INSTRUMENTS / GENERATORS

Sytrus - Options and Helpers

Left-click on the symbols to open the following features:

1. Show keyboard

This shows/hides the preview keyboard.

2. Show block diagram

This shows the Sytrus internal signal routing diagram. Click the user interface again to return to the normal Sytrus interface. Click the interface again to return to the normal Sytrus user interface.

3. Show information

This shows the Sytrus version and information screen, to revert to the normal Sytrus user interface left click on the screen again.

4. Options / Presets

Contains a menu with several items as described below:

Presets

• Yamaha DX7 Presets - Opens a file browsing dialog to import DX7 SYSEX data. Sytrus will then read the patch and emulate the original DX7 sound. Imported DX7 presets appear as subitems in the DX7 menu.
• Copy / Paste preset - Copy and paste presets.

Oscillators

• Copy / Paste oscillator settings - Allows you to copy and paste settings between operators.
• Reset waveform settings - returns the Operator to the default state.
• Randomize waveform settings - randomizes the waveform settings, use when you are stuck for ideas. And in the same way that idly fiddling with a Rubik?s cube may solve the puzzle...you may end up with a great sounding patch.
• Morph oscillator 1 to 5 - Morphs oscillators 2,3 and 4 to create a series of wave-forms linking the end points in a smooth progression.

Effects

• Unison - Unison is the process of creating extra (detuned) voices, Sytrus can generate up to 9 unison voices per operator. This option contains a number of unison presets to browse and select. The Distribution sub-option, spectfies various panning methods. Set by ear.
• Chorus - Browse Chorus presets for the FX module.
• Reverb - Browse Reverb presets for the FX module.

Tone

• Arpeggio:
  • Invert - Inverts the arpeggio settings in the envelope.
• Portamento:
  • Variable time - Pitch envelope attack length defines the duration of a 12 semitone sweep, this is used to calculate a per-semitone glide time that is then applied to any range. In other words a constant per-semitone portamento rate is applied so that portamento duration depends on the note interval, hence the name 'variable time'.

  • Track origin - This option takes into account keyboard mapping and applies the portamento 'end' note keyboard-map properties to the 'start' note. For example, if the end note had a low filter cut-off, Sytrus will apply this value to the start note. If the option is off, keyboard map values will be applied at a C5 note value.

  • No limit - Unlimited portamento range.
  • Octave wrap - An interval larger than one octave will wrap to less than one octave, that is a glide from C4 to E5 will play as C5 to E5
  • 1 to 4 semitone limit - Determine how far the slide will travel before cutting out. For example, a 4 semitone limit (when a larger than 4 semitone interval is played) will slide for 4 semitones before jumping to the target note.
• Velocity:

  These are toggle-switches.

  • Link velocity to volume - Modulates the note output volume on the basis of velocity (normally on).
  • Link velocity to attack time - Modulates the volume envelope attack time on the basis of velocity.
  • Link velocity to attack length - Modulates the volume envelope attack length on the basis of velocity.
  • Link velocity to release length - Modulates the volume envelope release length on the basis of velocity.