https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/ Synth Discussion Board en-US Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:50:28 +0000 wpForo 60 https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/hs8-setup/ Sun, 06 Nov 2022 18:34:14 +0000
I kind a need some help with my HS8 monitors setup.

The problem is the low end. A common issue I guess. I placed my monitors 20% away from the back wall (a curtain) and I'm sitting at 38 - 40 % spot. I also treated my room to some extent.
My issue is the kick sound, especially the Linn Kick, my all-time favorite drum machine. I am using Reel Machines (Addictive Drums 2) and the sample is mono. I can't get the Kick sound the same from both speakers. The right speaker produces more low end than the left one. Swapping the speakers doesn't help. I moved the spekars closer to each other and it helped a little. Bottom line is that I am unable to find the spot in my room where both speakers will produce the same low end, there is still some difference. I also tried some free apps to measure the room response, but it didn't help much.. Even Room Control switch on HS8 has not solved the problem..
I believe that I'm still not getting the proper low end response which is crucial to mixing.

Thanks

Regards

Honzinus]]> Behind the Synth Honzinus78 https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/hs8-setup/ https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/modulation-what-is-it/ Sun, 29 May 2022 01:48:30 +0000
Please forgive this thread if you are already educated in this realm. It is not my intention to insult anyone's intelligence.

To the unaccustomed, Modulation is just a "thing" that makes the music sound better. For some, this may be the extent of their interest. For others, there may be a desire to understand what's going on "behind the curtain". For the latter demographic, please read on.


PART 1

What is Modulation?
Modulation basically means "Change over time".

If a sound is being modulated, then some aspect or aspects of that sound are changing over time.

A sound that is remaining constant, not changing over time, is said to be "Dry".

A sound that is being modulated (at least in the Audio Signal path) is said to be "Wet".

If an Audio Signal is split into two or more identical copies of itself, then it is possible, for each copy, to choose whether to modulate or not. Very often, one copy will be left "Dry", while the other(s) are modulated and become "Wet". This leads us to the concept of "Wet/Dry Mixing".

Wet and Dry signals are usually re-combined at the end of the "Modulation Section" to be fed to the Audio Output or Outputs.

This recombination can be a direct "addition" (positive summation), "subtraction" (negative summation) or "panning" (usually across a Stereo field). Panning can leave Dry and Wet separated, for example Dry is sent 100% Left, Wet is sent 100% Right. Depending on the capability of the Mixing Stage you can make any combination of addition, subtraction and panning (e.g. Dry + Wet Left, Dry - Wet Right).

It is an important distinction because for an identical form of Modulation, the Mixing can drastically change the resultant sound.

Modulation Basics
Before the advent of electronics, Modulation was still a recognised and desirable aspect of music. From a Violinist "shaking" a string to create a Modulation of pitch (Vibrato), to a Choir section instructed to sing vibrato (Wet) while the rest sang to pitch (Dry)... creating a deeper, fuller "Chorusing" effect.

As an aside, during the days of the great Orchestral Composers, certain venues were favoured because their natural acoustics added pitch shifted Echoes (Delay) and Reverberation (Reverb).

A Violinist was able to modulate the volume and timbre of the note by bowing softly and slowly, moving to firm and quickly. The Attack of the note could be made soft and slow, or hard and fast. The Timbre could be made mellow or jarring. The Violinist could adjust the size and shape of the sound "Envelope".

What we can see here is Modulation created by Manual intervention (the Viloinist's hands), and also Natural intervention (acoustics, the laws of Physics/Nature).

The desire for Modulation in music, effectively cemented Modulation as a fundamental requirement for the listener. Conversely, a lack of Modulation is considered unacceptable to the listener.

That said, there is another "subjective" aspect of Modulation that is nigh on impossible to quantify. That is "Taste". Modulation in Music is like Salt and Pepper in Soup. Too much or too little can ruin the dish. The amount applied is in the hands of the creator (Musician/Chef), and one hopes the creator is sufficiently "tasteful" in application.

With the advent of Electronics (Waves), inevitably followed the advent of "Electronically Created Music", to wit, "Electronic Instruments" and "Electronically Synthesised" Music, or "Sounds".

There is no point in covering the gamut and history of "Electronics" involvement and evolution in Music. But, it would be fair to say that any would-be Inventor of an "Electronic Musical Instrument" would have to include some means of "Modulation" within their invention. To be clear, the lack of any Modulation techniques, would disqualify it as a "Musical Instrument" to Musicians.

That is why, at the very least, Synthesisers have LFO's and Envelope Generators, applicable to Pitch, Timbre and Volume. They are not just there for fun.

