Karpuskl (Mono)

Description

This plugin features the combination of a Plucked String Synth, a Fuzz/Sustainer, a Ringmodulator, a Volume-EG and a CV Pitch Tuner with Quantizer. Any of these components can be switched off/muted when convenient. A demo-track can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/taitekatto/karpuskl-for-tbd

The String Synthesizer is based on the algorithm by Kevin Karplus und Alex Strong and also features different ways to play chords. Chords can consist of 3 or 4 notes and either contain the main tone and a fifth or various standard chord structures.

The latter logic is based on on the Stradella bass system as used with accordions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stradella_bass_system The Ring Modulator is inspired by Bob Moog’s original design as also used with the Moogerfooger MF-102.

Parameters

Section 1: “Plucked String Synth”

Here the tone generation can be modified and various chord options can be selected.

Single Notes/Chords: Option to switch chords on/off.

Power Chords/Stradella: Option to select either chords consisting of the fundamental and fifth[s] and octaves or chords with Stradella-logic. Stradella-chords feature different chord-structures on five available octaves of the keyboard:

Here are the chords for the C notes, they will be transposed for any other note accordingly:

  1. C-E-G (C major)

  2. G-Eb-C (C minor)

  3. Bb-E-C (C dominant 7th)

  4. Eb-C-A (C diminished 7th)

  5. C-E-G# (C augmented triad)

Please note: Power-chords use perfect fights, Stradella-chords are in well tempered tuning.

Four Note Chords: Adds a fifth for Power-chords or an octave (in some cases a formerly missing fundamental) for Stradella-chords.

Octave up for Stradella: All notes of the chord will be one octave higher as usual

Octave down for Stradella: All notes of the chord will be one octave higher as usual Please note: obviously if both transposition options are selected, the pitch will be back to normal!

Trigger: This triggers a note or a chord of the String Synthesizer.

Frequency: Adjust the pitch of a note or a chord of the String Synthesizer. Please note: If the “Chromatic Quantize” is enabled the pitch will be quantized to well tempered notes of the chromatic scale. Otherwise the frequency is continuous.

Sustain: The “size of the body” of our virtual String instrument.

Stiffness: The fabric of the “strings” of our virtual String instrument. Please note: you can obtain similar results concerning the duration of the tone by decreasing “Sustain” or increasing “Stiffness”, but similar to a natural instrument the character of the tone will differ.

Section 2: “Ring Modulator””

This section features a Ring Modulator with a built-in pitch-LFO.

Drive Pre Modulator: Selects if the Fuzz/Sustainer will be applied on the original tone or only after the Ring Modulator.

Drive Fuzz+Sustainer: Intensity of the Fuzz/Sustainer effect. Please note: at high settings and especially in combination with ring modulation the tone may sound “forever” (if no volume EG is applied to it).

Modulator Gain: Adjusts the signal-level to be sent to the Ring Modulator

Modulator Mix: Mixes the dry tone (with optional fuzz) and the ring modulated signal in a range from 0-10. Please note: The Ringmodulator will be turned off when set to zero, the dry signal will be not audible anymore when set to 10.

Modulator Frequency: Frequency of the sinus carrier signal of the Ring Modulator. 0.6 - 80 Hz with range-setting “Lo”, 30-4000 Hz with setting “Hi”.

Modulator Freq Lo/Hi: Select slower or faster range of frequencies.

LFO Amount: Adjusts the amount of an optional LFO modulating the pitch of the Ring Modulator’s carrier-signal in a range of 0-10. Please note: The LFO is turned off when the amount is set to zero or will circle around the current setting from (almost) minimum to maximum when set to 10.

LFO Rate: 0.1-25 Hz.

LFO Sine/Square: Option to switch the LFO’s sinus wave to a square signal.

Section 3: “VCA+Envelope”

Here you can adjust the overall gain and decide if you want an envelope generator applied to it.

Master Gain: The maxim level of the VCA / the overall volume.

Volume EG on/off: Will be triggered along with the triggering of the string synth when set to on.

Attack: Attack time from 0-5 seconds, logarithmic range of slider / pot / CV.

Decay: Decay time from 0-20 seconds, logarithmic range of slider / pot / CV.

EG Loop off/on: EG will loop when set to on.

Section 4: “Pitch+Quantizer”

Incoming CV that is assigned to the Plucked String Synth’s Frequency can be adjusted here.

Adjust Pitch CV: Apply an optional offset to the incoming CV, as assigned to the String Synth’s frequency from -50 to 50 Cent in terms of chromatic notes.

Please note: this also may be used to add an offset in order to minimize rounding errors in combination with the “Chromatic Quantize” option.

Chromatic Quantize: Option to adjust the incoming CV, as assigned to the String Synth’s frequency to well tempered chromatic tuning.

Usage / Patch Ideas

Caution: combinations of a high carrier signal of the Ringmodulator with a fast LFO can cause quite loud tones. The same may be true for high fuzz settings.

It’s a good idea to start using the string synth alone to familiarize yourself with it’s tones and chord options. You should set the trigger to a CV-trigger-in and the Frequency to a CV-in of the TBD.

Apply a long attack of the EG on sustaining notes to get sounds that are quite different to a plucked string instrument.

Experiment with the Ringmodulator and it’s LFO to get “spaced out” tones.