PolysixEX Tutorial 1A - String Sound

8/13/2019 PolysixEX Tutorial 1A - String Sound

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PolysixEX Tutorial 1: Programming a String Sound

Material: PolysixEX Reference Cards and a KORG Kronos. Level: Beginner. Time: 15 min. Goals: Program a string sound using the PolysixEX and add Kronos effects.

This tutorial describes step by step how to program a string sound with the KORG KronosPolysixEX. Further, it includes some experimentation with the newly created sound.This tutorial consists of four parts:1. Setting up the Basic Sound2. Shape the Sound3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosification

4. Summary Schema of all settings

The String Experiment

1. Setting up the Basic Sound

1. Select a free USER Program and set in the Commontab the EXi 1 Instrument TypetoPolysixEX.

2. Select the EXi 1tab.

3. First we will reset the PolysixEX by setting: VCO PW/PWM = 0 PWM SPEED = 0 SUB OSC = OFF VCF CUTOFF = 5 RESONANCE = 0 EG INTENSITY = 0 VCA MODE = gate EG DECAY = 0 SUSTAIN = 0 EFFECTS

MODE = OFF

Leave the other values at their default setting.

Were going for a string type sound.

PolysixEX Tutorial: Programming a String Sound

2012 Kris Oosting (dongfang) 1


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Start with the basic sound source- the VCO.You can leave the settings for now, which should be:

VCO VIBRATO INT = 0 OCTAVE = 8 WAVEFORM = saw PW/PWM = 0 PWM SPEED = 0 SUB OSC = OFFA saw waveform is good for strings.

2. Shape the SoundNow we have to shape the sounda little, by determining which frequencies we want tocut off. For this we look at the VCF- Voltage Controlled Filter.

4. Select the CUTOFFknob on the Kronos screen and move the value slider up whileplaying. From 6 upwards, the sound becomes more stringy for higher frequencies are passingthrough the filter. Leave it at 8. Note that you can also enter the number 8using the number buttons and then pressENTER.

5. Select the RESONANCEbutton on screen and move the value slider up and down.Notice that the sound becomes sharper and thinner at higher values. Try the same again with CUTOFF = 4 and notice the difference. Okay, leave CUTOFF = 8and RESONANCE = 1for a nice sharp string.We want to shape the sound even further. This can be done with the help of the EG- theEnvelope Generator.But, before an envelope can be generated, you have to create one. This is done by theADSR knobs or ATTACK, DECAY, SUSTAIN and RELEASE.The A, D and R are timerelated and the S is levelrelated.

We want our strings to start softly and then increase. This is done by increasing the valueof ATTACK - the time from the moment you press a key on the keyboard (note-on) until themaximum level is reached.

6. Enter the following values, by selecting the knobs on screen and enter the numbers: ATTACK = 3 DECAY = 7 SUSTAIN = 5 RELEASE = 5 Play a chord. Huh? No change! This is because EG INTENSITYis set to 0. Meaning that the EG does not yet shapes,

or controls the cutoff frequency by means of an envelope. I personally find this concept still difficult to grasp. But try the following:




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7. Set CUTOFF = 2and EG INTENSITY = 5and ATTACK = 7.

Play a chord and hold the keys. It starts off soft and becomes more sharp. What you hear is that it takes some time before the cutoff reaches setting 10 (startingfrom 2 in this case). The time it needs to get there is set by the ATTACK time. Okay, reset the values to CUTOFF = 8and EG INTENSITY = 0and ATTACK = 3.

Lets shape the sound in volume.That is, put an envelope around the sound that alters the volume in time. See figure 1below.Slowly increase the volume on note-on, lower the volume a little, and let it die out afternote-off.

EG- Envelope Generator

Attack Decay

SustainRelease

Keydown

Keyup

ADSR setting as 'template' toshape the sound

IN: Unshaped sound OUT: shaped soundEnvelope used by the

EG to shape the sound

Figure 1. Shaping the sound

8. Look at the VCAand set MODE = EG. Play a chord or two and yes, this is more familiar!9. Now lets add a more string feeling by going to EFFECTSand set MODE =

ENSEMBLE, and for a nice SPREAD = 8. We dont want this effect going to deep, soset SPEED/INTENSITY = 4.

Again, play a chord. Not bad, isnt it?




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The MG, or Modulation Generator, can assist in shaping the soundeven further. Aswritten in the reference cards:The MG is used for cyclic or repetitive modulation effectslike:

VCO (pitch) for vibrato(frequency goes up and down);

VCF (filter) for wah-wah(filter settings go up and down); VCA (amplitude) for tremolo(volume level goes up and down).

Experiment:Try MG settings: FREQUENCY/TIMES = 4, DELAY = 0, LEVEL = 5, and MODE = VCO. Both SYNCs

are off.Play C4-E4-G4 and have a police car like sound. Well, sort of anyway.

For our string sound we only want a soft delayed type of vibrato.10.Set for MG:

FREQUENCY/TIMES = 6, DELAY = 4, LEVEL = 0.06, and MODE = VCO. Both SYNCsare off. Youve probably noticed that LEVEL is very sensitive.

