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K-Plugs part 4 !
The next step to program a VAST instrument...
The next step to program a VAST instrument...
The K-Plug's concept is to help the programming of a VAST instrument with the heavy use of the instrument's controllers. In the case of U-Max 101, the concept is pushed a bit further because to the addition of the onboard controls, you can program your Kurzweil with the help of the PARAMETERS page too, which drastically enhanced the power...
With U-max 101, you have close to 50 parameters under your fingers to make your sounds, and above all this, you don't need any VAST knowledge to have fun ! You can think of the K-Plugs as dedicated pieces of software that you load into your Kurzweil and morphs it into a specific kind of synthesizer.
For example, COBALT, available on this site for the PC3 line and the Forte, will transform your instrument into a pure FM synthesizer...
U-Max 101 will make your PC3Le behave like a very powerful virtual analog synthesizer and of course it's provided with a full load of presets, including programs and no less than 48 inits programs based on 24 types of filters, totally inspired from the great Oberheim Matrix 12 / Xpander filter section.
Each of this 24 init's program comes in two versions : Velocity ON or OFF.
With U-max 101, you have close to 50 parameters under your fingers to make your sounds, and above all this, you don't need any VAST knowledge to have fun ! You can think of the K-Plugs as dedicated pieces of software that you load into your Kurzweil and morphs it into a specific kind of synthesizer.
For example, COBALT, available on this site for the PC3 line and the Forte, will transform your instrument into a pure FM synthesizer...
U-Max 101 will make your PC3Le behave like a very powerful virtual analog synthesizer and of course it's provided with a full load of presets, including programs and no less than 48 inits programs based on 24 types of filters, totally inspired from the great Oberheim Matrix 12 / Xpander filter section.
Each of this 24 init's program comes in two versions : Velocity ON or OFF.
U-Max 101 sound engine spec's :
Before going further i suppose you want to know exactly what is the heart of this K-Plug...
Here are the spec's :
2 oscillators section :
Oscillator 1
- SAW and SQUARE with PW and PWM,
- a SUB oscillator with -1 or -2 octave settings with SQUARE or PULSE waveform
- a NOISE source
The oscillator 1 structure is clearly inspired from the JUNO / SH series...
Oscillator 2
- SAW or SQUARE setting with hardsync
Oscillator 1 and oscillator 2 can be ring modulated
Filter section :
24 types of filtering mode, see the 'umax_filters' PDF file in the utility files section
Modulations :
2 envelopes :
- 1 Attack / Release envelope for the amplitude
- 1 attack / decay envelope for the filter
2 LFO'S :
- LFO 1 for vibrato
- LFO 2 hardwired to OSC 1 PWM, OSC 2 sync offset and FILTER
1 ramp :
hardwired to OSC 1 frequency and OSC 2 sync offset
OSC 2 can modulate the FILTER frequency too
Drive :
There is a post-filter overdrive circuit just before the output...
Here are the spec's :
2 oscillators section :
Oscillator 1
- SAW and SQUARE with PW and PWM,
- a SUB oscillator with -1 or -2 octave settings with SQUARE or PULSE waveform
- a NOISE source
The oscillator 1 structure is clearly inspired from the JUNO / SH series...
Oscillator 2
- SAW or SQUARE setting with hardsync
Oscillator 1 and oscillator 2 can be ring modulated
Filter section :
24 types of filtering mode, see the 'umax_filters' PDF file in the utility files section
Modulations :
2 envelopes :
- 1 Attack / Release envelope for the amplitude
- 1 attack / decay envelope for the filter
2 LFO'S :
- LFO 1 for vibrato
- LFO 2 hardwired to OSC 1 PWM, OSC 2 sync offset and FILTER
1 ramp :
hardwired to OSC 1 frequency and OSC 2 sync offset
OSC 2 can modulate the FILTER frequency too
Drive :
There is a post-filter overdrive circuit just before the output...
To have a full understanding of the parameters programming and description, please download the 'U-Max_parameters' PDF file you will find in the utility files section.
Reading / Understanding the INITS
As said in the product description, U-Max comes with 48 init's that are basically neutral or blank programs.
This is where to start if you want to make a sound from scratch. Let's see how to choose one...
Here are two examples of some INIT patches :
1 - The informations of the INIT patch below are set as follow :
UMX -> The program has the U-Max sound engine. Helpful naming, easy to spot in your PC3Le...
L6+A12 -> This give informations on the filter, in this example it's a lowpass 6dB/Oct + an Allpass 12dB/Oct in serial...
This program doesn't have the letter 'V' at the end of the name, it means it doesn't respond to velocity...
Most of old analog synths don't respond to velocity, so if you want to come close to the old classic playing, you should choose this kind of INIT patch.
This is where to start if you want to make a sound from scratch. Let's see how to choose one...
Here are two examples of some INIT patches :
1 - The informations of the INIT patch below are set as follow :
UMX -> The program has the U-Max sound engine. Helpful naming, easy to spot in your PC3Le...
L6+A12 -> This give informations on the filter, in this example it's a lowpass 6dB/Oct + an Allpass 12dB/Oct in serial...
This program doesn't have the letter 'V' at the end of the name, it means it doesn't respond to velocity...