The advantage that Electronics has, over a single "pair of human hands", is consistency, repetition and multiplication without (human) fatigue. Electronics can "automate" the human interaction with an instrument. That said, Electronics can not replace the "musical ear" and taste of a Human Musician.

So, if it wasn't clear already, Electronic Modulation is just a means by which Human/Manual or Natural Modulation can be automated.

LFO's, Envelopes (ADSR), Macro's, Effects and so on, are just "Robots" used to assist a Human in Modulating the music he creates.

To close off this section, this may all seem like strikingly obvious and redundant information to you. However there are perfectly good musicians for whom Electronic Modulation remains an unfathomable Black Art.

Even if you are well versed iin music, the tenets of Modulation described above are worth keeping in mind, because Electronic Modulation can go far beyond anything any human Musician was ever capable of doing.








]]> Behind the Synth Antony https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/modulation-what-is-it/ https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/help-me-buy-a-new-synth/ Sat, 28 May 2022 00:59:46 +0000
I am hoping the far-more-experienced-than-me patrons here can provide some wisdom and objective advice to help me choose a new "Analogue Style" Synth.

My heart is set on Vintage sounds. I love the sounds of old... Moog, CS80, OB, Arp, Sequential etc. I am not so bothered about EDM.

If I could afford a Moog One... it would be a no-brainer purchase.

I want to buy in to the old-skool VCO and Knob Per Function Experience.

Shortlist is

Arturia Polybrute
Reservations:- 6 Note Polyphony, Short Keyboard. Price. Basic/Adequate FX.
Attractions: All Analogue, Knob Per Function, Great Reviews, Sounds "Gloriously Analogue".

ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe
Reservations:- 100% DSP.
Attractions:- 73 Keys, 16 Note Polyphony. Poly After Touch, Great Reviews, Innovative Knob Per Function, "Convincing Analogue". Feature packed.

Novation Summit
Reservations:- Short Keyboard, teething issues/bugs (apparently now fixed)
Attractions: FPGA Oscillators provide Flexibility while offering "Analogue Sound". Knob per Function. 16 Note Polyphony. Excellent on-board FX.

Summit & Hydrasynth equally priced. Polybrute is extra $$ @ +33%.

Ideally, the new Synth should be easily integrated with MODX7 via MIDI.

My leaning is the Polybrute due to all Analogue Pedigree, but the other two offer a lot more flexibility.



What are your thoughts?

]]> Behind the Synth Antony https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/help-me-buy-a-new-synth/ https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/montagemodx-hoodiesshirts-in-north-america/ Thu, 26 May 2022 13:57:48 +0000 First, not sure if this allowed here, as what I will talk about is not official, please delete if not allowed.

Second, not sure if this is the right category, please change if needed.

Found these on a FB Group, looks like someone is selling them in Turkey.



The Montage one (not sure if it is a MODX) looks very cool!! Any idea if these are sold somewhere in North America?
Googled it, and what I found are mostly T-Shirts for Yamaha Racing, some with with only the Yamaha Logo, and some for the DX7.

Cheers]]> Behind the Synth Bassam https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/montagemodx-hoodiesshirts-in-north-america/ https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/behind-the-synth-blake-nate-and-signature-artist-sounds/ Mon, 23 May 2022 23:03:34 +0000 Behind the Synth Catherine https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/behind-the-synth-blake-nate-and-signature-artist-sounds/ https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/bts060-phil-%e2%80%9cbad-mister%e2%80%9d-clendeninn/ Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:08:31 +0000 here!]]> Behind the Synth Catherine https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/bts060-phil-%e2%80%9cbad-mister%e2%80%9d-clendeninn/ https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/thank-you-bad-mister/ Sat, 23 Apr 2022 08:51:00 +0000 In this episode, Blake and Nate celebrate the career of Phil “Bad Mister” Clendeninn. Phil recently retired from Yamaha after 35 years. https://www.yamahasynth.com/learn/behind-the-synth/bts060-phil-bad-mister-clendeninn

The most enjoyable personality I met on a support forum, by far.
And the most helpful.

All the best for the future, @Bad Mister!]]> Behind the Synth Dragos https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/thank-you-bad-mister/ https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/bts060/ Sat, 23 Apr 2022 01:50:19 +0000 Just wondering if Phil is at liberty to say who the guy was, when working at Sam Nash and asking about the 8 track recorder with the DBX?
I had to chuckle when he mentioned the thing about the 3,000 odd arpeggios, the CS80/VL requests and the non disclosure clauses for future products being developed down that corridor - all regular topics that pop up in the Forum. :o
]]> Behind the Synth James https://yamahasynth.com/community/behind-the-synth-1/bts060/