Technologies Behind Products
TSOP elaborated two technologies for the purposes of virtual instrument design and development. We realized how important is to preserve all the details of an original instrument and its sounds unaltered during digital processing. Human ear is incredibly sensitive to barely measurable tonal colorations that make the sound special, which we wish to preserve in samples. To achieve that, we aim to eliminate all unwanted influences of both analog and digital signal paths. This led us to two solutions named Direct to Sample and Virtual Analog. The first is about preparing a genuine device for sampling and conducting an actual sampling process, the second one is about assembling a complete virtual instrument from separate samples. Some issues might be applicable to your work, so we willingly share them.
D2S Direct to Sample
The Direct to Sample (D2S) describes a method of proper sampling of a sound source in order to preserve as much details of an original sound as possible, without unwanted alterations, clear and unchanged. It is not only to reflect the waveforms but also all important aspects of the original design and instrument control. We always put effor to acquire a source device in a very good shape to fulfill following requirements.
The D2S technology combines:
• choosing an optimum sample resolution for the best quality and performance,
• capturing small sound differences caused by changes in powering and grounding,
• capturing tiny differences coming from analog circuits triggered by subsequent key presses of the same pitch,
• modelling sounds of on-board filters and modulators, which cannot be direclty recorded in samples,
• determining maximum output volume levels of single voices or modules,
• capturing and separating key-press and key-release clicks if possible,
• capturing noises and hums that make the original sound unique,
• eliminating unwanted distortions and interferences induced by external appliances or power grind,
• using genuine analog parts like: sockets, plugs, cables and switches that might influence the sound.
As with B-11X, luckily, it wasn't as difficult as it initially seemed, and we could quickly focus on capturing all the subtleties during consecutive work. A genuine instrument was prepared and sampled according to above D2S guidelines, and we are convinced we provide you with the most accurate and highly usable virtual replica that is free from common technical defects of a run-down original.
Virtual Analog
Even the best samples do not create a professional instrument themselves. Some sound characteristics cannot be recorded in samples directly and have to be reconstructed with Digital Signal Processing. This is the scope of our Virtual Analog technology which describes methods of assembling an instrument in the digital domain in order to reconstruct all the nuances of the source.
We usually take into account following issues:
• exactly mapping original samples on the virtual keyboard,
• reconstructing original panel controls and their ranges,
• reconstructing vibrato, tremolo and other original effects with appropriate control ranges and modulation parameters,
• reconstructing on-board analog filters by sampling their transfer functions,
• applying full bypass options that disable selected digital processing blocks and reveal original sample qualities,
• setting exact volumes, filter envelopes, sustain and decay times.