PolysixEX Tutorial 3 Lead Sound

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By dongfang (Kris Oosting) - November 2012

PolysixEX Tutorial 3

Programming a Lead Sound

Material: PolysixEX Reference Cards and a KORG Kronos.

Level: Beginner.

Time: 10-15 min.Goals: Program a lead sound using the PolysixEX and add Kronos effects.

This tutorial describes step by step how to program a lead sound with the KORG Kronos PolysixEX. Further, the MG is discussed.

This tutorial consists of four parts:

1. Setting up the Basic Sound.

2. Shape the Sound.

3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosification.

4. Summary Schema of all settings.

TheLead


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1. Setting up the Basic Sound

1. Select a free USER Program and set in the Commontab the EXi 1 Instrument Typeto Po

2. Select the EXi 1tab.

3. First reset the PolysixEX by setting:

VCO VCF PW/PWM = 0 CUTOFF = 5 PWM SPEED = 0 RESONANCE = 0SUB OSC = OFF

EG INTENSITY = 0

VCA EFFECTS MODE = gate MODE = OFFEG DECAY = 0 SUSTAIN = 0Leave the other values at their default settings.

Were going for a lead type sound this t

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was published in Elektor magazine betw

It was the first mini analogue synthesize

modular construction that could be buil

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started to build computers instead. This

different story which will not be covered


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1. Setting up the Basic Sound

4. Set WAVEFORM = PWMto create a synthy lead sound.

5. Next, set the Pulse Width by setting PW/PWM = 7. You can hear already a thin lead com

We start with the basic sound source- theVCO-Voltage Controlled Oscillator.

You can try some settings for the PWM SPEED- the speed of modulation - to create a more

wobbly type sound.But for now we leave it on 0.

6. To give the sound a little more body set SUB OSC = 1 OCT.


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2. Shaping the Sound

7. To make the sound more edgy some resonance has to added to the scene. Resonance

frequencies around the cutoff frequency.To do that, set RESONANCE = 5 in this case. Y

values if you like.

Next you have to shape the sound, by determining which frequencies we want to cut off.For this we look at theVCF-Voltage Controlled Filter.

Time to shape the sound further with the EG ADSR. SeeTutorial 2 -Programming a Bass Soundfor more information about the ADSR.

The sound should have a slight soft start, then decay in medium time to a

sustain level. When the key is released create a soft afterglow of some sort.

8. Set of the EG:ATTACK = 1, DECAY = 5, SUSTAIN = 3, and RELEASE = 1.

Play some notes ...

Attack

D

Key

down


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9. To do that, select EG INTENSITY and change the value with the value slider slowly from 0

soft spot between 1 and 2. For this tutorial set EG INTENSITY = 1.5.

What?! No difference. Thats because theVCFis not yet shaped by the ADSR.To do this, you have to set the EG INTENSITYof theVCF, i.e. how intensive the EGwill influe

Time to shape the sound further with the Modulation Generator MG.

Lets add a little wah-wahto our lead sound.As you could read in the Reference Cards, this can be achieved with selecting theVCFas th

component that will be modulated by the MG.

10.First, of the MGset MODE = VCF.

11.Then, set LEVEL = 0.5. Remember that level is very sensitive. Just try some higher value

wild fluctuations. Maybe something for special effects?

D


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12.To do that, of the MGset DELAY = 4. Play some notes and hold the keys ... The wah-w

short while. Nice!

You dont want the wah-wah to start as soon as you touched a key.You want a wah-wah after a short delay (while pressing a key).

The speed of the wah-wah is controlled by FREQUENCY/TIMESof the MG.

Note that when both SYNCare off, this knob controls the frequency of the MG.

13.Select FREQUENCY/TIMESon the screen and change the values using the value slider

while playing. Leave FREQUENCY/TIMES = 6. This should give a nice wah-wah.

