Synthesizer Parameters - Yamaha PSS-680 PortaSound Authorized Product Manual

Some voices will sound distorted if the TOTAL LEVEL
is raised to over 90 especially when they are used with
melody volume level 9'. If this happens, lower the TOTAL
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LEVEL for that voice.
This completes the explanation of the DIGITAL SYN-
THESIZER section. You will still need a bit of practice to
be able to use it the way you want.
In the meantime, compare the five new voices in banks 1 to
5 with the original SINE WAVE sound. Notice how even the
simple, basic settings you made have dramatically trans-
formed the simple sound of voice 99 into something far more
interesting. Also be sure to try out various EFFECTS — for
example, BANK 4 and 5 sound nice with SUSTAIN and
REVERB, BANK 1 with VIBRATO.
When saving edited sounds to the five BANKS, the current
sustain and vibrato settings are also memorized.
The best way to learn more about sound creation is to have
a look at the parameter settings used for the preset instrument
voices. Calling up a certain parameter on the display and
then switching between various voices lets you compare their
specific values, giving you a better idea of how different
settings influence the sound.
•
Since the preset voices use other internal parameters be-
sides the ones explained above (whose values cannot be
altered) the results of your sound editing will depend on
the voice you originally start out with. Even if the pa-
rameter settings you made are exactly the same, the final
voice will have somewhat different characteristics ac-
cording to the original voice you edited.

SYNTHESIZER PARAMETERS

Like the preceding explanations, this summary contains some
oversimplifications. Though technically not always com-
pletely "correct", it will give you an overall picture of each
voice parameter's functions.
The range of possible settings is given for each parameter,
showing the minimum and maximum values.
ATTACK RATE
The OPERATOR 2 ATTACK RATE
time it takes for the volume of the sound to rise from zero
to peak level. A low value represents a slow rate, so the attack
will take time, with the initial volume increasing gradually
like that of a violin or human voice. On the other hand, high
values mean a fast attack, similar to that of an organ or piano,
where the sound volume reaches its peak level almost as soon
as keys are pressed.
OPERATOR 1 ATTACK RATE
in tonal quality over time, for instance creating a "wah" effect.
Range: 0 — 63
determines the
influences the change
DECAY RATE
The OPERATOR 2 DECAY RATE
for the volume of the sound to drop from peak level back
to zero. A high value causes a fast decay, so the sound will
fade away quickly when a key is pressed — plucked instru-
ments like harp, koto or harpsichord have such fast decays.
Low values mean the sound will continue even if the keys
are pressed for a long time, like that of an organ or violin.
The OPERATOR 1 DECAY RATE
in tonal quality over time.
FREQUENCY
The basic pitch of a sound is determined by the OPERATOR
2 FREQUENCY value. In principle, doubling the value
raises the pitch by one octave.
The FREQUENCY of OPERATOR 1 also influences
the pitch as well as the tonal quality of the sound. It is the
ratio between the two FREQUENCY values (for example
1:1, or 1:3 = 2:6, etc.) that results in different wave forms
and thus different sound characteristics.
FEED BACK LEVEL
This parameter regulates the self-modulation of OPERATOR
1. The effect is similar to that of the following parameter,
and the settings of both strongly influence each other.
MODULATlON LEVEL
In general, raising the MODULATION LEVEL makes the
sound sharper, while decreasing this parameter gives a milder
sound.
This is the most fundamental voice parameter, literally
forming the heart of FM (frequency modulation). If it is set
to 00, the parameter settings for OPERATOR 1
and will have no effect whatsoever.
TOTAL LEVEL
The final parameter simply adjusts the output level of OP-
ERATOR 2. In other words, it determines the overall volume
of a voice.
Range: 0 — 63
sets the time it takes
influences the change
Range: 0 — 15
Range: 0 — 7
Range: 0 — 99
Range: 0 — 99
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