PolysixEX Tutorial: Programming a String Sound

PolysixEX Tutorial 1: Programming a String Sound

! ! ! ! Material: Level: ! Time:! Goals: ! ! PolysixEX Reference Cards and a KORG Kronos. Beginner. 15 min. 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 Kronos PolysixEX. Further, it includes some experimentation with the newly created sound. This tutorial consists of four parts: 1. Setting up the Basic Sound 2. Shape the Sound 3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosication 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 Common tab the EXi 1 Instrument Type to PolysixEX. 2. Select the EXi 1 tab. 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.
2012 Kris Oosting (dongfang)!

PolysixEX Tutorial: Programming a String Sound

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 = OFF

A saw waveform is good for strings.

2. Shape the Sound

Now we have to shape the sound a little, by determining which frequencies we want to cut off. For this we look at the VCF - Voltage Controlled Filter. 4. Select the CUTOFF knob on the Kronos screen and move the value slider up while playing. ! From 6 upwards, the sound becomes more stringy for higher frequencies are passing through the lter. ! Leave it at 8. ! Note that you can also enter the number 8 using the number buttons and then press ENTER. 5. Select the RESONANCE button 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 = 8 and RESONANCE = 1 for a nice sharp string. We want to shape the sound even further. This can be done with the help of the EG - the Envelope Generator. But, before an envelope can be generated, you have to create one. This is done by the ADSR knobs or ATTACK, DECAY, SUSTAIN and RELEASE. The A, D and R are time related and the S is level related. We want our strings to start softly and then increase. This is done by increasing the value of ATTACK - the time from the moment you press a key on the keyboard (note-on) until the maximum 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 INTENSITY is set to 0. Meaning that the EG does not yet shapes, or controls the cutoff frequency by means of an envelope. I personally nd this concept still difcult to grasp. But try the following:
2

2012 Kris Oosting (dongfang)!

PolysixEX Tutorial: Programming a String Sound

7. Set CUTOFF = 2 and EG INTENSITY = 5 and 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 (starting from 2 in this case). The time it needs to get there is set by the ATTACK time. Okay, reset the values to CUTOFF = 8 and EG INTENSITY = 0 and ATTACK = 3.

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

Key down

Key up

ADSR setting as 'template' to shape the sound

EG - Envelope Generator

IN: Unshaped sound

Envelope used by the EG to shape the sound

OUT: shaped sound

Figure 1. Shaping the sound

8. Look at the VCA and 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 EFFECTS and set MODE = ENSEMBLE, and for a nice SPREAD = 8. We dont want this effect going to deep, so set SPEED/INTENSITY = 4. Again, play a chord. Not bad, isnt it?

2012 Kris Oosting (dongfang)!

PolysixEX Tutorial: Programming a String Sound

The MG, or Modulation Generator, can assist in shaping the sound even further. As written in the reference cards: The MG is used for cyclic or repetitive modulation effects like: VCO (pitch) for vibrato (frequency goes up and down); VCF (lter) for wah-wah (lter 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 SYNCs are 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 - Kronosication

Now we have to make the sound more Kronos worthy. 12. Select the Common tab. 13. Then the IFX tab, and then the Insert FX subtab. 14. Set IFX1 = On, and select for the effect: 011: Stereo Parametric 4EQ 15. Select the IFX 1-12 subtab 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:! ! Band2 Fc [Hz]: 300!! Q: 1.1!!

Gain [dB]: -9.5 Gain [dB]: 6

4

2012 Kris Oosting (dongfang)!

PolysixEX Tutorial: Programming a String Sound

! ! ! !

Band3 Fc [Hz]: 4.1! ! Band4 Fc [Hz]: 11.2 ! GAIN MOD Band2 Source: Off

Q: 8.8!! Q: 2.5!!

Gain [dB]: -11 Gain [dB]: 9.5

Leave the other settings on their default value. 17. Select the Routing subtab. 18. In the Bus Select (IFX/Indiv.Out Assign) section set EXi 1&2 to: 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 square under Chain of IFX1. The sound now travels through IFX1 to IFX2 and out. 22. Select subtab IFX 1-12 and 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 (Experiment: try the Wet setting. i.e. Wet = more effect)

OUTPUT ! Wet/Dry: Dry!!

Leave the rest on their default values. Play some chords. Even better. Time to add some reverb to nish it off. The cream on the pudding, so to speak. 24. Go to the MFX/TFX tab. Then to the Routing subtab (if not yet selected). 25. Set TFX1 = On and select for the effect 100: O-verb. 26. Select the TFX 1 subtab. 27. Enter the following settings for O-verb:

2012 Kris Oosting (dongfang)!

PolysixEX Tutorial: Programming a String Sound

! ! ! !

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 make IFX3 = 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 nd the summary schema of the settings for this tutorial.

2012 Kris Oosting (dongfang)!

PolysixEX Tutorial: Programming a String Sound

Summary Schema
Settings for the String Sound in this tutorial - for if youre in a hurry and want to quickly program the sound again.
KBD

MG (Modulation Generator)

VCO create raw sound

SYNC KEY = OFF SYNC TEMPO = OFF FREQUENCY/TIMES = 6 DELAY = 4 LEVEL = 0.06 MODE = VCO

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

VCF shape the sound

CUTOFF = 8 RESONANCE = 1 EG INTENSITY = 0 KBD TRACK = 75

MODE = EG ATTENUATOR = -2

VCA amplify the sound

EG (Envelope Generator)

ATTACK DECAY SUSTAIN RELEASE

=3 =7 =5 =5

EFFECTS apply effects

MODE = ENSEMBLE SPREAD = 8 SPEED/INTENSITY = 4

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

KRONOS

IFX1 051: Stereo Phaser PHASER Depth: 34 Resonance: +52 LFO Frequency [Hz]: 0.20 OUTPUT Wet/Dry: Dry IFX2

TFX

100: O-verb REVERB Reverb Time: 60 OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 30:70

Amount: +30

2012 Kris Oosting (dongfang)!