INSTRUMENTS / GENERATORS

Sytrus - The Main Module

The main module contains some global settings for the current patch. It provides less experienced users with easy to use global filter and volume envelope levels, allowing them to adjust the existing patches to their preferences, even if they lack experience in the programming of FM synthesizers.

Master Levels

Master Level (VOL) - Sets the master volume level of the patch.
Master LFO (LFO) - Sets the master LFO level. Notice that the property range is -128 to 128, so to effectively disable all the LFOs across the patch, position the slider at the middle (or Alt+click to reset to the neutral value).
Master Pitch (PITCH) - Sets the master pitch of the patch. The range is -2 octaves to +2 octaves. To use the original pitch, position the slider in the middle or Alt+click.

Global Volume Envelope Levels

These properties allow you to define global offsets to the volume envelopes of all modules in the patch. Please note that if the patch does not use ADSR Vol parameters these will have no effect.

Attack (ATT) - Defines the attack length/speed.
Decay (DEC)- Defines the sustain section length/speed.
Sustain (SUS) - Defines the sustain section slope ('decay' amount).
Release (REL) - Defines the release length/speed.

Global Filter Envelope Levels

These properties allow you to define global offsets to the cutoff/resonance filter envelopes in the patch. Please note that if the patch does not use ADSR filter parameters these will have no effect.

Attack (ATT) - Defines the attack length/speed.
Decay (DEC)- Defines the sustain section length/speed.
Sustain (SUS) - Defines the sustain section slope ('decay' amount).
Release (REL) - Defines the release length/speed.

Unison Mode

The highly customizable unison mode is a great feature that allows you to quickly add depth and texture to even simple sounds. Unison works by triggering a user-defined number of 'subvoices' for each note played. Each sub-voice can have slight variations of panning, volume, pitch, phasing to generate a thicker, softer sound with rich stereo spread.

The global unison settings are:

Unison Order (ORD) - Sets the number of voices in the unison (drag up-down). To turn off (default), drag down until the indicator disappears.
Unison Panning (PN) - Sets the panning variation across the unison voices.
Unison Volume (VL) - Sets the volume level variation across the unison voices (the closer to the center a voice is, the louder it will sound).
Unison Pitch (PT) - Sets the pitch variation (detune) across the unison voices.
Unison Sub-Level (SB) - If set higher than zero, a duplicate for each unison voice is created, with a pitch offset of -1 octave. This parameter sets the volume of the sub-level voices.
Unison Phase (PH) - Sets the initial oscillator phase variation across the unison voices.
Envelope variation (EV) - Sets the amount of variation added to the attack and decay of the filter cutoff, resonance and volume envelopes of each unison voice.

NOTES: Several Unison variations are selectable from the Effects section of the Options menu () The Unison is also fully programmable via the unison mapping envelope available in the articulation section for each module.

Keep in mind that unison triggers real voices rather than simulating FX via audio processing (such as the Chorus effect in the effects section). The polyphony of Sytrus in unison mode is multiplied by the number of unison voices (in the case of a sub-level higher than zero, an additional copy of each subvoice is generated). This can use a lot of CPU if not used carefully, so use unison mode with a moderate number of voices and try to use the integrated chorus effect if you don't want to use any of the advanced features of the unison mode.

Modulation (X/Y Controller)

The modulation interface represents two adjustable controllers (horizontal and vertical direction). These have no inherent effect on patch sound and parameters, but are provided so they can be linked to real-time controllable parameters within the articulation section of each of the Sytrus modules.

To set the values of both controllers, drag inside the controller screen or adjust the knob values provided for the X and Y values.

You can also set the initial Mod X/Y values for each note via the Piano roll properties (in the Note Properties menu you will find two additional entries: Mod X and Mod Y).

The Smooth option can be enabled if gradual smooth changes are preferred over quick changes for the linked properties and articulators.

For more information on the Mod X/Y mappings, see the Envelope Editor.

