Voice Component Modeling (VCM) Patch Bank
Presets| 82 Kb
128 advanced sound design patches with classic analog character.
Voice Component Modeling (VCM)
Over the past three years, I’ve spent lots of time analyzing classic synthesizers and acoustic analog instruments, to try and find out what objectively gives them their “vintage character” that some modern synthesizers don’t have. I recorded hundreds of samples from classic VCO synths like the OBX, OBXA, Prophets, Yamaha CS80, MemoryMoog, Jupiter 4, Jupiter 8, and others… The common thread that I noticed between all of them is that there are “voice-by-voice offsets” to each voice in these polyphonic instruments. These offsets are a result of voice boards having discreet electrical components that are never perfectly matched. The small variance between electrical performance on a voice by voice basis causes small offsets to fine tuning, envelope speeds, and various other parameters. When you play a chord, you get all these small offsets that create natural phasing / detuning / temporal offsets, creating a more lush, organic sound. Modern synths are often “too perfect” with too much parity between tuning and other parameters, giving them a more sterile or harsh sound.
Is VCM similar to Sequential’s “Vintage Knob”?
I’ve been asked this a bunch lately, since the release of the Prophet 5 Rev 4 and updates to the Prophet 6 and OB6. At first, I wasn’t sure whether they had taken inspiration from the info I have published over the past few years… But I just picked up a Prophet 6 to do some detailed analysis and technical testing of the vintage knob implementation, and its doing the exact same thing I’ve been preaching over the past few years – Curated, stable per voice offsets to Osc Tuning, ADR Envelope Stage Timing, and Filter parameters… even the value ranges they are using in the Vintage Knob (toward the middle/noon position) are almost identical to many of the more basic VCM patches I’ve designed over the past few years and included in this soundset. (In addition, I do some even more advanced modeling, like intonation scaling per voice, and other macro behaviors to replicate effects I’ve measured on various vintage synths) So, yes, this type of voice modeling will give your Prophet Rev 2 a similar vintage type performance.
Advanced Modulation with the Rev2 Mod Matrix / Gated Seq
I realized that with the advanced modulation capabilities of the Prophet Rev2, along with a creative usage of the gated sequencer, that this type of unique voice-by-voice behavior can be modeled within the Rev2 synthesizer… and it works great!
128 Meticulously Designed Patches
This patch bank contains 128 voice modeled patches based on the measurements I took from classic synths… lots of lush, organic, poly synth character. In addition to modeling the unique voice-by-voice character into patches, I spent a lot of time designing in performance modulation… many patches offer a wide variety of timbres if you use a foot pedal or mod wheel. In addition, aftertouch is programmed in on many to give vibrato or other unique performance characteristics when you dig into the keys.
his product is a digital download… It is a patch bank for the Prophet Rev2 keyboard or Prophet Rev2 rack unit. It will be delivered as a .sysex patch bank with 128 patches.
I spent several months building out this patch bank, and there are a variety of different sounds. There are many classic analog synth sounds, including basses, leads, synths, keys, analog strings, analog brass, pads and others. My focus was on creating sounds useful to songwriters or soundtrack composers. I’m a big fan of classic rock, new wave, 80s, alt rock, atmospheric and electronica. Lots of those type of sounds. In addition, I have included many acoustic instrument emulations, including electric pianos (Rhodes, Wurli, Unique), wind instruments (flutes, trumpets, horns), string instruments (violins, violas, ensemble) and organs. There are also a handful of templates for creating your own VCM patches.
Many programs use layer stacks to achieve bigger sound, wider stereo image, or more complex multi-timbral sound design.
Highly Expressive, Dynamic Patches
Almost all patches have thoughtful perfomance modulations programmed in, using pressure/aftertouch, expression/foot pedal, and modulation wheel assignments to allow for dynamic performances. Dig into the keys with some pressure, and you’ll get vibrato, or other unique modulations to give your playing additional character. Some patches have significant multi-parameter changes through the sweep of the mod wheel or expression pedal. Expression pedal is highly recommended! Also, some patches include additional breath modulation assignments, if using an external controller. (note: the additional breath mod is entirely optional… just an extra layer of additional modulation available on some patches, to morph into different sounds) On many of the patches I have completely maxed out the Rev2’s extensive modulation matrix and performance modulation parameters.
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