Patch 008 - ADK Cymbal

As discussed on the ADK Hi Hat patch, obtaining a realistic cymbal noise from a simple synth like the microKORG is difficult. This is due to the fact that a cymbal sound is an inharmonic sound that cannot be replicated with two oscillators (or four for a layered patch). I was keen to give it a go though...

From my web based research, I learned that ring modulation could be used to generate a complex spectrum of frequencies and started with that. First I used a DWGS waveform in Osc 1 in conjunction with a square wave, detuned heavily in Osc 2. I used the DWGS waveform solely for ring modulation / synch purposes and therefore turned this off in the mixer and set Osc 2 to the maximum. Fast or instant attack and zero sustain for both envelopes together with moderate (and equal) decay / release. I made the filter decay a little quicker than the amp decay.

I found that adding distortion amplified the metallic nature of the patch and I also liked some movement in pitch and the filter through modulation with an LFO. As per the other ADK pitches I turned keyboard tracking of the pitch off.

I then thought that the sound could be further enhanced by adding a second timbre, . after all, this is a monophonic patch so the lack of polyphony wouldn't be a problem. After messing with a noise based sound I settled on using another DWGS waveform, this time without ring modulation. I left Osc 2 off in the mixer and used a similar (but quicker) amp envelope than timbre 1. As you can hear, timbre 2 has a lot less "noise" than timbre 1, being more like a ringing bell, so I made sure it didn't overshadow timbre 2. After making some adjustments to the filter (HPF, negative envelope), I panned both timbres slightly off centre. Timbre 2 has identical virtual patch settings to timbre 1. Finally I EQ'd both timbres to accentuate the higher frequencies.

Here are the settings (starting from init, shift+3):

Timbre 1

Voice: SYT, LAY, MON, SGL, ---
Pitch: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
Osc 1: DIG, ---, 60, ---, ---
Osc 2: SAW, R-S, 10, 40, ---
Mixer: 0, 127, 0, ---, ---
Filter: BPF, 75, 75, 34, 0
Filter EG: 6, 84, 0, 84, ON
Amp: 127, R3, ON, 0, ---
Amp EG: 0, 80, 0, 80, ON
LFO 1: TRI, OFF, OFF, 10, --- (unchanged)
LFO 2: SIN, OFF, OFF, 70, --- (unchanged)

Patch 1: TRC, PTC, -48, ---, ---
Patch 2: LF2, CUT, 2, ---, ---
Patch 3: LF2, PTC, -2, ---, ---
Patch 4: LF2, CUT, 0, ---, --- (unchanged)
Mod FX: FLG, 20, 0, ---, --- (unchanged)
Delay: STR, OFF, 40, 0, --- (unchanged)
EQ: 320, -12, 6.0, 12, ---
Arpeg. A: 120, 1.16, 80, UP, 1 (unchanged)
Arpeg. B: OFF, 0, ON, 8, --- (unchanged)

Timbre 2

Voice: SYT, LAY, MON, SGL, ---
Pitch: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
Osc 1: DIG, ---, 28, ---, ---
Osc 2: SAW, OFF, 0, 0, --- (unchanged)
Mixer: 87, 0, 0, ---, ---
Filter: HPF, 41, 52, -43, 0
Filter EG: 6, 84, 0, 84, ON
Amp: 127, L4, ON, 0, ---
Amp EG: 0, 60, 0, 60, ON
LFO 1: TRI, OFF, OFF, 10, --- (unchanged)
LFO 2: SIN, OFF, OFF, 70, --- (unchanged)

Patch 1: TRC, PTC, -48, ---, ---
Patch 2: LF2, CUT, 2, ---, ---
Patch 3: LF2, PTC, -2, ---, ---
Patch 4: LF2, CUT, 0, ---, --- (unchanged)
Mod FX: FLG, 20, 0, ---, --- (unchanged)
Delay: STR, OFF, 40, 0, --- (unchanged)
EQ: 320, -12, 6.0, 12, ---
Arpeg. A: 120, 1.16, 80, UP, 1 (unchanged)
Arpeg. B: OFF, 0, ON, 8, --- (unchanged)

And that is that, very obviously a synth sound, but it does vaguely resemble a cymbal! The one thing I am not sure I am altogether happy with is the pitch of this patch. I could re-enable keyboard tracking of pitch and play it up and down the keyboard, and perhaps I will in the future. But for now, I am going to leave it as is. Also, if keyboard tracking is not enabled for the filter, amp or pitch, or any of the other modulation sources in the virtual patches, why does this sound different played up and down the keyboard anyway? Perhaps one of you clever people can give me a clue..