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Multitimbrality Tips

Here are described some general techniques to be used with SynC Modular multitimbrality features. This is not a guide to be strictly followed, just a way to make it easier and more convenient.

If a synth to be used in a multitimbral ensemble is stored in an .sme file you can open a second instance of the SynC Modular to copy/paste the synth macro from there.

It is more convenient though to keep your synths library in .smm file format, without attached effect modules (reverbs, choruses etc.). Then to load such macro into the part's instrument structure, right-click the background and select Macro... (not Basic->Macro). A file browsing dialog will appear allowing you to select the necessary file.

Notice. The synths that come in examples are stored as ensembles just because they are easier to try this way. They have all necessary connections made and effect modules attached and tuned.

To create .smm-format synth from an .sme single-instrument ensemble, first load the .sme

file, go into the synth's macro (e.g. with NordLead2 from the examples this macro is labeled NordLead2) and select File->Save Macro As... from the menu bar.

Create an effect send macro for yourself. Such macro would receive the synth's output and send output signals like follows: L - dry signal send for the left channel, R - dry signal send for the right channel, Rev - reverb effect send, Cho - chorus effect send, Dly - delay effect send (it's only an example set of outputs, you can create any other to your taste). The macro would contain several knobs inside: Pan - adjusting the dry signal panning, RevSnd - adjusting the reverb send, ChoSnd - adjusting the chorus send, DlySnd - adjusting the delay send. Also it can contain a volume knob, adjusting the overall level of the input signal. Assign Volume to MIDI controller 7, Pan to controller 10, RevSnd to controller 91, ChoSnd to controller 93 and DlySnd to controller 95 or to whatever other MIDI controllers you want.

Warning. Be aware that some synths (e.g. NordLead2 from the examples) already respond to controller 7 as volume controller. In this case it is recommended to disable controller 7 reception either by the synth or by the effect send module. You can have a switch in the effect send module for that.

Save the effect send macro in the Library/YourName/EffectSend.smm file in the SynC Modular installation directory. Then you will be able to select your effect send macro right from the module creation menu.

Create a template .ens file with all necessary effect send outputs created in the PartBox (e.g. L, R, Rev, Cho, Dly) and all necessary effect processing modules in the ensemble structure.

After you have done all the previous steps, creating a new multitimbral ensemble is like follows.

1. Load your template ensemble

2. Save it under a different filename, so that you do not overwrite it later

3. Create a new empty instrument for a PartBox part. Switch to that instrument's structure.

4. Load the synth into the instrument structure by right-clicking the background, selecting Macro... and choosing the synth's file.

5. Create the effect send module by selecting it from the menu (provided you saved it in the Library/YourName directory earlier).

6. Route the synth's audio output to the effect send module, route the synth's envelope activity signal (for polyphonic synths) to the VR module.

7. Route the effect send outputs to the corresponding inputs of the instrument Outs module.

8. Repeat steps 3-7 for any other parts/instruments.