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Posted by spbalance on Oct-14-2005 20:15:

Hardware synths and presets

With softsyths, when you load a preset, all the knobs etc. auto-adjust for that current preset so it sounds right. How does this work on hardware synths? (Virus for example)
I'm guessing the knobs and stuff don't auto-adjust themselves (except for waveform and all that), so how does it work?

I hope someone knows what im trying to say, hehe.
I'm just curious, and i'm getting a VTI soon so i want to know more about it

Posted by Thois on Oct-14-2005 20:26:

good question i have always asked myself the same question...

For nord lead 3 i know the answer because ive played with it. The lead 3 has like 20 leads on the outside of each knob, so you see the leds change when you browse presets (the knobs themselves can be turned endlessly)

But other synths dont have these leds, so i wonder too

Posted by ehRipper on Oct-15-2005 03:00:

Yea my jp8080 does not have leds on the outside of each knob, That is a great feature though when dealing with a synth.

I too wonder how people would make adjustments to a parameter when checking patches they get from else wheere.

I know you can hold shift while moving a knob or slider to check the value its at but i would like to check the value befor i move it so i know what i am actually changing.

Posted by herozero on Oct-15-2005 07:31:

As for me, i have the roland-jx305

Its very DANGEROUS expecially when you tweak the filter n res knobs live, man, suddenly it goes to extreme ear-piercing levels. But i guess it comes down to familiarity with the synth.

Posted by IDarkISwordI on Oct-15-2005 07:54:

Hey. Presets didnt come about in the hardware synth world until the CS-80 and then, more importanly, the Prophet-5 included such functionality. As MIDI became common place, so did the idea that presets should be easier to store so the idea of SYSEX (system exclusive data) came about. In a basic way, sysex data includes all of the synths properties at that current state and later, you can import that SYSEX back into the synth and get (hopefully) the same sound. Before that, many other ways were used. The Yamaha CS-80 for instance had basicly hard-wired presets that couldnt be changed. Synths such as the Oberheim Matrix 6/12 included both SYSEX and the ability to backup to tape.

As for your question, it depends on the synth. Some synths have continuous encoders (meaning you can turn them 360* and more). This allows for resetting the current value for that knob and whenever you change it from there, itll continue on from its current value. Other synths have blocked knobs, ones that dont spin all the way around. Generally, in this case, the knob is a POT and therefore has a value determined by voltage. Most likely, spinning the knob will adjust the value to the current position. This can be annoying but you get used to it after a while. Just remember the value of the current parameter. Of course, there are some synths that dont have any knobs or sliders (Matrix 6/12) and its pretty obvious that pressing the value keys adjusts the setting from its current value. Its all up to how the manufacturer wants to go about it though.

Cheers,
Zac

Posted by DeZmA on Oct-15-2005 09:55:

Some synths have the best of both worlds with a workaround like the nova's pickup mode and the nord lead 3's leds. With the an1x you can see the value of the parameter simply by clicking on the knob.

Posted by Derivative on Oct-15-2005 13:06:

with the virus its easy. if you load a preset, all the pots (rotary potentiameters) stay in the same position - i mean, they arent motorised.

what happens is that the LED lights up. when you move the cutoff pot for example, 2 numbers will show up on the LED - an example would be 80 whilst the 2nd number changes when you move the pot. the first number is the value you need to set the cutoff as it is in the original preset, the second number is the value you set by moving the pot. this way, its easy to return to the original patch or the original parameter if you decide you dont like your own changes. a pot will go from 0 to 127.

there are a number of modes you can set the pots to behave in as well. such as jump mode. i.e. if your cutoff pot is in the 127 position (fully open), but the preset you just loaded has the cutoff on only 20 it will still sound like the preset - i.e. with the cutoff only on 20. if you move the pot a tiny amount to say, 125 then the cutoff for that preset will literally 'jump' to near fully open.

you can set the virus to do different things when that happens, so that knocking a pot wont suddenly change a parameter on the synth. i.e. using the same example as above, you can set it so that it does nothing until you drop the cutoff below 20. then the pot will become active and you can sweep it wherever you like.

overall its a pretty versatile system.

Posted by spbalance on Oct-15-2005 16:13:

ahh okay, thanks a lot for clearing it up for me.
I was hoping it would be something like that

Posted by everyMan on Oct-15-2005 20:21:

I hope every synths will now use the Nord Lead 3 leds & rotary pots system. This is so much more convenient!