Equalizer (EQ)

Sytrus includes a parametric 3-band equalizer, which can filter the effects module signal and/or the output signal.

Scheme Selection (LED check boxes) - Allows you to select how the equalizer is processed in the synth mixing chain. OFF disables the equalizer; OUT+FX filters both the effects module signal and the main output signal; OUT filters the main output signal only, and FX filters the FX module signal only.
Equalizer Bands - The equalizer has 3 bands with adjustable range and frequency. By default the first band is low shelf, the middle is peaking band and last is high shelf. However, by left-clicking on the EQ type icon above the sliders and dragging up and down, each band can be changed to one of the other two types. Using these three bands you can achieve all basic frequency filtering you need - low pass, high pass, band pass, peaking, notch filter, bass boost, etc.
Frequency Knobs - Adjust the frequency of each corresponding EQ band (turn right to increase frequency).
Range Knobs - Adjust the range (width) of each corresponding EQ band (turn right to increase band range). Bands with wider range have more impact over the filtered signal.

Misc Settings

Random - Enables random mapping in the articulation section of each module (see the Envelope Editor for more information on random mapping). If you use small property variations via random mapping to introduce a more inaccurate performance (e.g. to simulate a live performance or the slight inaccuracy of old analogue synths), this option allows you to quickly turn the randomness off and get "perfect" output without losing your settings.
Mono Key - This is a CPU saving feature. Enable this option to limit the number of voices per key to one (unison voices are still generated if unison is enabled). For example, when you play a note with a long release, then play the same note again before the previous release has ended, it adds to the number of notes being played and so CPU load. Mono Key cuts decaying releases from old notes when the same notes are played again. How this sounds in practice will depend on the patch.
Soften - Applies a softening filter to the attack of voices with velocity less than the default (100 for MIDI input/import). Turning the knob right increases the effect, while turning it fully left disables it.
Global Pitch - Enable this option to make the pitch articulation of Operator 1 global, so that all other operators use it as a base from which to offset their own pitch settings.
Center - Enable this switch to remove the DC offset from the final Sytrus output. This should be enabled if DC offset is present and affecting sound quality.
Attenuate Gibbs Phenomenon (GIBBS OFF) - This option attenuates an unwanted side-effect of synthesis called the 'Gibbs phenomenon', i.e. low-level oscillations (ringing) around the point of sharp transitions in output amplitude (discontinuous line). You can learn more about Gibbs phenomenon on the internet. Alternatively you may choose to use the (per operator) version of this command in the Harmonics Editor. NOTE: The Gibbs attenuator will not be needed with 2X oversampling or more is in use.
Portamento (PORTA) - Enables pitch envelope-controlled slides or 'glissando' (in addition to the usual Piano roll based slides in the native version of Sytrus). To activate envelope based portamento: enable a pitch envelope with an attack segment and define the envelope for the main operator in global mode (to affect all operators). To gain familiarity with this function load the 'Porta - basic.fnv' in the pitch envelope and examine how the duration of the attack portion of the (flat) pitch envelope controls the portamento duration/speed (see Options -> Porta for more details).

Quality Settings

The quality settings are split into two sections - draft (real-time) and rendering, thus allowing you to optimize Sytrus for real-time performance and for high-quality output during rendering.

HQ Envelopes - Increases the envelope accuracy, but with greater CPU use. In many cases, this option is not required as the as the default setting is sufficient.
Oversampling Factor - Enables oversampling in order to increase the accuracy of the Sytrus rendering engine and to reduce aliasing. It is recommended to use oversampling only during rendering, unless the patch complexity and your CPU allow for high quality real-time performance. NOTE: in some cases, oversampling may alter FM feedback slightly as well as the filter sections, so it is advisable to test how your patch sounds with oversampling in real-time, if you plan to use it in your final output.

Info / Comments

In this area you can assign the patch name and author name, as well as add any comments on the patch usage (such as X/Y controller usage, recommended patch usage, etc.)