Creating Sounds with the Spectral Oscillator

The spectral oscillator with its Purity, Inharmonicity, and Formant parameters allows you to create characterful piano sounds.

Procedure

  1. Load the Init preset.
  2. On the Synth page, select the spectral oscillator.
  3. Load the “Grand Piano” sample from the “Padshop Factory/03 Instruments” folder.
  4. Set Loop to Off.
  5. Adjust the Purity and Inharmonicity parameters.

    Purity affects the brightness of the sound, and Inharmonicity changes the timbre from clean to dissonant.

  6. Set Purity to +50 % and Inharmonicity to 0 %.
  7. In the modulation matrix, assign Velocity to Spectral Purity and set the modulation Depth to -25 %.
  8. Assign Velocity to Spectral Inharmonicity and set the modulation Depth to +25 %.

    The higher the velocity of the note, the brighter and more inharmonic the sound. Now, the sound is too dull when playing low notes and too bright when playing high notes.

  9. Set Formant Key Follow to 0 % to correct this with the formant filter.
  10. To make the sound more playable, set Amplifier Velocity to +50 %.
  11. Optional: Add filters, amplifier envelope, effects, or an arpeggio.
  12. Optional: Experiment with other samples and the settings you made for this sound.
    Tip

    The “Illusions of Piano” preset is a good example of a preset that was produced this way.