Song Sung SAM

An experimental patch demonstrating the use of the SAM voice synthesizer from the wonderful NYSTHI plugin.

The heart of the patch is a simple arrangement of three audio generators, including the SAM module, a “Basic Oscillator + Shaper” combo (both from Squinky Labs), and the Modal Synthesizer – aka Elements – from the Audible Instruments plugin. These generators are considerably modulated by a variety of sources. The ubiquitous BPM LFO does its part, but I’ve also deployed a pair of low-frequency noise modules, each treated by values from a Gray code generator. The Elements module also functions as a modulator for the SAM synthesizer. Effects processing is limited to a global reverb and a delay line applied only to the modal synth. No sampled sounds are used in this patch.

Pitch/frequency values are generated randomly by simple sequencers built by combining sample & hold modules with random gates, attenuverters, and quantizers. The remaining modules are primarily envelope generators (VCA + ADSR), clock dividers, polyphony merge/split modules, and preset selectors. While the core of the patch is simple enough, its routing and modulation paths are rather complicated.

The patch is self-generating, once it starts the unpredictability begins. The performance excerpt heard here was recorded by ecasound and edited with mhwaveedit, fine audio utilities for Linux.

The band:

Aria Salvatrice – Splirge
AS – DelayPlusFX
Audible Instruments – Modal Synthesizer
Autodafe – 1×8 Mult
Bogaudio – S&H
Frozen Wasteland – BPM LFO
HetrickCV – Random Gates
Impromptu Modular – Clocked, Tact, Tact-1
JW-Modules – Quantizer
NYSTHI – SAM, 4DCB
RJModules – Button
Skrylar – Jack 4×4
Squinky Labs – LFN, Gray Code, Basic Oscillator, Form, Shaper
Stoermelder – uMap, 8Face
SynthKit – Clock Divider
Valley Audio – Plateau
VCV – VCA-2, ADSR, 8Vert
Wiqid – Dual Attenuverter

My compliments and gratitude to them all for their dedication to rehearsals and for showing up on time for the gig.

Dave Phillips
07 June 2021

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  • Platform:
  • Category: Sound Synthesizer
  • Revision: 1.0
  • License: Custom License
    public domain
  • Modified: 3 years ago
  • Views: 78
    Likes: 5
    Downloads: 74
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