John Bowen Synth Design

John Bowen wrote:Yannis,

Here's the thing about "mono-timbrality" - the Solaris has the ability to have four distinct signal paths per preset (signal path being 0sc->Filter->VCA). You can also use all 4 oscs into each filter, with different filter settings, and get some layers that way....or any combination as well. This means you can have a "layered" sound, but what you don't have is the ability to split/layer different presets, as Korg does with the Combi mode on their synths. We do plan on having a 4-part MultiMode in the future, but I think many will find the normal preset capability can get quite dense if needed.
-john b.

Hi John,

thanks for the reply.

if I understand correctly the process that you have described is ... filters in parallel? So a certain mix of oscillators in sent to say Filter 1 and the same mix of oscillators is sent to Filter 2? And we have 4 of these signal paths, right? Is it possible to apply a different ADSR for one of these paths and a different ADSR for another path (VCA-wise)?

John Bowen wrote: re: polyphony - we expect the final OS optimisation to produce 15 voices - the current proto is running with 10 (we have a multiple of 5 for our voice calculation). It is not currently a dynamically allocated code; this may be something that gets implemented down the line, but for now it is fixed.

OK, let's say that when the multi-timbral operation is implemented, a user has 4 different parts. How many voices does each part get? Does the user allocate a fixed amount? Will the number of voices be saved per patch or is it going to be a global setting?

I know that it's hard to answer this, since it's not implemented yet, but it would be great if you tell us how would you like to see it happen.

Thanks!

ThreeFingersOfLove wrote:if I understand correctly the process that you have described is ... filters in parallel? So a certain mix of oscillators in sent to say Filter 1 and the same mix of oscillators is sent to Filter 2? And we have 4 of these signal paths, right? Is it possible to apply a different ADSR for one of these paths and a different ADSR for another path (VCA-wise)?

Yes, exactly right. You could also send different mixes of the 4 oscs to each filter, since there are 4 mixers....or you could be using other audio sources in different mixes, such as the External inputs, the Rotors, the Vector mixers, the AM sections (think Ring Mod). You also have in this audio source list the output of all the Mixers, Insert FX, Filters, and VCAs for recursive or series application. (This same audio source list feeds each filter as well.)
Re: VCAs - yes, each of the 4 can have its own EG, since there are 6 EGs, but in addition to that, there is a Global VCA that is hardwired to EG6. This oversees the Voice Management system to know when voices can be 'stolen' when needed, and so the EG6 settings will need to be set so that they equal or exceed the longest times of any other EG.

ThreeFingersOfLove wrote:OK, let's say that when the multi-timbral operation is implemented, a user has 4 different parts. How many voices does each part get? Does the user allocate a fixed amount? Will the number of voices be saved per patch or is it going to be a global setting?

Good question, and what I can say is that I would prefer the user be able to assign voice allocation per part, but you can just have a switch that sets this as fixed or dynamic per part. I would have these settings stored per Multi-object (whatever we decide to call it - Combi, Multi, etc.). Another difference in a Multi is that the Global VCA would have to be separate for each Part, so we will need essentially 4 Global VCAs in this case.

-john b.

i love the photos & am very happy to hear that Solaris got lots of attention! I'm desperately craving some NAMM 2010 videos - I love seeing John put Solaris through her paces. Hoping to see some videos up soon!

To be honest, there were only 2 video cameras that came by, I think - one of them was a Swedish dealer, and the other was John Cooper of Planet Z. Here's the link for the Swedish-made video (it's pretty short):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOUFMEgkAk8

No news yet as to when John C. will be ready to post his video.

cheers,
john b.

Here's the Swedish video posted again on the Music Player forum, with onging comments:
http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthread ... ost2156164

And here's another discussion thread from Harmony Central:
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/sho ... ?t=2535677

You will probably want to scroll down past all the older initial videos that are posted by Bernard and so on, to get to the current NAMM show (2010) comments and photos.

(Thanks to marzzz for the links!)

-john b.

"Ooooooo, wutta lucky man I'll beee!" ... when I get my Solaris!

that resonant Moogish lead is outstanding. thanx for posting those pix & the video. i used to obsess over the rotors as my favorite part of Solaris. now i think it might be that feedback - brilliant!