Analog Universe The Alchemy implementation follows the Camel Audio recommended practices for the performance controls, at least up to a point. The eight performance composite settings are utilized, although like every other sound library offered for Alchemy, one of those performance options aggressively detunes pitches to a point where the result is unmusical, at least to my ears. I know I digress, but I can’t help voicing a complaint about this seemingly universal practice of which all Alchemy sound designers seem to be guilty.
This is the reason I’d encourage Wusikstation owners who don’t have access to Alchemy, Rapture or DP to consider acquiring Memories. Granted, Elemental Arts does not provide a Wusikstation-tailored bank, but the real treasure here is compilation of sample sets in the form of sfz files. Building presets on top of those should be a piece of cake, and I personally anticipate some happy hours doing just that.
Let me elaborate further on this idea. First, consider building a small number of preset templates. For You may learn more about the synthexample, there are a lot of specific implementations at the possibilities in creating a sound that Elemental Arts web site (visit the FAQ starts with one of the pluck sounds page). I don’t want to spend any and having that quickly crossfade to a more time on them here, because I lead, pad or strings continuous sound. think there’s something more In fact, put in a layering between two significant to discuss. looped sounds and set up a MIDI control with which you can crossfade I have few doubts that I’ll be making between them. Then maybe add a extensive use of Memories in the triangle single cycle wave an octave future, but I just can’t see using the down as a sub-oscillator that you can presets for either Alchemy or Rapture. fold in when you want more gravitas Why? It’s simple. It’s going to be way (if we’re using Alchemy or DP, we’ve too much fun to create my own just used up all our oscillators, but presets, and I’d assert that anyone Rapture users don’t have to stop with even the most basic skills in here). Add some vibrato or tremolo sound design could do the same. controlled by the mod wheel. Tart your template up with some favorite If you know how to construct a basic effects … you get the idea. Then just ADSR amplitude envelope and hook an start playing around by loading LFO up to pitch or amplitude, you various sfz sounds into the oscillators have the requisite skills to create of your template and see where it Memory presets. Elemental Arts has takes you. The possibilities are almost already done the heavy lifting here by limitless. giving you the compelling, complex underlying sounds with which to work. 22
www.WusikSoundMagazine.com
September 2011
Let me close with one other thought about sampled synth sounds. These sometimes get a bad rap because they limit the animation you can impose when the synthesis is not truly happening in real time. There’s some merit to this argument. Take the sweep sounds in Memories as a case in point. If the sweeps aren’t happening at precisely the rate you need, you’re out of luck (well, you actually could change the sweep rate in Alchemy by using the granular synthesis feature, but that’s a bit beyond the basic skills I’m claiming are all that are needed here). But, the other side of the argument is also pretty convincing. Using the sumptuous analog sounds like those Memories provides allows you to produce rich, complex and compelling results that can be far more appealing than what one can normally digitally synthesize from single-cycle wave forms. Furthermore, there are still plenty of opportunities for real-time animation. Add further filtering, which can tame the sound or make it more aggressive with the high resonance settings, but make it move in either case. Add whatever effects your synth has on board or get that job done with external effects. You are limited only by your imagination. In conclusion, let me just say: excellent work, Elemental Arts. Very well done, indeed. http://elementalarts-studios.com