Specifically the marimba in FM. It changes the sound completely increasing attack time. And I don't want to increase the attack time, I need it to hit, but it's quite hard. Thanks.
I believe the Marimba preset in the PCMSynth is stock demo preset with the app, and is a single sample preset.
That said, go into the Advanced Waveform Editor (LongPress Level button) and look at the waveform itself.
Look at the Transient Attack portion of the Waveform and select the portion of the waveform that apears to be the biggest, and lower the line level of that (Amplify process tool)
This will smooth out the attack portion of the sound, much better than raising the Attack level on the synth VCA itself (Attack always starts at Zero level, and is not adjustable at this time)
Thanks for the thorough answer, Jason. I'm actually working with the marimba in FMSynth. There is none in PCM. It's by far the closest I've found to the sound I want, it just hits so hard. If I had the instrument in front of me, it would the difference between just striking it a little softer, or maybe using the fuzzy mallets instead of rubber ones. Thank you.
try a machine input and lag processor in modular for that problem. You can soften the first milliseconds with it. Used it for bassline with fmsynth in my song "hawking in love" The fmsynth often is clicking at note beginnings. Only negative is loosing a machine slot ;)
@EKT I haven't played with the modular. It scares me! Haha. :) Seriously, I'm newer to music production, and I can't even handle FL Studio after having learned Caustic last year. I spent enough time getting the workflow for Caustic to a point where now it's like a notepad to me. If I need to get something out quickly, it's there. But it's also so easy to work with for me, it's what I use for any first draft. And I'll always do as much as I can with it. I actually haven't completed ANYTHING in FL because there is still too much learning to do there, as well as not having a large library for instruments. BUT, I digress. Modular is maybe the next thing I should invest some time in, but for now, is there any way to simplify what you suggested... layman's terms to help. I have no clue what you're talking about. And there is no clicking on this. It's just... like I trid to explain above, if I were sitting at an actual instrument, I want soft mallets. It sounds like it's being hit with hard rubber, not the fuzzier mallets, or the ones you seem wrapped in yarn or something. This may not make sense to anyone who hasn't used an actual xylophone or similar. But there are several types of mallets you can use. I want a soft mallet hit. Thank you!!
Thought of it, but no. Typically the end effect seems to just be lowering the volume of a particular note. I'll try lowering the velocity and upping the volume to compensate. I'll post back here after trying. With regards to compression, as suggested earlier, it had a VERY minimal effect. I may just have to live with it. I just wish it had a softer hit.
Goddammit. Here's what I found. The velocity adjustment had a desired effect ONLY on lower notes. The high notes just hit hard and ring like a bitch. I mean, the ringing itself isn't so bad, I want some reverb. I added that manually, it's just... harsh. Still open to ideas. Thanks guys!
I think Pauloski is on to it, I was gonna say it might be an operator issue... As said above, take a look at the levels of the operators and seeing if a level ratio change fixes your problem.
actually quite the opposite, will strengthen it; or setting the attack on the comp to zero will cause unwanted distortion -- on an FM waveform, may not be a pretty sound....
FM Synths yield harsh harmonic tones on high notes; there is no real way to tame it for a full keyboard range..... if your notes in your song are primarily in high notes, then you can tone-shape it with EQ or high shelving to control it....
if the harmonic on high notes are high enough, (no anti-aliasing used here I believe as in SubSynth) will introduce odd harmonic distortion, further coloring the sound and adding to the harshness, if not controlled like I recommended above.
I hope Rej does not add that feature, because especially in the SubSynth, I have created many presets, taking advantage of the nasty character of those high tones....
But there's always a work-around, and unfortunately the FMSynth tones can be quite a challenge to balance out, depending on your playable keyboard range of your instrument used in your song...
Why don't you simply use the attack on the relevants Ops, by very small amounts? As the algorithm is parallel, each OPs attack is distinct, so you can keep the fundamental and soften a bit the higher harmonics. You can also lower the OP1 octave, wich is set to highest octave in the original preset, to get rid of the harsh attack sound.
