveforms as well as two different filters. This can be saved by just resampling an already built patch though I guess.

The upsides: As the V-synth can run 2 sets of duel filters you can effective blend between 4 filters.
But the best things is, you can setup other Cosm stuff on each - imagine blending between two different amp sims, or different speaker sims.

Anyway, I got some nice results just playing around, so I thought it may interest the other owners here.

[Khazul]

Nice - your really loving that thing

I go through phases of not using the V-synth much to the point of thinking I should sell it - then suddenly I need something that only a V-synth will do for then Im reminded again what an amazing tool it is


I suspect the Radias variable filter is actually a careful blend of pairs of filters rather than a true variable filter algorythm.

There are general (and quite complex) algorythms to model any basic filter type which if fed with the right params would allow such modelling, but between LP and HP you should get a BP, or at least a Band Boost if the reso is up which isnt the way the radias works - its blend from LP to HP sounds more like a cross fade than a morph - I dont get the feel of it preserving a band boost over the transition.

The headache with general algorythms that I have seen (within my limited knowledge of the math) is that alot of what we appreciate as 'character' in a filter cant easily be modelled in such a general algorythm (real differences in behaviour between LP, BP and HP modes) - hence why it tends to find a place only in audio processing rather than synthesis.

What is nice about the radias filter vs the virus filter is the model they are using doesnt seem to be the usual stakc a pair of LP12s to get the LP24 which usually has a phase delay penalty with older (more analog like) algorythms. You can notice this on the virus with the reso cranked on certain pair of filter types and oddly they sound seems to cancel out - especially with reso boosted. The radias doesnt exhibit that at all which is nice so some of he black holes in the virus are easily acheiveable on the radias.

Merlot/ten - if you're reading this - whats you're thoughts on the radias filter sweeps?

If you have a mind to its easy to re-create this on a virus with the filter pairs and filter blend - in fact I think some preset patches allready do this between LP and HP.

There are some presets on the V-Synth that seem to do this as well - but havnt bothered to look into what they actually do.

[ten]

Hey Khaz,

I like the radias filter, it had a nice fizzy high end similar to the jp80xx and the reso worked quite well to (I so hate the high end on the virus, its just dead even with eq and the reso is just a load of bollocks, its like turning the volume down when you add lp filter reso.) I also had a lot of fun with the comb filter, some mad sounds with that.

A couple of things tho. I wasnt to impressed with the sweep to the different modes on filter one, they were very blatent and obvious, I was hoping for something a bit more subtle. Also I found the sound more often than not to be extremely digital and almost to clean to use, great for certain sounds but not what I was looking for a from a synth at this time (which is why it went back.)

Still, it is a great little box of tricks and has tons of features. Another osc and a LOT more mod routines would of been desireable but what can you do

ten

[Merlot]

I have to agree with ten on the clean fizz sound, except I use it all the time. That is one of the reasons I bought it. Personally I love the very clean high end sound of the filter.
I would tend to agree with Khaz on the filter sweep. it definitely sounds more like a sweep from filter type instead of a morph. But I find it quite useful for pads and such. I aslo dont find the resonance on the radias to be as harsh as on the TI.
One of my favorite fx to get some mad movement in a sound has got to be the grain shifter. That fx can really screw up a sound and either make it very very digital sounding or just ugly, distorted and harsh.
HC, break down and buy one!!

[Hollowcell]

Originally Posted by Merlot

HC, break down and buy one!!

Hehehe, na.... Even if I could bring myself to part with the cash, I doubt the wife would agree with the plan. A couple more analogues are on the cards at the moment though.

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

Which analogs are you eyeing up ?

Btw are you going to let your VC go?

DS

[Hollowcell]

I am thinking about picking up a MS10 and SH2. But before I do that I want to have a hands on with Future Retro's new one.

Na, I like the filters too damn much on the VC. It's permantly hooked up as a filter box now.