Partikl FAQ
Q: I don't know much about sound synthesis - do you have a tutorial to help me?
A: Sure! Follow these links to some tutorials that will help you to learn how to create sounds using Partikl:
Q: What order are the effects processed in?
A: The most important thing to remember when you start using Partikl is that the audio for a voice ALWAYS comes from the rightmost signal-rate effect unit!
The effects units for each voice are in general processed from left-to-right. Think of the system as a pipeline of audio information, where audio is generated over on the left, and passes through intervening effects units and ends-up on the right hand side, at which point it gets generated. However, the pipeline can actually be pretty complicated, in which case it can become useful to think of an Effect Module as being either like a tree of interrelated modules, or even a network of effect units working together in complex way!
So, the best way of thinking how effects units work, is in terms of a collection of special-purpose units, that are connected together in pretty much any way you want, using invisible connecting "cables". The user interface shows these connections as best it can. Note that feedback loops or 'cyclic dependancies' between units are not allowed.
The user interface displays a module by showing the signal-rate units at the top of the display area, and control-rate units below them. The currently selected unit is displayed differently to help remind you which unit you are currently editing.
The outputs from all voice-level effect modules are summed-up by the Partikl Synth, and are then passed into the Global Effects Module, which you can define if you want.
Note that control-rate units do not generate stuff that you can hear directly, you use them purely to control parameters of other effect units in system. Control-rate units can be used to modulate parameters for both signal-rate and other control-rate units. For example, you could have an envelope unit (c/envlope) whose sole purpose is to create an envelope of values which is used to modulate the frequency parameters of a dsynth unit.
You might be wondering at this stage, exactly why things are so flexible? Well, the reason is that it is this very flexibility which makes Partikl so powerful at creating a truly mind-boggling variety of exciting sounds and audio effects! However, this flexibility can also make things a little complicated to get your head around... which is where this documentation comes in.
Q: I have several voices playing and the total output mix sounds distorted. What's happening?
A: Partikl has a built in limiter which stops the sounds from overloading. However, it can sometimes add distortion in a mix with many instruments. The key to prevent this is to decrease the internal volume of the final mix. One way to do this is to make use of the global effects module level effects: you can simply use an amplifier to reduce the overall mix level! Another powerful technique is to apply a compressor to dynamically limit the volume level (though this can mask dynamics in some content).
Q: I have several voices playing and the total output mix is very quiet. What can I do?
A: One easy way to deal with this is to make use of the global effects module level effects: simply use an amplifier to increase the overall mix level! Another powerful technique is to apply a compressor in "expander" mode, to dynamically boost the volume level (though this can mask dynamics in some content).
Q: I have a modular synth design for a MIDI line that I really like - how can I copy this setting to another MIDI line?
A: This is very easy to do:
- Open the Modular Synth dialog
- Select the line you want, and click on the Edit button to pop-up the editor for the selected MIDI line.
- Click on Export, then OK to close the editor
- Select the line you want to copy to (and if in the Modular Synth dialog, set the Polyphony to whatever you want, probably the same as the line from which you are copying), then click Edit to pop-up the editor for the selected MIDI line
- Click on Import - your sounds are now copied and hopefully your piece will sound like you intended!
You can of course also use exactly the same technique in the Effects dialog. You can copy Effects designs from MIDI line to MIDI line within the system; or copy the Global effects design to a MIDI Line, or copy from a MIDI Line Effects Design to the Global effect.
