Hey there,
I think this is the last batch of things. I've collected them, but now nothing else springs to mind. I hope some of them are helpful to someone.
Duophonic sounds
Changing the envelope characteristics
Snappy envelopes with continued normal decay
Reverbation using the VDA
Changing the assingment of a controller
Natural ensemble
Creating your own slop parameter
Some tips for no-eyes editing
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Duophonic sounds
Using both layers
1. Set both layers to monophinic
2. Change layer A note priority to lowest note
3. Change layer B note priority to highest note
4. For an even truer emulation of old duophinic synth using the none retriggering note priority modes and start by editing the layers simultaneously or copying an existing layer A to a layer B, so you have the same envelopes and filter settings
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Changing the envelope characteristics
Example using env3 decay
In the modmatrix assign env3 decay to env3 decay
By turning the amount to negative values the decay becomes longer, by turning the amount to positive values the decay becomes shorter. But also the curve changes. Positive amounts create a snappier curve, negative amounts start the curve slowly and then finish with a short drastic change.
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Snappy envelopes with continued normal decay
Another technique to get a very snappy start, especially useful for lowpass filter cutoff.
1. Use the dedicated filter envelope to create the basic shape that you need.
2. Assign env3 or env4 to the LPF cutoff frequency and set the decay to a very short amount. Set sustain to zero and release to a long value.
The short env3 or env4 decay will create a short bright snappy burst, before the normal filter envelope takes over. Good for crisp basses and kick drums.
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Reverbation using the VDA
It's a variation on the technique above
1. In the modmatrix assign VCA release to VCA release\
2. Experiemtn with negative modulation amount and different VCA release values
This technique will "eat voices" if you want the "reverb" to finishy, but it sounds very smooth and especially nice with string patches.
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Changing the assingment of a controller
This is a version of controller sidechaning. Example: Changing the aftertouch from effecting filter cutoff to vibrato.
Preparation:
1. Assign LFO1 to all OSC frequency (fifth destination)
2. In the modmatrix assign Aftertouch to LPF cutoff and turn up the modulation amount to your liking.
3. In the modmatrix assign aftertouch to LFO1 amount, but leave the modulation amount at 0.
The trick:
4. In the modmatrix assign the modwheel to modmatrix slot 1 (aftertouch -> LPF cutoff) and set the amount, so that you hear no filter change, when the modwhell is turned up. If you had set the modulation amount to 127, now set this modulation amount to -127
5. In the modmatrix assign Modwhell to slot 2 (aftertouch -> LFO1) and set the modulation amount to the desired value. Turn up the modwhell and press hard on a key to hear how much vibrato full aftertouch will give you
Interesting applications: use the modwhell to change the aftertouch from activating one LFO to a different LFO. This can be used to "wobble" the highpass or lowpass filter.
Or you can setup to tempo sync'ed LFOs, assigned to the same parameter and switch between those. This is helpful, because tempo sync'ed LFOs don't allow rate changes through modulation.
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Natural ensemble
These techniques is useful, when imitating acoustic ensembles, like a string section. There are several obvious and less obvious methods to enhance the natural feel.
Randomising pitch: you can use oscillator slop - in small amounts or static oscillator detune. You can also use the random modulation source applied to all oscillator pitches (destination 5) with minimal amount to give a more natural/alive feeling to your patch.
Tone variations: you can of course use minimal amounts of LFO on waveshape or assign the random modulation source to the waveshape parameter of one or more oscillators. To give an even more random feel, apply different amounts of random to the waveshape. Take care to make it small amounts again.
Sloppy playing: use the axuiliary envelopes (env3 and env4) applied to oscillator levels and setup a small amount of delay (tab 3, knob 1). So you could use env3 to control the level of osc3 and env4 to control the level of osc4.
Increasing the "size" of the ensemble: apply short amounts of delay. Start with two delays, one panned right, the other left. Again feel free to experiment with small randomisation or periodic changes to delay times. With an LFO controlling the delay time this will give a bit of chorus.
If all four oscillators are necessary to create a certain basic characteristic, you can try to use the amp.mod. of the oscillators. If they are tune harmoneously, then the amp.mod can act almost as another oscillator.
When using both layer A and B for your patch in stacked mode, then you can also adjust the delay parameter of the VCA on one layer and different delays again on env3 and env4.
If you don't need the filter, the VCF envelope can also be used to control a third oscillator or other parameter, again with the possibility of using the delay parameter.
Slightly vary the release time of all envelopes. Make sure that the VCA envelope has the longest of all release times.
