Also, the DAW Bitwig benefits from this approach which creates a familiar modular feel and lots of routing options for the user. If you want to explore patching visual signal flows yourself a bit more, then modular software environments like VCV Rack, Audulus, or Moog’s Model 15, are good starting points. Modules that are small modular environments in themselves become more and more popular, but oftentimes at the cost of hands-on control and clarity of what’s going on. Well, let’s not romanticize too much: it doesn’t take long until you’re deep in the spaghetti mess, scratching your head, trying to figure out what actually went where. One of the educational benefits of going “full” modular when exploring synthesis, is that you’re 100% aware of when signals are going somewhere as you’re physically connecting from one point to the other with patch cables. This method makes it very clear exactly where the signal path may be interrupted or rerouted. They are arranged in the normalized signal flow illustrated on the surface. The Korg MS-20 analog synthesizer from 1978 groups all patch points to the right of the unit for convenient operation. The developers of this synth have even said they were inspired by PUSH TURN MOVE when developing the user interface – nice! You simply push a button for a module in the signal flow on the lower left side, and the eight knobs, buttons, and displays on the right side are then devoted to the settings for that module. The ASM Hydrasynth features a brilliant module selection system. Each clearly labeled group points to the next, thus illustrating the signal flow in a no-nonsense manner. Though the screen on the P12 from Dave Smith Instruments provides the most information, controls are placed according to this signal flow on the lower part of the desktop synthesizer. Photo from PUSH TURN MOVE, by Simple and understandable The oscillators go into the mixer, the signal is modified, and then output. The simple signal flow on the front of the original Minimoog has been the forefather of countless imitations in software and hardware, and with good reason. The grandfather of signal flow visualization Visualizing signal flow can be done by connecting lines and arrows or grouping controls to blinking LEDs or even by using graphic displays illustrating a sound’s architecture. The user starts with the oscillators’ rich harmonic content, mixes this together, filters the mix, and shapes the sound with envelopes and other modulators.Ĭonversely, it’s common in FM synthesizers to graphically illustrate the relationships of operators with diagrams other designs may utilize alternative signal flows. This approach, combined with informative graphics to show the relationships between elements, is common in subtractive synthesis. Kim Bjørn, the author of PUSH TURN MOVE, takes a look at this important guidance of synth-users when exploring an instrument, and getting familiar with how to create, and modify sounds.Įxcerpt from PUSH TURN MOVE: Placing controls on an interface in a manner that reflects the internal signal flow helps show the user how the instrument works and can provide familiar ways to create or modify sounds.
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