Examining PCM tones for sound designing part 1.

[XW-Addict]

At first I've found GM PCM tones peculiar, the more working with them it starting to get a feel for the

design that went into it. At first I've found them quiet simple and dull. 

 

Then I've realized listening right through them and not actually hear the noises and sound. The only

thing noticeable was the Tone name.

 

The waves consisting the GM standard set of tones differed broadly on different devices but there always one sound

that hold my attention. That is Rain Drop tone.

 

The Rain Drop is one of the oddest GM tone in the set, An combined Aah, Bell and Portamento Sine sound all together.

This sound always sound right no matter how you play it either as one note , two or as chord.

I've tried to built a sound similar to it with sampling, It just doesn't sound close to its sonic behavior.

 

Its when I realized there was always more to the Rain Drop tone which really pegged my interest lately.

Maybe it can help to examine some of these GM tones to create one own sounds no matter how you stretch

short, morph or skew  them just sound as good as the GM ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BrettM]

Rain Drop, and its GM version, certainly are interesting tones, Addict. I call them composite tones because, as you say, they're made up of multiple base tones. This makes them uniquely useful in certain contexts; like the other Drop tones that have a sound triggered at note-off..

 

One very interesting thing about Rain Drop is that lowering the cutoff seems to reduce the Ahhs more than the Bells; which is surprising given how much treble there is in the Bells. If you want a tinkling bells sound, this is one way to get it. Other tones that seem to have the same effect are Fantasy 1 and 2, New Age, GM Atmosphere and GM SF.

[XW-Addict]

Rain Drop, and its GM version, certainly are interesting tones, Addict. I call them composite tones because, as you say, they're made up of multiple base tones. This makes them uniquely useful in certain contexts; like the other Drop tones that have a sound triggered at note-off..

 

One very interesting thing about Rain Drop is that lowering the cutoff seems to reduce the Ahhs more than the Bells; which is surprising given how much treble there is in the Bells. If you want a tinkling bells sound, this is one way to get it. Other tones that seem to have the same effect are Fantasy 1 and 2, New Age, GM Atmosphere and GM SF.

Composite that is indeed quiet right founding that was a bit trippy. I've noticed it with a few other tones also but did not looked further this changes a lot. 

I've also found you're posting about combining edited tones and using cutoff and resonance quiet useful it changes making Performance patches even without

editing separate tones to get them less muddy. 

 

I got a few things on my list.

 

1 : Using arpeggio as an envelope 

2 : Using Phrase as filter automation.

3 : Using DSP as a tone this one new I've discovered the 2 DSP like Wah and another DSP effect gives a less subtle but melodic tone with combined tones

     Some of the stepping the G1 does are a bit off but slowing things down with LFO seems to do the trick but suffers a lesser fast attack on sounds which 

     ''seems'' to get resolved with 1/16 arpeggio or step-sequence giving a phased sound effect with less buzz but that only go's with how far the filters are

     adjusted.

4 : Using reverb as an envelope.