14.As you remember from Tutorial 2, to set the synth to monophonic: Select the Common

tab, then the Basic/Vectortab, and then the Program Basictab. Look underVoice

Assign Modefor Mono. Select it and the white circle gets a red dotinside. Done.


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3. The Beauty Pass - Kronosificat

15.Select the Commontab.

16.Then the IFXtab, and then the Insert FXsubtab.

17.Set IFX1 = On, and select for the effect: 040: Stereo Chorus.

18.Select the IFX 1-12subtab and then IFX1(if not selected).

19.Enter the following settings for the Stereo Chorus effect:

Lets add some nice effects to this basic lead sound and make it Kronos worthy.

Ster

OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 10:90 Amount: +50Leave the other values at their default settings.We want a chorus type effect.

But not the width of it, yet.

You could also try Dry (0).


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20.Select the Routingsubtab.

21.In the Bus Select (IFX/Indiv.Out Assign)section set EXi 1&2to: IFX1.

Pun

The Stereo Chorus effect adds thickness and warmth to the sound by

modulating the delay time of the input signal.

Play some notes. We have a more punchy lead now.

More information on the Stereo Chorus can be found on page 927 of the Kronos

Parameter Guide.

Lets add another effect.


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22.Select the Insert FXsubtab.

23.Set IFX2 = On, and select for the effect: 034: Bass Amp Model + Cabinet.

24.Also select the little squareunder Chainof IFX1. The sound now travels

through IFX1 to IFX2 and out.

25.Select subtab IFX 1-12and side tab (left) IFX2(if not selected).

26.Enter the following settings for the Bass Amp Model + Cabinet:

Left over from tutorial 2 we have a Bass Amp Model + Cabinet standing in the corner.Lets put it to good use.

BMod

BASS AMP MODEL Type: Valve2CABINET SIMULATION Type: UK - 4x15OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 75:25Leave the other values at their

Same settings as Tutorial 2.

Some effect reuse this is.

More information on the Bass Amp

Model + Cabinet can be found on

page 923 of the Kronos Parameter

Guide.


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27.Back to the Insert FXsubtab.

28.Set IFX3 = On, and select for the effect: 051: Stereo Phaser. This effect creates a

swell by shifting the phase.

29.Also select the little squareunder Chainof IFX2. The sound now travels through

IFX2 to IFX3 and out.

30.Select subtab IFX 1-12and side tab (left) IFX3(if not selected).

31.Enter the following settings for the Stereo Phaser:

Hmm, almost there ... lets see what we have in the Effects Library ...The lead should not loose its presence. Nope, O-Verb doesnt sound right.

St

OUTPUT Wet/Dry: 30:70 (use value slider or knobs)Leave the other values at their default settings.

Arbitrary selection. Y

select another effect

More information on the Stereo Phaser

can be found on page 936 of the Kronos

Parameter Guide.


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Now its time to play some notes...

Experiment with the sound?

TryVCFCUTOFF = 4, or RESONANCE = 2, or both.

TryVCOSUB OSC = 2 OCT.

Try EFFECTSMODE = PHASEor ENSEMBLE.

P


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4. Summary Schema

Settings for the Lead Sound in this tutorial.

In case you want to quickly program the sound again.

KRONOS

VCO

create raw

sound

KBD

VCF

shape the

sound

VIOVWPWPWSU

ATTACK = 1DECAY = 5SUSTAIN = 3RELEASE = 1

VCA

amplify the

sound

EG

(Envelope

Generator)CUREEG

KB

MAT

EFFECTS

apply effects

MOSPSP

IFX1

IFX2

04

OU

W034: Bass Amp Model + Cabinet

BASS AMP MODEL

Type: Valve2

CABINET SIMULATION

Type: UK - 4x15

OUTPUT

Wet/Dry: 75:25

05

OUW

IFX3

MG

(Modulation

Generator) (wah-wah)

MODE = VCFFREQ = 6DELAY = 4LEVEL = 0 .5

Documents

PolysixEX Tutorial 3 Lead Sound