Electribe-ish!

[sl23]

Hi I'm new and am really only interested in creating one vst instrument. As you may have guessed, it's a version of a Korg Electribe.

About 4 years ago, I bought my first PC. It was a Sony Vaio VGC-V3S, nice bit of kit. However it went wrong! Before it did though I designed, or rather enhanced, the Korg EMX-1 and ESX-1 Electribes. I used Serif Draw Plus 5, a freebie on a mag! I still have that file now. It would've been an excellent synth Now though, I have several more ideas for it that would make this an excellent all rounder for synthesis, sampling, modulation, control, yet simple and easy to get to grips with. Why companies like Korg don't make things like this is beyond me?!

Let's face it, who wouldn't want a hardware synth as easy to use as an Electribe, but greatly enhanced so as to be as deep as a workstation with the ability to be used as a MIDI controller, perhaps based on something like the Nocturn?

Anyway, I was reading a recent issue of CM and read about the new iElectribe release for the iPad. Then I noticed an article on SynthMaker and it hit me, why not make a software version? Not an easy feat, not even for someone experienced I imagine. But for me it would include all I want from a synth.

I'm no programmer and not very experienced with software music programs either, but this is something I'd love to have a go at so I'd appreciate any help you could give me.

First, is it possible? Doesn't have to be an exact emulation sound-wise, the important thing for me is the function.
Second, is it possible using SynthMakerCM? Perhaps you're going to pass the buck and tell me I should be asking them, but I thought you'd be better 'equipped to answer the questions.

I understand the copyright of this, but if I re-create something similar to an Electribe from scratch with additions and different GUI surely I can call it my own creation that was influenced by Korg. If there aren't any restrictions and this is something possible then I'd gladly share it with any who would like it for free.

I appreciate your comments and I do realise this is an immense task but hopefully it's something I'm capable of doing!

Thanks

Scott

[MichaelBenjamin]

i would guess the synthesis part besides sequencing is doable, but since synthmaker cannot really sequence accurate midi data internally (yet?) you would have to take a different approach with external sequencing/triggering.

[sl23]

Thanks for a quick reply

Is there anything similar for creating vst's that could be capable of doing what I want?

[MichaelBenjamin]

maybe have a look at synthedit, its interface is quite awful and you are restricted to non moddable premade modules like in reaktor unless you want to delve into c++, but afaik it can sequence midi notes just fine.

[sl23]

Er... ok I'll have a look. Maybe bit much though if programming required?

Thanks for your help though, much appreciated.

[Nu Audio Science]

You don't need programming for synthedit it is optional
And i would throw a guess that you will find 3rd party modules a plenty to cover every thing you will need
Synthedit has way more modules available for it than Synthmaker in the areas of interest to you and as suggested sequences MIDI perfectly too
It is pretty much my main digital modular although i rarely make plugins with it much anymore

NAS

[rl]

i would guess the synthesis part besides sequencing is doable, but since synthmaker cannot really sequence accurate midi data internally (yet?) you would have to take a different approach with external sequencing/triggering.

this statement needs to be contradicted:
In case the sequencer part and sound synthesis part is within the same schematic, the sequencer can be fully implemented to run in the audio thread (SM stream data) and thus be sample accurate. I'd say an Electribe-ish instrument can be fully done within SM.

[aliasant]

i would guess the synthesis part besides sequencing is doable, but since synthmaker cannot really sequence accurate midi data internally (yet?) you would have to take a different approach with external sequencing/triggering.

this statement needs to be contradicted:
In case the sequencer part and sound synthesis part is within the same schematic, the sequencer can be fully implemented to run in the audio thread (SM stream data) and thus be sample accurate. I'd say an Electribe-ish instrument can be fully done within SM.

Absolutely correct!

[infuzion]

SM:
+ All info & files in one place (synthmaker.co.uk)
+ An SM synth won the last KVR challange
+ cuter wire & connector colors
+ .exe export
- Some reports of memory overwrites
- VST2.3 only likely for a long time
SE:
+ More modules available, so less programming needed
+ Perhaps more (active) users?
+ cheaper
+ VST2.4 exports now?
- Support all over the place (forums not hosted at synthedit.com, modules scattered on several websites)

[attic]

Synthedit Route: You will want the CK modules, it is doable. Also you have the SDK3 over there.

Electribe Mx style plugin in Synthmaker I believe is possible. The Electribe synth parts are 1 polyphonic as are the drums. 9 Drum pads 5 Synth pads = total 14 polyphonic. Only three Fx's at a time chainable but shared by all channels. Each voice is insertable to Fx 1 2 or 3 if they are chained they travel from whichever insert you choose to the end (3) and out. You have four pattern banks each with 64 presets. There are 207 drum waves and about 12 different types of Osc.The Electribe is a great example of frugal memory usage and could more than likely be made with Synthmaker.

If I was doing it I wouldn't implement song mode nor AutoBpm scan. The main trouble areas I could foresee in Synthmaker would be in the midi implementation and getting the seq right ... also if you were triggering 14 samples at the same time that could be a cpu issue.

I'm curious ... Whats the highest amount of samples anyone is triggering with Synthmaker at one time? Also format and size?

[sl23]

I'm impressed! thanks for everyone's help

Ok first let me just say that I intend expanding and combining EMX and ESX. Not to their fullest extent, things such as autobpm and songmode as well as some other things will be left out.

My main interest isn't in a faithful reproduction, though that would be good, more the simplicity of design, ease of use and it is to be 'based' on those two modules. There will be double the polyphony, I suppose this could be a problem? But not all of it would be used for any particular track. If more than one instance used then I'd bounce each part down to samples/loops, freeing up resources. Currently I use an Acer Aspire 5920 laptop with an Intel Core 2 Duo T5550 1.83GHz, 3GB Ram, only basics really but I've made a few tracks from loops sampled from my old Roland MC-909. some of those tracks play ten loops at a given time and I've had no problems yet.

As I said there is a lot I want to add to the design these include binning the EMX synth type knob and expanding the actual synthesis section adding an extra tone per part, increasing the Mod section, change from 3 master FX to 3 FX per part, sampling and synthesis (loops wouldn't need catering for as the DAW could play them and the VST accept the loop as an input? Perhaps not possible unless I make a VST & VSTi), the important part is the sequencer which I would add the possibilty of independently changing resolution for each part, motion sequencing, etc.

Do you still think all this is possible? Or perhaps better implemented in synthedit?

There seems to be some confusion as to whether it's possible to sequence with SM, is that because it's not designed for it, but there's a work around?

Also, is all this possible using SynthMaker CM edition (v1.0.5)?

In case the sequencer part and sound synthesis part is within the same schematic, the sequencer can be fully implemented to run in the audio thread (SM stream data) and thus be sample accurate. I'd say an Electribe-ish instrument can be fully done within SM.

eh? Perhaps this is a bit too ambitious for a beginner anyway?! If you don't know if it can be done what chance do I have?

What do the dev's think about this?

Thanks again for your comments

[Nu Audio Science]

SM:
+ An SM synth won the last KVR challange

Wasn't it an effect not a synth by Bootsy ?
And lets be honest here he didn't win for that effect

NAS

[aliasant]

And lets be honest here he didn't win for that effect

NAS

Didnt he ??

[MichaelBenjamin]

if the electribe does mono sequencing, then yes you can do that. attics description seems to be the most accurate, since i really dont know much about the thing besides some general overview.

[sl23]

Sorry but what do you mean by mono-sequencing exactly? Sequence only one part at a time? Does that mean you can't create poly-sequencer or it simply won't play?