Most of old analog synths don't respond to velocity, so if you want to come close to the old classic playing, you should choose this kind of INIT patch.
2 - The informations of the INIT patch below are set as follow :
UMX -> The program has the U-Max sound engine
N12+H12-V -> This time the filter is made with a notch filter and a hipass 12dB/Oct filter in serial
You can see the letter 'V' at the end of the init name, it means this program responds to velocity
The velocity has been globally programmed to respond to the filter and the amplitude.
UMX -> The program has the U-Max sound engine
N12+H12-V -> This time the filter is made with a notch filter and a hipass 12dB/Oct filter in serial
You can see the letter 'V' at the end of the init name, it means this program responds to velocity
The velocity has been globally programmed to respond to the filter and the amplitude.
As said previously, you have 24 inits with 24 type of filters that respond to velocity, and the 24 others don't have velocity. This give you a total of 48 programs to start with !
Programming the U-max sound engine
This is where the K-Plug's concept kicks in !
U-Max can be programmed and adjusted with no external editor and absolutly no VAST knowledge is required
Once you have selected an INIT patch or any preset, you can modify the sound :
1 - With the onboard controllers for the classic parameters (envelope, filter, osc frequency...)
I think this is time to show you the controller's affectation....
U-Max can be programmed and adjusted with no external editor and absolutly no VAST knowledge is required
Once you have selected an INIT patch or any preset, you can modify the sound :
1 - With the onboard controllers for the classic parameters (envelope, filter, osc frequency...)
I think this is time to show you the controller's affectation....
To edit a parameter with the PC3Le's controllers, just touch it and you will be able to see the parameter you are editing with its value on the screen...
2 - With the PARAMETERS page for a full and precise programming
To go to this page, just hit the button 'EDIT', and you have access to all the parameters of the U-Max engine. It's a full synthesizer under you fingers and an effect section with a chorus and a delay (coming from Kephren sound engine) is provided too...
Here is what the PARAMETERS page looks like :
2 - With the PARAMETERS page for a full and precise programming
To go to this page, just hit the button 'EDIT', and you have access to all the parameters of the U-Max engine. It's a full synthesizer under you fingers and an effect section with a chorus and a delay (coming from Kephren sound engine) is provided too...
Here is what the PARAMETERS page looks like :
To change the value of a parameter, you just have to put the cursor on the parameter you want to edit, then use the arrows on the right of the screen, put the cursor on the value and use the programming wheel or type with the alphanumeric keypad the new value...
Once you are ok with all the modifications, hit 'SAVE'...Congratulations, you have made a new sound without any VAST knowledge, without any external editor and with no headache ! Just fun...
Once you are ok with all the modifications, hit 'SAVE'...Congratulations, you have made a new sound without any VAST knowledge, without any external editor and with no headache ! Just fun...
U-Max 101 and polyphony
The main drawback of U-max is about polyphony. It's a very fun and easy product but it draws quite some power from the PC3Le. Don't be afraid, you will have enough ressources to play quite normally but if you're making long pads with all oscillators ON you may notice some voices stealing issues...
You have something from 4 voices left if you use oscillator 1 and oscillator 2 at the same time, and about
6 voices left with oscillator 1 only...
Let's take this in a positive way, U-max can imitate not only the sounds of analog synthesizers but also the way they handle their voices ! ha ha !!!
You have something from 4 voices left if you use oscillator 1 and oscillator 2 at the same time, and about
6 voices left with oscillator 1 only...
Let's take this in a positive way, U-max can imitate not only the sounds of analog synthesizers but also the way they handle their voices ! ha ha !!!
To conclude...
The story behind U-max is i was working on making an adaptation of Kephren sound engine for the Kurzweil Forte. The problem is the Forte has less controllers because the PC3Le with its 'Shift' button multiply the numbers of real time controls. I honestly didn't want to make some 'cut down' on the available parameters.
It would be totally dumb to make a light version of a product on an instrument that has twice the polyphony and twice the processing power for the effects...
The solution was to make heavy use of the PARAMETERS page.
I kept the PC3Le and Forte's real time controls for the standard settings and add the maximum of synthesis options in the PARAMETERS page for deeper programming...
And because i used the PC3Le as a core editor for the Forte version, i kept my work on the PC3Le and that's why the 2 versions exist...
It took me quite a long time of development because the more i added parameters, the more i wanted...
I stopped because i ran out 'FUN's' and DSP input slots...!
You have now the result here and i really hope you will have some good time with this product !
If you like it, spread the word, not the file !
Thanks !
All sounds programmed by Stephane 'Barb' Garganigo
It would be totally dumb to make a light version of a product on an instrument that has twice the polyphony and twice the processing power for the effects...
The solution was to make heavy use of the PARAMETERS page.
I kept the PC3Le and Forte's real time controls for the standard settings and add the maximum of synthesis options in the PARAMETERS page for deeper programming...
And because i used the PC3Le as a core editor for the Forte version, i kept my work on the PC3Le and that's why the 2 versions exist...
It took me quite a long time of development because the more i added parameters, the more i wanted...
I stopped because i ran out 'FUN's' and DSP input slots...!
You have now the result here and i really hope you will have some good time with this product !
If you like it, spread the word, not the file !
Thanks !
All sounds programmed by Stephane 'Barb' Garganigo
