Conference napalm::commusic_v1

2479.0. "Sample Maker V1.51" by PAULJ::HARRIMAN (People Inaction) Mon Oct 29 1990 11:05

	Quite a while ago I saw this in the Dr. T's catalog, but I could never
	find it (nobody sells Atari stuff here in the boondocks of Vermont).
	However, I finally found this while I was at the Atarifest last weekend,
	and I've had a chance to get into it. Egad.

	Sample Maker is a piece of software for the Atari ST that allows one
	to manipulate and create samples for any sampler that follows the
	Sample Dump Standard (SDS). The version I have works for the
	Mirage, EPS, EMAX, S900, FZ-1, and Prophet 2000/2002. 

	First, what it really does. Sample Maker integrates most all forms of
	synthesis (FM, additive, AM, Waveshaping, Phase Distortion, Wave Tables,
	and Wave Drawing) as well as being able to use existing samples to
	create a sound. One may control an incredible amount of sound generation
	aspects (oscillator phase shifting for example). It can even convert
	samples from 8 bit to 16 bit.

	There are basically two modes of operation; the first is the Algorithm
	page, the other is the Sample Editor. You can generate "samples"
	by using algorithms (connections of operators). 

	There are a total of 60 operators available. Each operator is identical.
	You may copy operator characteristics (settings) to any other operator.

	Each operator features:

	- selectable waveforms (sine, square, triangle, ramps, random, or
	  complete sample) with user-specified frequency and gain (except
	  for noise and sample)

	- 3 FM inputs and 1 AM input, plus feedback from any other operator

	- LFOs, 10 of them. Frequency and gain controllable.

	- 20 point envelope generator, controls pitch and/or amplitude. You
	  may invert them as well ("arbitrary shape and sign"). There are
	  10 of these that can be shared amongst the 60 operators.

	- Non-linear waveshaping tables via another editor page, with selectable
	  limits (clipping values). Again, there are 10 tables.

	- gain control on inputs and outputs.

	You may store algorithms and samples. Algorithms are stored as text,
	and samples are stored as binary. 

	Once you generate a sample you may enter the sample editor. Actually,
	you can enter the sample editor anytime as long as you tell it where
	the sample is coming from (current, disk, or uploaded from the sampler).

	The sample editor gives a graphic (oscilloscope) representation of the
	sample. You can zoom into specific areas of the wave. Once less than
	300 points are on the screen, you may pick any one and move it with
	the mouse (up/down only). So, for instance, you can edit out an
	errant click or pop, or reshape the points where the loop occurs to
	match more evenly. You may also set the loop points by dragging
	sliders around.

	In addition, you can cut and paste sample pieces, build a longer
	samples by repeating short sections, merge samples (time-shifted,
	cross-fade, or concatenation), volume scaling (uniform or contoured
	by EG9), reversal of entire sample or a segment, or you can get
	a 3D FFT graph showing frequency spectrum vs amplitude vs time.

	I couldn't wait to get it home and try it, which I did over the weekend.

	Basically it seems to work as advertised. My mind boggles having 60
	operators to play with. The last FM machine I had was a DX100. The
	biggest difference, other than having 10+ times the operators to 
	play with, are that the Yamaha boxes predetermine certain "right"
	frequencies to modulate by. This doesn't. So things can get, well,
	complicated quickly. I haven't gotten past 4 operators yet, although
	I did try a 10-op parallel organ sound (a tad simplistic though, I 
	didn't try modulating anything). 

	Uploading and downloading samples seems to work fine, although I
	found out the hard way what happens when you make assumptions about
	what the frequency of a sample "should be" - in my case, the EPS
	was placing 440 Hz wavesamples at key C4 (not exactly what I had
	expected). So I changed the wave frequency to 261.63 and it worked
	right. Also the sample rate is selectable, so you need to make sure
	that's set up consistently, else it shifts the frequency on you.

	So, for $225, I got my EPS "upgraded" to be a synthesizer as well,
	and visual sample editing too. I haven't decided if that makes my
	life easier or (much) more complicated yet. 

	Anyway, I figured I'd post this here. I didn't see any previous
	references in the keywords or titles.

	/pjh

I believe the Amiga programs Synthia & Synthia Pro do similar things for 
the Amiga. One is for the Amiga 8 bit internal sounds and the other is to
create 16 bit sounds for dumping to samplers.  The reviews say using the
program is the easiest way to learn about all of the different kinds of 
sound synthesis. Additive. subtractive FM etc. etc.

Dave