Play again. Much better now.However, still a little loud.

11.Set for the VCA, ATTENUATOR = -2. (adjusts the volume a little down.) Even better.

Experiment:make the strings fuller.Try to set for the VCO, SUB OSC = 1 OCT.Now you have a second tune one octave below the VCO pitch. This gives fuller strings.

3. The Beauty Pass - KronosificationNow we have to make the sound more Kronos worthy.

12.Select the Commontab.

13.Then the IFXtab, and then the Insert FXsubtab.

14.Set IFX1 = On, and select for the effect: 011: Stereo Parametric 4EQ

15.Select the IFX 1-12subtab and then IFX1(if not selected).

16.Enter the following settings for the Stereo Parametric 4EQ effect:

PARAMETRIC EQ Trim = 50 Band1 Type = Shelving-Low Band4 Type = Peaking Band1 Fc [Hz]: 20 Q: Gain [dB]: -9.5 Band2 Fc [Hz]: 300 Q: 1.1 Gain [dB]: 6




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Band3 Fc [Hz]: 4.1 Q: 8.8 Gain [dB]: -11 Band4 Fc [Hz]: 11.2 Q: 2.5 Gain [dB]: 9.5 GAIN MOD Band2 Source: OffLeave the other settings on their default value.

17.Select the Routingsubtab.

18.In the Bus Select (IFX/Indiv.Out Assign)section set EXi 1&2to: IFX1.

Play some chords. Not that bad!

We go for more!

19.Back to Insert FX subtab.

20.Set IFX2 = On, and select for the effect: 051: Stereo Phaser.

21.Also select the little squareunder Chainof IFX1. The sound now travels through IFX1to IFX2 and out.

22.Select subtab IFX 1-12and side tab (left) IFX2 (if not selected).

23.Enter the following settings for Stereo Phaser:

PHASER Depth: 34 Resonance: +52 LFO Frequency [Hz]: 0.20 OUTPUT Wet/Dry: Dry (Experiment: try the Wet setting. i.e. Wet = more effect)Leave the rest on their default values.

Play some chords. Even better.Time to add some reverb to finish it off. The cream on the pudding, so to speak.

24.Go to the MFX/TFXtab. Then to the Routingsubtab (if not yet selected).

25.Set TFX1 = Onand select for the effect 100: O-verb.

26.Select the TFX 1subtab.

27.Enter the following settings for O-verb:




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REVERB Reverb Time: 60 (you can try different values and choose what you like best)

OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 30:70 Amount: +30

Time to test the sound.Play (smoothly):

1. Eb (G3-Bb3-Eb4)2. Gm (G3-Bb3-D4)3. F sus4 (F3-Bb3-C4)4. F (F3-A3-C4)5. Dm (D3-F3-A3)

6. C (C3-E3-G3)7. F (A2-C3-F3)

If the sound is too massive, try to set of the Polysix VCO, SUB OSC = OFF.

There you are, youve programmed your PolysixEX string sound.

Note of MXF/TFX:You could also add the O-verb to the IFX. For example, route IFX2 to IFX3 and makeIFX3 = O-verb.Youre not using the MFX/TFX then.This can be handy if you want to copy your created sounds to combis.

On the next page youll find the summary schema of the settings for this tutorial.




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Summary SchemaSettings for the String Sound in this tutorial - for if youre in a hurry and want to quicklyprogram the sound again.

VCO

create raw

sound

KBD

VCF

shape the

sound

VIBRATO INT = 0OVTAVE = 8WAVEFORM = sawPW/PWM = 0PWM SPEED = 0SUB OSC = OFF or 1 OCT

ATTACK = 3DECAY = 7SUSTAIN = 5RELEASE = 5

VCA

amplify the

sound

EG

(Envelope

Generator)

CUTOFF = 8

RESONANCE = 1EG INTENSITY = 0KBD TRACK = 75

MODE = EGATTENUATOR = -2

EFFECTS

apply effects

MODE = ENSEMBLESPREAD = 8SPEED/INTENSITY = 4

MG

(Modulation

Generator)

SYNC KEY = OFFSYNC TEMPO = OFFFREQUENCY/TIMES = 6

DELAY = 4

LEVEL = 0.06MODE = VCO

KRONOS

IFX1

TFX

IFX2

011: Stereo Parametric 4EQ

PARAMETRIC EQ

Trim = 50

Band1 Type = Shelving-Low

Band4 Type = Peaking

Band1 Fc [Hz]: 20 Q: Gain [dB]: -9.5

Band2 Fc [Hz]: 300 Q: 1.1 Gain [dB]: 6

Band3 Fc [Hz]: 4.1 Q: 8.8 Gain [dB]: -11

Band4 Fc [Hz]: 11.2 Q: 2.5 Gain [dB]: 9.5

GAIN MOD

Band2 Source: Off

051: Stereo PhaserPHASER

Depth: 34

Resonance: +52

LFO

Frequency [Hz]: 0.20

OUTPUT

Wet/Dry: Dry100: O-verb

REVERB

Reverb Time: 60

OUTPUT

Wet/Dry: 30:70 Amount: +30



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PolysixEX Tutorial 1A - String Sound