PolysixEX Tutorial 3 Programming a Lead Sound Material: Level: Time: PolysixEX Reference Cards and a KORG Kronos. Beginner. 10-15 min. The Lead Experiment Goals: Program a lead sound using the PolysixEX and add Kronos effects. This tutorial describes step by step how to program a lead sound with the KORG Kronos PolysixEX. Further, the MG is discussed. This tutorial consists of four parts: 1. Setting up the Basic Sound. 2. Shape the Sound. 3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosification. 4. Summary Schema of all settings.
1. Setting up the Basic Sound 1. Select a free USER Program and set in the Common tab the EXi 1 Instrument Type to PolysixEX. 2. Select the EXi 1 tab. Reset 3. First reset the PolysixEX by setting: VCO VCA EG VCF PW/PWM = 0 CUTOFF = 5 PWM SPEED = 0 RESONANCE = 0 SUB OSC = OFF EG INTENSITY = 0 MODE = gate DECAY = 0 SUSTAIN = 0 EFFECTS MODE = OFF We re going for a lead type sound this time. During experimentation a Formant Synth type sound passed by. For those who are born after 1980, here s some background: the Formant Synthesizer, a synth DIY project was published in Elektor magazine between 1977-1979. It was the first mini analogue synthesizer around with modular construction that could be built at home at an affordable price. I remember looking at it as a kid, but could not afford it. So, I started to build computers instead. This is a completely different story which will not be covered here. Leave the other values at their default settings.
1. Setting up the Basic Sound Pulse Width We start with the basic sound source - the VCO - Voltage Controlled Oscillator. Modulation 4. Set WAVEFORM = PWM to create a synthy lead sound. 5. Next, set the Pulse Width by setting PW/PWM = 7. You can hear already a thin lead coming. You can try some settings for the PWM SPEED - the speed of modulation - to create a more wobbly type sound. But for now we leave it on 0. 6. To give the sound a little more body set SUB OSC = 1 OCT.
2. Shaping the Sound Next you have to shape the sound, by determining which frequencies we want to cut off. For this we look at the VCF - Voltage Controlled Filter. Resonance 7. To make the sound more edgy some resonance has to added to the scene. Resonance emphasizes the frequencies around the cutoff frequency. To do that, set RESONANCE = 5 in this case. You can try other values if you like. Time to shape the sound further with the EG ADSR. See Tutorial 2 - Programming a Bass Sound for more information about the ADSR. Attack Decay ADSR Release The sound should have a slight soft start, then decay in medium time to a sustain level. When the key is released create a soft afterglow of some sort. Sustain 8. Set of the EG: ATTACK = 1, DECAY = 5, SUSTAIN = 3, and RELEASE = 1. Play some notes... Key down Key up
2. Shaping the Sound What?! No difference. That s because the VCF is not yet shaped by the ADSR. Intensity To do this, you have to set the EG INTENSITY of the VCF, i.e. how intensive the EG will influence the VCF. 9. To do that, select EG INTENSITY and change the value with the value slider slowly from 0 to 3. Notice a soft spot between 1 and 2. For this tutorial set EG INTENSITY = 1.5. Time to shape the sound further with the Modulation Generator MG. Let s add a little wah-wah to our lead sound. Driving the MG As you could read in the Reference Cards, this can be achieved with selecting the VCF as the component that will be modulated by the MG. 10. First, of the MG set MODE = VCF. 11. Then, set LEVEL = 0.5. Remember that level is very sensitive. Just try some higher values to get some wild fluctuations. Maybe something for special effects?
2. Shaping the Sound You don t want the wah-wah to start as soon as you touched a key. You want a wah-wah after a short delay (while pressing a key). wah-wah 12. To do that, of the MG set DELAY = 4. Play some notes and hold the keys... The wah-wah shows after a short while. Nice! The speed of the wah-wah is controlled by FREQUENCY/TIMES of the MG. Note that when both SYNC are off, this knob controls the frequency of the MG. 13. Select FREQUENCY/TIMES on the screen and change the values using the value slider while playing. Leave FREQUENCY/TIMES = 6. This should give a nice wah-wah. Monophonic 14. As you remember from Tutorial 2, to set the synth to monophonic: Select the Common tab, then the Basic/Vector tab, and then the Program Basic tab. Look under Voice Assign Mode for Mono. Select it and the white circle gets a red dot inside. Done.