I attached a little songfile with fmsynth and modular. Load your preset in fmsynth and try the attack knob in modular. Maybe it works for you. (lag processor was wrong.. it touches the whole envelope.. not only attack)
but then low notes would sound with less character than before.... balancing note accross the whole keyboard..... keyboard tracking for VCA features would certainly help, but for a mobile app....... well......
Wow, I've never really posted on here before, and quite frankly, am a bit surprised at the response! Thank you all, so much, for chiming in on this. Quite a community here. Just a little update. I've moved on to polishing a master. Just sharing my experience in working on this track:
There's a quote somewhere about forced limitations giving rise to creativity. That's what I did. I got creative with it. I decided, since what I'm really doing with this song is making a cover, rather than trying to get it to sound JUST like the original, I decided to have a little fun, and make it something I really liked of my own. I threw some effects on the track which did in fact soften the sound a bit, though it also changed it. But I used several effects to get a REALLY COOL sound out of it. Just sharing in case it inspires someone else. Any time you think you've hit a road block, get creative with it, have some fun, and remember there's always more than one way around. :)
I was going to suggest using a midi keyboard, playing/recording your patterns live and making sure that the velocity sensitive toggle switches on the FM are turned on.
I think there are at least 5 On/Off toggles that you can switch to dynamically change the sound - the master feedback, the master volume and each of the three operators can be switched between fixed and velocity sensitive
Finally, you'll need to be careful and actually play the notes at different velocities (this is where I struggle - when I look at patterns I've recorded with my keyboard, too many are at 100%).
which instrument/synth? why not simply use the attack regulator of it?
'Askar
https://www.soundcloud.com/xenoplas
Specifically the marimba in FM. It changes the sound completely increasing attack time. And I don't want to increase the attack time, I need it to hit, but it's quite hard. Thanks.
I believe the Marimba preset in the PCMSynth is stock demo preset with the app, and is a single sample preset.
That said, go into the Advanced Waveform Editor (LongPress Level button) and look at the waveform itself.
Look at the Transient Attack portion of the Waveform and select the portion of the waveform that apears to be the biggest, and lower the line level of that (Amplify process tool)
This will smooth out the attack portion of the sound, much better than raising the Attack level on the synth VCA itself (Attack always starts at Zero level, and is not adjustable at this time)
Hope this helps, and Welcome to SCS
Thanks for the thorough answer, Jason. I'm actually working with the marimba in FMSynth. There is none in PCM. It's by far the closest I've found to the sound I want, it just hits so hard. If I had the instrument in front of me, it would the difference between just striking it a little softer, or maybe using the fuzzy mallets instead of rubber ones. Thank you.
A compressor might work to soften the transient a bit. Just set a fast attack time and fast-ish release, might help.
try a machine input and lag processor in modular for that problem. You can soften the first milliseconds with it. Used it for bassline with fmsynth in my song "hawking in love" The fmsynth often is clicking at note beginnings. Only negative is loosing a machine slot ;)
♬ Aliens approaching...
@EKT I haven't played with the modular. It scares me! Haha. :) Seriously, I'm newer to music production, and I can't even handle FL Studio after having learned Caustic last year. I spent enough time getting the workflow for Caustic to a point where now it's like a notepad to me. If I need to get something out quickly, it's there. But it's also so easy to work with for me, it's what I use for any first draft. And I'll always do as much as I can with it. I actually haven't completed ANYTHING in FL because there is still too much learning to do there, as well as not having a large library for instruments. BUT, I digress. Modular is maybe the next thing I should invest some time in, but for now, is there any way to simplify what you suggested... layman's terms to help. I have no clue what you're talking about. And there is no clicking on this. It's just... like I trid to explain above, if I were sitting at an actual instrument, I want soft mallets. It sounds like it's being hit with hard rubber, not the fuzzier mallets, or the ones you seem wrapped in yarn or something. This may not make sense to anyone who hasn't used an actual xylophone or similar. But there are several types of mallets you can use. I want a soft mallet hit. Thank you!!
