Saturday, January 1, 2022

TECHNIQUE: The Art of Sampling. Part 5. Synthesizer Style Editing Parameters.

 


Most sample players offer synthesizer type editing and control after the sample sound generation. 

In fact, most samplers closely resemble synthesizers. Just replace a synth's traditional oscillator generating sine, saw, and square waves etc. with a sample generator/player and what comes after pretty much follows the 'standard' subtractive synthesis format. 

You'll find filters, envelope generators and modulators and mod routings that can alter and shape your basic samples beyond recognition if you wish.

You can find out more about synthesizer basics from here:




Just swap the 'analog' synth oscillator for a sample playback generator and you'll pretty much have the basis of a software or hardware sampler/sample player. 

I develop a lot of my sample soundware projects into patches for Zampler which is a free VST sample player with synth style editing, so I'll use this instrument to illustrate some of th emore common synthesizer style editing parameters. 



 

Synthesizer Filtering.


So in most analog/subtractive synthesizer models, the processor we would find after the oscillator (or in our case the sample generator) would be the filter. The filter deals with the 'timbre' of a sound and can be used to make our samples sound brighter or darker. If we imagine a sound that contains frequencies across the human hearing spectrum from 20hz - 20khz, then the filter can be used to remove some of these frequencies. 

The most important filter parameter is the cut-off frequency. This is the point, in hertz, at which the filter starts to work. There are different filter types including low-pass filter (LPF) which allows frequencies below the cut-off frequency to pass through, similarly, a high pass filter or HPF allows frequencies above the cut off parameter to pass through. 

So taking a low pass filter and reducing the cut-off frequency will remove higher frequencies producing a darker, a less bright sound. 

Filter resonance amplifies and emphasises frequencies around the cut-off point. This can be used to give sounds more 'edge', or more definition, perhaps assisting them to cut through a complex mix, etc.

Digital processing has allowed for a range of different filter types to be included in designs such as band-pass filtering which allows frequencies around the cut-off point to pass. Notch filtering which removes frequencies around the cut-off point and comb filtering which passes alternate bands of frequencies to produce more interesting timbres. 


Synthesizer Envelope Generators. 


Envelope generators are used to control the shape of a sound and is a form of modulation. The most common type is and envelope applied to the level of a sound, or used to modulate the synth/sampler's amplifier section. 

A basic envelope generator has four parameters: Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release, often abbreviated to ADSR, and these four setting affect the level of our sound over time.

So, for example, the Attack portion of the envelope determines how quickly our sample will reach maximum level. If we're editing a string section sample, for example, we may choose a fast attack time for a fast, cutting, arco style sound, a longer attack time will cause the sound to slowly build, for a gentler, slower, legato style sound. 






Similarly, the release time comes at the end of the sound and determines how long it takes our sound to fade away once the key is released. So an organ sound, for example, may go from maximum level to zero instantly, the moment the key is lifted. Again, a slow, gentle string section sample may require a longer release, fading to nothing over a period of time after the key is released. 

This example is an envelope applied to the amp section of the synth sampler, but envelopes can also be used to modulate other sections such as the filter. This affects the timbre of the sound over time, opening and/or closing the filter across the duration of the sound. 

The complex modulation routings of modern digital and software samplers allows for envelope generators to be assigned to almost any other section. So an envelope could be used to modulate pitch, panning, or other sections of the filter including resonance. The possibilities are almost limitless. 


Synthesizer LFOs


Another common synthesizer modulator is an LFO. These devices are used to create regular, cyclical modulation of other sections of the synths. So applied to filter cutoff, for example, will cause the filter to open and close in a cycle. 

The frequency, or speed of the LFO can be adjusted to apply long, slow effects or short and fast changes. 

LFOs often also have wave types that can be applied, so a sine wave, for example, produces gradual changes, whilst a square wave produces instant modulations.  

Again, LFOs on modern digital and software synths and sample players can be used to modulate almost any other section. So an LFO can be applied to pitch to produce vibrato and tremelo effects, or to panning to cause a sound to move left and right in the stereo picture. 


These are three of the more common/popular synth/sample player sections, but, again, the advent of digital and software instruments has seen the arrival of many other parameters and creative devices limited only by the imagination of the designer. 