3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosification Let s add some nice effects to this basic lead sound and make it Kronos worthy. 15. Select the Common tab. 16. Then the IFX tab, and then the Insert FX subtab. 17. Set IFX1 = On, and select for the effect: 040: Stereo Chorus. Stereo Chorus 18. Select the IFX 1-12 subtab and then IFX1 (if not selected). 19. Enter the following settings for the Stereo Chorus effect: OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 10:90 Amount: +50 We want a chorus type effect. But not the width of it, yet. You could also try Dry (0). Leave the other values at their default settings.
3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosification 20. Select the Routing subtab. 21. In the Bus Select (IFX/Indiv.Out Assign) section set EXi 1&2 to: IFX1. The Stereo Chorus effect adds thickness and warmth to the sound by modulating the delay time of the input signal. Punchy Lead Play some notes. We have a more punchy lead now. More information on the Stereo Chorus can be found on page 927 of the Kronos Parameter Guide. Let s add another effect.
3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosification Left over from tutorial 2 we have a Bass Amp Model + Cabinet standing in the corner. Let s put it to good use. 22. Select the Insert FX subtab. 23. Set IFX2 = On, and select for the effect: 034: Bass Amp Model + Cabinet. 24. Also select the little square under Chain of IFX1. The sound now travels through IFX1 to IFX2 and out. Bass Amp Model + Cabinet 25. Select subtab IFX 1-12 and side tab (left) IFX2 (if not selected). 26. Enter the following settings for the Bass Amp Model + Cabinet: More information on the Bass Amp Model + Cabinet can be found on page 923 of the Kronos Parameter Guide. Same settings as Tutorial 2. Some effect reuse this is. BASS AMP MODEL Type: Valve2 CABINET SIMULATION Type: UK - 4x15 OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 75:25 Leave the other values at their default settings.
3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosification Hmm, almost there... let s see what we have in the Effects Library... The lead should not loose its presence. Nope, O-Verb doesn t sound right. 27. Back to the Insert FX subtab. Arbitrary selection. You can select another effect. 28. Set IFX3 = On, and select for the effect: 051: Stereo Phaser. This effect creates a swell by shifting the phase. 29. Also select the little square under Chain of IFX2. The sound now travels through IFX2 to IFX3 and out. Stereo Phaser 30. Select subtab IFX 1-12 and side tab (left) IFX3 (if not selected). 31. Enter the following settings for the Stereo Phaser: More information on the Stereo Phaser can be found on page 936 of the Kronos Parameter Guide. OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 30:70 (use value slider or knobs) Leave the other values at their default settings.
3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosification Now it s time to play some notes... Play time... Experiment with the sound? Try VCF CUTOFF = 4, or RESONANCE = 2, or both. Try VCO SUB OSC = 2 OCT. Try EFFECTS MODE = PHASE or ENSEMBLE.
KBD 4. Summary Schema Settings for the Lead Sound in this tutorial. In case you want to quickly program the sound again. ATTACK = 1 DECAY = 5 SUSTAIN = 3 RELEASE = 1 EG (Envelope Generator) MG (Modulation Generator) (wah-wah) VCO create raw sound VCF shape the sound VIBRATO INT = 0 OVTAVE = 8 WAVEFORM = PWM PW/PWM = 7 PWM SPEED = 0 SUB OSC = 1 OCT CUTOFF = 2 RESONANCE = 5 EG INTENSITY = 1.5 KBD TRACK = 75 MODE = VCF FREQ = 6 DELAY = 4 LEVEL = 0.5 VCA amplify the sound EFFECTS apply effects MODE = gate ATTENUATOR = 0 MODE = OFF SPREAD = 0 SPEED/INTENSITY = 0 KRONOS 034: Bass Amp Model + Cabinet BASS AMP MODEL Type: Valve2 CABINET SIMULATION Type: UK - 4x15 OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 75:25 IFX1 IFX2 IFX3 040: Stereo Chorus OUTPUT Wet/Dry: Dry ( = 0) Amount: +50 051: Stereo Phaser OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 30:70