SSCSSS Version 2.0 - Introduction

SSCSSS (Simple Single Cycle Sample Set Synthesizer) is another way to create samples for a Yamaha EX series synthesizer. Given a text file specification of the harmonic content, SSCSSS will generate an EX S1M (sample/wave) file with multi-sample waves ready to be assigned to EX voice elements. No further sample wave or wave layer editing is required. (Though, of course, further editing is possible.)

This version has two methods of specifying the sounds generated:

  1. a low level method (like SSCSSS version 1) where each harmonic of each sample is specified and
  2. a new higher level method where the overall sound is specified like a set of filters.

In a little more detail, the new higher level method consists of three parts:

  1. Specifying the harmonic content of a sound (possibly varying with pitch) for a set of waves (presumed to be intended for use in one voice) by any number or combination of:
    1. offsets for individual harmonic levels and phases (scalable by pitch)
    2. filters with parameters relative to pitch (scalable by pitch)
    3. fixed frequency formants (not scalable by pitch)
  2. Specifying what samples to generate from the sound for each wave by one of:
    1. how many notes each sample covers
    2. a list of notes for samples with center, low, high parameters
  3. Specifying what harmonics to include in the samples for each wave by any number or combination of:
    1. frequency of the harmonic
    2. harmonic number
    3. modulus of harmonic number (e.g. every 2nd or 3rd harmonic)

The program avoids aliasing by limiting the highest harmonic in each sample. And, samples may be peak normalized by sample or for all samples for a voice.

It should be emphasized that, for "good" or "interesting" voices, further processing by the EX via envelopes, LFO's, MIDI controllers etc. is necessary since single cycle samples will have no variation of sound with time built into them.

Installing and running -- installing and running.

A tutorial for getting started is here -- tutorial.

Note, the summary reference below may not be intelligible without first going through the tutorial.

A summary reference is here -- reference.

Miscellaneous other notes here -- miscellaneous,