Oct.3
2007
Three of 'em...
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I'm working on a full-page ad for the upcoming Computer Music Special Issue which will feature all three of the mod effects. Here's a test render (obviously not the finished product; I'm working on the lighting right now) so you can get a little taste of Vapor.

As to what Vapor is, that probably requires a bit of explanation. What I need is a word that can describe the effect, since it's sort of a New Thing. Mentally, I use "psychosomatic frongulator," but obviously that sort of nonsense won't Increase Shareholder Value. It needs to be a word like "chorus" or something, a simple word that says what it does.

And what does it do? It has delay modulation, like a chorus, but it has diffusors, like a reverb. More or less. This is a semi-unstable network, and at extreme settings can make Intergalactic Robot Noises; it can also give a nice sheen to most any sound at more temperate settings, or knock the corners off pretty much anything. I'll put up some sound samples later today, but we're still touching up the code a bit, so these might not be 100% indicative of the finished product.

All that aside, this is really our first attempt at building something New, as most all of our products have been either clones of existing hardware or the logical continuation of well-liked effects. Coming up with new effects in 2007, when most common effects are half a century old or more, isn't the easiest thing in the world, so we look forward to your feedback and criticism viz. Vapor.

EDIT: Okay, here's a couple audio samples I bashed out quick-like:

Drums : Here's a simple mono drum loop. Dry, then I automate the "MIX" knob of Vapor up to 100% over 2 measures. This gives you a good idea of what the diffusors do. Very little mod in this one. If you don't use any mod, Vapor gets very metallic, so I've been tending to goose it a bit just to get the ringing out. However, we're going to leave the ability to ring in, in case it's something that may be useful.

Synth : Here's a simple pad-ish kind of thing from my MKS80 (Oh, how I love you, MKS80!) It starts out dry as a bone. Then I automate mix up to full, then rate from about .07Hz up to just under 1Hz, then I automate depth from about 10% up to 100%. You can plainly hear the top-end crystaline stuff that is added to the signal, and also the nice body the pad gets as mod is applied. Vapor has a tendency to accentuate the very top-end of the signal; this means that stuff like pads can become clear in a mix without having to add a ton of mod to them, or taking up too much of the soundstage with something like a big chorus.

Anyways, you get the general idea. This effect is meant to be quite subtle, as a way to give background synth, strings, or guitar some life, but as you can plainly hear on the drum sample, it can easily be used as a special effect. I'll put up some more samples once we get the DSP really dimed in.

Comments:
Unique, sort of a cross between nonlin and H3000 pitchy frosting effects. I'm excited to check this one out.

p.s. you gotta get a MPG-80. I know, it pissed me off too to pay that much for it. But the MKS-80 turns into a completely different beast with the programmer.

p.p.s. Micronaut's "Europa" is so funky. I was jamming to that again this morning. Everyone here should buy it if you haven't already.



posted October 4, 2007 by synthetic

You ought to call it a "psychoacoustic modulator."

posted October 4, 2007 by inverseroom
After hearing it, 'Vapor' is a great name. If you're looking for other descriptors, how about 'audio nebulizor'...or 'audio humidifier'...

posted October 4, 2007 by neB
What's the big bluish-silver dot on Vapor? Just another LFO rate display? Reminds me of those 'magic eye' VUs on the Shadow Hills gear.



posted October 4, 2007 by Wilson

It's a Hannettizer. Duh.

posted October 4, 2007 by jdfan
How about "Deverb".

I wonder if you can add something to the software that runs this blog that automatically posts a response to anyone asking for package deals on AD's plugins...

posted October 4, 2007 by Aahzekiel

This thing is great. I used to create an effect like this with a PCM 80. I used a 6 tap delay patch, cranked up the diffusion and added modulation. Presto. I used to sometimes set the delays long enough that they were tempo synced with the diffusion and modulation. Sounded pretty cool. Give the old dotted eighth a try with this puppy. All you have to do is get those delay times up.

Sign me up for this one. Great work.

posted October 4, 2007 by jbratteson

There's a plug-in out there--and unfortunately I've forgotten its name and manufacturer--that has its wet/dry mix knob labeled "Humidity". I really, really wish I'd thought of that first.

Someone's gonna have to explain "Hannettizer" to me.

--Adam


posted October 4, 2007 by studio nebula

"Moisture... is the essence of wetness."

posted October 4, 2007 by Aahzekiel
Elevayta uses Humidity for its wet/dry mix.

link [www.elevayta.com]

"Hannettizer" = sounds like Martin Hannett's signature sound (i.e. early Factory records sound - short delays)

Vapor, on surface since I haven't tried it yet, reminds me a bit of the Corvex chorus that Magix put out. It lets you control the delay-line diffusion. Makes for a really cool , very early 80s digital reverb sound. It's also only available in a semi-pricey bundle of three plugins.

Would a feedback control be possible on Vapor? If you've tried playing with feedback when developing, did it sound good or like poo?

posted October 4, 2007 by shamann

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