If your patch uses vibrato, you can also slightly randomise the vibrato depth of each oscillator, by applying the LFO only to one oscillator pitch and assigning the LFO to the other pitches through the mod matrix with different amounts, or use more than one LFO to control the pitches of the oscillators, slightly changing the LFO rates.
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Creating your own slop parameter
Some people aren't satisfied with the slop parameter on certain synths. If you don't like the P12's slop, here's a suggestion
1. assign LFO1 to OSC1 pitch.
2. Turn down LFO1 rate.
3. Assign LFO2 to modulate LFO1 rate.
4. Experiment with LFO1 and LFO2 waveshapes. For the more discontinuous waveshapes like the pulse waves or S&H, try experimenting with the slew parameter (tab 2, knob 2)
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Some tips for no-eyes editing
On the Prophet 12 keyboard there are some very nice features for editing without looking. This might not only be helpful for blind and visually impaired users.
Modulation assignments: You can quickly assign LFOs and envelopes 3 and 4, by pressing the respective LFO or envelope button and then turning the knob of the parameter you want to assign.
This does not work for every parameter. But you can get near them.
Delay pan: assign to delay feedback of the desired delay and then turn the destiation knob four times.
Pan: assign to the voice spread knob (on OS 1.2.26 this assigns to pan directly).
Voice spread: assign to the voice spread knob and turn the destination knob once
The modmatrix:
assign source velocity to something: press the mod source button and then hit a key. The first time you do this on a patch it chooses velocity.
Assigning source aftertouch: The easiest and reliable way is pressing mod source button and then turning the modwheel, then turn the mod source knob (soft knob 2) five times.
Alternatively, if you have already assigned velocity once, press and holding mod source and then hitting a key, automatically chooses the aftertou7ch source (OS 1.2.26).
Assigning the sliders: sometimes pressing and holding mod source and softly touching a slider doesn't work properly. Either the modulation source slider pressure is chosen or it does not work at all. But you can press mod source and move the modwheel. By turning the mod source knob you can then choose
1. one step further: slider 1 y-axis (up-down)
2. two steps from modwheel: slider2 y-axis (up-down)
3. three steps from modwheel: slider1 pressure
4. four steps from modwheel: slider2 pressure
Another few sources can easily be reached from the back of the list. The back of the modulation source list reads like that:
last one audio out
panultimate random
before that DC offset (static)
before that notenumber
before that velocity
You can also assign an expression pedal by pressing and holding the mod source button and moving the expression pedal.
Assigning multiple destinations to one source: Since operating system version 1.1 or there abouts, it is no longer directly possible to assign multiple destinations to one source by:
1. pressing and holding the mod source button
2. moving/touching the desired source
But you can work around this:
1. press and hold the mod source button
2. Move a source, which you haven't assigned yet (I usually take the pitchbend wheel, since I so rarely use it)
3. Then while still holding the mod source button, touch the desired source.
Editing multiple parameters simultaneously (slightly borken in my OS, possibly fixed in the current OS)
For the oscillators, LFOs, aux envelopes (env3 and env4) and the delays, you can edit multiple parameters at once. Example: chaing the oscillator level of all oscillators to the same value:
1. Press and hold one of the oscillator buttons (two or three seconds will do it) all buttons will light up
2. Now turn the oscillator level knob. The value will change for all oscillators.
It's the same mechanism for all of them. Press and hold one "selector button" and then turn the nob you want to adjust.
Caveat: it never worked for oscillator waveshape
Make sure to reach the right soft tab. Especially when editing the modmatrix or the mono/poly settings.
mono/polyphonic tab:
1. press and hold the show button
2. press and mono button
The parameters are: number of stacked voices, unison detune and note priority
Adjusting the pitchbend:
1. press and hold the show button
2. Move the pitchbend wheel
In the display you first have pitchbend up (set to 7 semitones) and then pitchbend down (also set to 7 semitones).
The modmatrix:
1. press and hold the show button
2. turn the mod.amount knob or press one of the mod source or mod dest buttons
in the display:
knob 1 chooses the mod slot, knob 2 chooses the source, knob 3 sets the modulation amount and knob four chooses the mod destination
I believe mod slots are no longer sorted chronologically, by the times you assigned them, but by the modulation source. At least that happens, once you saved the patch.
While editing without looking: pay extra attentation not to press keys on the number pad, especially when trying to press the write button. It happened to me once or twice and I was VERY sorry.
Best wishes, Ffanci