Have you tried lowering the velocity of the notes you're sending to it? That should soften that particular preset.
http://m.soundcloud.com/metatronic555
Thought of it, but no. Typically the end effect seems to just be lowering the volume of a particular note. I'll try lowering the velocity and upping the volume to compensate. I'll post back here after trying. With regards to compression, as suggested earlier, it had a VERY minimal effect. I may just have to live with it. I just wish it had a softer hit.
Goddammit. Here's what I found. The velocity adjustment had a desired effect ONLY on lower notes. The high notes just hit hard and ring like a bitch. I mean, the ringing itself isn't so bad, I want some reverb. I added that manually, it's just... harsh. Still open to ideas. Thanks guys!
Try dropping the level of Op 1 to zero and bring Op 3 down a bit.
http://m.soundcloud.com/metatronic555
I think Pauloski is on to it, I was gonna say it might be an operator issue... As said above, take a look at the levels of the operators and seeing if a level ratio change fixes your problem.
actually quite the opposite, will strengthen it; or setting the attack on the comp to zero will cause unwanted distortion -- on an FM waveform, may not be a pretty sound....
FM Synths yield harsh harmonic tones on high notes; there is no real way to tame it for a full keyboard range..... if your notes in your song are primarily in high notes, then you can tone-shape it with EQ or high shelving to control it....
if the harmonic on high notes are high enough, (no anti-aliasing used here I believe as in SubSynth) will introduce odd harmonic distortion, further coloring the sound and adding to the harshness, if not controlled like I recommended above.
I hope Rej does not add that feature, because especially in the SubSynth, I have created many presets, taking advantage of the nasty character of those high tones....
But there's always a work-around, and unfortunately the FMSynth tones can be quite a challenge to balance out, depending on your playable keyboard range of your instrument used in your song...
Hope this helps a little bit there...
Why don't you simply use the attack on the relevants Ops, by very small amounts? As the algorithm is parallel, each OPs attack is distinct, so you can keep the fundamental and soften a bit the higher harmonics. You can also lower the OP1 octave, wich is set to highest octave in the original preset, to get rid of the harsh attack sound.
I attached a little songfile with fmsynth and modular. Load your preset in fmsynth and try the attack knob in modular. Maybe it works for you. (lag processor was wrong.. it touches the whole envelope.. not only attack)
Caustic Song file (optional):
♬ Aliens approaching...
but then low notes would sound with less character than before.... balancing note accross the whole keyboard..... keyboard tracking for VCA features would certainly help, but for a mobile app....... well......
Wow, I've never really posted on here before, and quite frankly, am a bit surprised at the response! Thank you all, so much, for chiming in on this. Quite a community here. Just a little update. I've moved on to polishing a master. Just sharing my experience in working on this track:
There's a quote somewhere about forced limitations giving rise to creativity. That's what I did. I got creative with it. I decided, since what I'm really doing with this song is making a cover, rather than trying to get it to sound JUST like the original, I decided to have a little fun, and make it something I really liked of my own. I threw some effects on the track which did in fact soften the sound a bit, though it also changed it. But I used several effects to get a REALLY COOL sound out of it. Just sharing in case it inspires someone else. Any time you think you've hit a road block, get creative with it, have some fun, and remember there's always more than one way around. :)
Thanks!
You're absolutely right. There is always a workaround to get what you want; Caustic is extremely flexible, to let you do things like that.
Heheheh you're already hooked...... I'll be checking the Show&Tell and see what you got going on there....
I was going to suggest using a midi keyboard, playing/recording your patterns live and making sure that the velocity sensitive toggle switches on the FM are turned on.
I think there are at least 5 On/Off toggles that you can switch to dynamically change the sound - the master feedback, the master volume and each of the three operators can be switched between fixed and velocity sensitive
Finally, you'll need to be careful and actually play the notes at different velocities (this is where I struggle - when I look at patterns I've recorded with my keyboard, too many are at 100%).
https://soundcloud.com/james-muir
https://www.facebook.com/james.muir.77