Hope you enjoyed this latest installment of 'The Art of Sampling' and found it useful. In the next part we'll take a look at some of the more common effects processing that can be applied to samples. 

Like/follow my Facebook Page for the latest technical hints, tips, advice and pieces, as well as all the latest free and commercial sound packs including sample libraries, soundfonts, synth patches, and loops and beats. 


Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software.

Friday, December 31, 2021

Free Bass Guitar Soundfont. Studio Bass Collection. Soft Finger P-Bass.

 



Soft, clean and warm Fender P-Bass .SF2 Soundfont. Free to download.

.SF2 Soundfont format for use with a range of compatible sample/player instruments including Reason NN-XT and Bitwig Sampler. 

Part of The Electric Bass Studio Collection. Available as .SF2 Soundfonts, Zampler patches, Reason NN-XT/Combinator patches and Bitwig Sampler Instrument Container Presets. End of January 2022.  

 

Bass Guitar Soundfont Download Link.


Download from the following link. Just download the .SF2 file and drag/load into your chosen soundfont player. No need for separate sample folder as all the samples are 
wrapped into the .SF2 file. 




Part of a collection of free soundfonts. You'll find loads more over at the Soundfont Library Page


Follow/Like my Facebook Page to keep up to date with all my soundware projects and developments including sample libraries, soundfonts, synth patches, loops and beats. 


Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software.

Thursday, December 30, 2021

'Burnin' Moog' Solo Lead Synth. Zampler Patches

 


Solo synth lead for burnin' solos and arpeggios. 
Thin, but expressive solo 'analog' ready-to-play synth patches for Zampler. 
16 patches utilizing Zampler's synth style parameter editing and effects suite. 

Demo soon. 

Zampler is a free sample player/synth with a full range of synth editing and effects. 
It's a great VST plug-in, and it's free. You can download your copy from the link below.
 



'Burnin' Moog' is part of The Essential Songwriter Suite for Zampler and you can find all the patches at the link below. 




Lead Synth for Zampler Download Link


You can download your copy of Burnin' Moog at the link below. 
Just download the entire folder and use Zampler's Load Patch function to load your sounds. 



Follow me at my Facebook Page for all the latest free virtual instruments and soundware packs for Zampler, Reason/Combinator, and Bitwig. As well as soundfonts, frum smple libraries, loops and beats. 


Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software.



Tuesday, December 28, 2021

'Smokin' Moog' Synth Lead Soundfont. .SF2

 



This Moog sawtooth synth lead soundfont is built for burning solos. 
A thin, edgy, expressive synth lead soundfont for all those progressive synth solos. 
   
.SF2 format so compatible with many sample players including Reason NN-XT and Bitwig Sampler. Zampler/sfz patches available shortly. 

Lots of scope for creating your own patches if you've got a soundfont player with synth editing and/or effects.

Synth Lead Soundfont Download Link:


You can download your synth lead soundfont from the following link. Just download the file to your hard drive then use with your player. Sometimes you can 'drag' the .SF2 file into the player or you may need to use the browser section of your DAW. 

The .SF2 soundfont format 'wraps' the raw samples into the .SF2 file so there's no need for a separate sample folder. 




Checkout my Soundfont Library Page for all my other free sounds. 


..... and why not follow me at my Facebook Page for all my soundware updates including sample libraries, synth patches, soundfonts, loops and beats, most of which are free to download. 

Use the share buttons below to share to your favourite social media platforms. 


Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software.

Monday, December 27, 2021

FREE Fender Rhodes for Zampler. Fender Agenda-Z

 


Fender Rhodes Stage MK2 'Fender Agenda' is now available as 8 ready to play Zampler patches. 

Utilizing Zampler's powerful synth editing and effects processing, Fender Agenda offers a authentic and expressive Rhodes electric piano experience.

With clean and processed patches there's a Rhodes EP here for all songs and genres. 

Check out the demo below:

   


Fender Rhodes for Zampler Link:

Just download the entire folder to your hard drive and use Zampler's 'load patch' function to load and play the desired sound. These are the .fxb files. You'll need the samples folder and the .sfz soundfont file otherwise you may see an error message when loading. 




Follow/Like my Facebook Page for loads more free and commercial soundware including soundfonts, sample libraries, virtual instruments, loops and beats. 


Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software.