Hi Tim,
As an example of attempts to recreate digitally a famous component from the past I would
take the Moog 3-stage lowpass filter. This was build using diodes where their
non-linearity was exploited in a
careful way, yielding a warm, rich sound. Numerous attempts have been made to do this
digitally, resulting in very complicated and CPU-intensive algorithms. I have the feeling
that this is not the way
to go. One better can search for methods that can easily be implemented in software and
that still sound good.
While experimenting I found that slow, small changes in the waveforms are essential, as
well as changes resulting from the excitation level. At that, the kind and value of
distortion is important.
Last but not least the basic waveform is determining, a simple pulse or sawtooth isn't
enough.
Believe me or not, but I found sounds that I enjoy very much, I can listen to a single
note or some simple chords with great satisfaction. And it would be impossible to create
them mechanically or
electronically!
The sound of a good piano can be marvelous, but it is always the same sound, you cannot
modify it. In contrast, if you get bored by a digital sound, you modify it, or choose
another. Vivat software
sounds!
Wouter
On 08/31/2014 11:21 AM, Tim Goetze wrote:
[W.Boeke]
Compared to the available technical possibilities
of the past, software
designers nowadays have a much easier life. A computer and a MIDI keyboard is
all you need, you can try all kinds of sound creation, so why should you stick
trying to reproduce the sounds of yore?
I definitely agree with the sentiment but
it's not an easy task to
purely digitally create timbres as rich, complex and pleasing as
produced by analog, let alone physical (non-electronic) instruments.