These preset samples have some similarity to wavetables or samples, but as they have been 'granulated' they are called graintables.
#Chipmunk basic sound example series
The Malström 's oscillators use short sampled waveforms that have been analysed, pre-processed and converted into a series of small sections (known as grains). The controls of a Malström Oscillator section. In fact, the Malström is a lot more sophisticated than that. However, choose any sound type other than these three basic waves, and you'd at first be forgiven for thinking that the Malström was loading up a sample or 'wavetable', something like what you'd find in workstation synths using the 'Sample & Synthesis' method. Anyway, if you choose Sine, Square or Triangle from the list and ignore the parameters marked Index, Shift and Motion, you can operate the Malström like a regular synth. I've put 'waveforms' in quotes because, as we'll see shortly, they are considerably more than just samples or waves. Clicking on the mini-display that reads 'Sine' in the Osc A section brings up a pop-up list of 'waveforms' (see screen opposite). In fact, by ignoring some parameters you can use the Malström as a fairly standard subtractive synth. Much of the synth does operate in the same way as more familiar synths, except for the sound-generation method employed by the oscillators. There are two oscillator sections, amplitude envelopes, filters, a filter envelope, LFOs, a 'Shaper' and signal-routing options. Malström Basicsįirst off, the Malström synth looks a lot like any regular semi-modular soft synth or sampler. Learning to understand and control the Malström is well worth the effort for the new sounds you'll be able to create, but is also the perfect first step for anyone interested in learning about granular synthesis in general. The Malström synth uses a complex synthesis method called Granular Resynthesis, but manages to package it in a way that makes it accessible to anyone familiar with more run-of-the-mill instruments. However, Reason also has a little gem of a synth that dares to break away from these common sound-generation engines. Reason, of course, has the Subtractor synth, and the NN19 and NNXT samplers.
#Chipmunk basic sound example software
Most software studios or sequencing packages now come with variations on subtractive 'analogue' synths, and also samplers. It’s also helpful to give each panel a different color (unlike the included alternates).The Malström device can certainly be used as a conventional synth, but behind its slightly bizarre green front panel lies a powerful graintable sound engine begging to be exploited to the full. When editing or creating your own data, you’ll probably want to make better use of white space and separate data statements to group related items, like this. The data listed in cbsimon.bas is condensed.
To use these or other layouts comment out the default data statements and uncomment or insert the desired layout data. The default layout is shown in the screenshot above, but others are included: The layout defines the number of game panels, their size and position, their colors, the notes heard when they are played, and the keys associated with them.
The layout and some of the behavior of the game “board” is read from data statements at the end of the program. You need Chipmunk Basic to run this program. There are some rough edges: the game may become confused if you hold down keys too long or type too rapidly. The game is playable but is primarily intended as an example. Each time you successfully mimic the computer’s play the pattern is lengthened. The game is played by attempting to repeat the pattern played by the computer. This is a simple version of Simon Says written in Chipmunk Basic.