KX77FREE > major updates > Kx-Modulad, Kx-Synth-x16, Kx-PolyMod and Kx-PolyM-CSE - Go to Berlin

[valerian_777]

Where's the donate button? I want to support you! I asked a few weeks ago but you "overread" it.
Thank you so much for this wonderful instruments!

[kx77free]

@Syntilla : thanks for your enthusiasm about my VSTs.
@valerian_777:
Perhaps the next year if I must buy a second hand mac computer to compile my 64 bit sem with xcode on OSX but the big work is to rewrite all my 32 bit SEM to 64 bit for SE 1.2 and I believe that will be not easy because the SE 1.2 GUI compatible with OSX is different (VST GUI layer) and probably I should not implement some 32 bit features like the scope or the sequencer or the Midi learn and the preset manager!
Actually I must update a little bit my Kx-PolyM-CSE 64 bit SEM to implement the same features that the last version 1.1d and test them in the 64 bit alpha to see what I can do really to make an usable 64 bit VST3 .

Xavier

[BlackWinny]

I believe that it's a really good deal for the 64 bit users to use my plug-ins with only paying 20$!

If I called that an understatement, I'd be accused of understatement.

I think the whole SE thing is a bit of an unnecessary distraction.
You've clearly gone the extra mile to make sure your instruments are usable in 64 bit environments.
And Mac export might be important if you were trying to make a living selling these things, but as it is - well, we all make choices. No doubt I'm missing out on lots of AU or Mac-only plugs and applications, and all those Reaktor 'freebies' are no use to anyone who isn't prepared to shell out rather more than $20 on the program that runs them.

My real concern is that those of us who do appreciate your work don't talk about it enough - so many more who would love them never get to know they exist.
I well remember the seismic storm (is that even a thing?) the Elektrostudio plugs caused when they first emerged back in '09. Yet with ODsay currently getting it's month in the limelight, it's clear that even many seasoned OSCers had never heard of them.
The most common reaction on discovering the KX synths seems to be, 'Where have you been all my life!' Buried under a deluge of over-hyped mediocrities, is the sad truth.
We can only counter that by making a little more noise of our own.
I promise I'll try and do my bit.
Anyone with me?

I follow you. There are many SE developers who make or made awesome products. I use with great pleasure and fully enjoy developers like Adam Szabo (the awesome JP6K), AlgoMusic (CZynthia and others... they all will be soon available as freeware), Aly James Lab (the awesome VLinn LM1 Drums and Simmons VSDSX SDSV Drums), Angular Momentum (Analog Warfare, AddTable Synth, Wavedraw...), Artifake_Labs (the awesome Redtron_SE and RedTron_MKV, certainly by far the best free Mellotron emulations ever), Benoit Serrano (almost all his synths and effects), Cescato Musiktechnologie (the excellent Transcomputer Machine), Elektrostudio (all his products, click the English flag at the top of the page), e-phonic (Drumatic 3), Fretted Synth Audio (all his amps/effects and synths for electric guitar), the old but always excellent legacy products from GSi (MrRay, MrTramp, Organized Trio which was the first version of VB3...), Gunnar Ekornas (MinimogueVA (now available in my Depositfiles area), Arppe2600VA, Memorymoon, Messiah, ME80), Justin Robert (Mothman Z3000, now available here in a part of my website), KX77Free (our Xavier Kalensky, all his KX-xxx products), Sonic Assault (Kassiopeia at the bottom of the page), SuperWave (Superwave P8), The Interruptor (the awesome Night Flight), TubeOhm (Alpha-Ray and several other products, Ugo (all his discontinued freewares are downloadable here from my Depositfiles), Xhun Audio (the awesome physically modelled IronAxe totally underrated at KVR whilst as good as AAS Strum Electric GS-1), xoxos (many excellent physically modelled experiments here and here)... and I forget others.

Accuse SynthEdit to make bad products is a total injustice.

Accuse the SynthEdit developers to not make 64-bit compilations and OSC compilations of their products is also a total injustice. SynthEdit is not C++. Those who eternally complain the same things should learn themselves the C++ and make themselves their synths... I bet that they would very quickly understand that it's not as easy as to make a loop for a counter from 1 to 10.

And finally accuse the SynthEdit producer to not provide a 64-bit version and an OSX version is also an injustice. As Xavier recalled, he works on it for years. But that too, it's not as simple as think all these complainers. And the SynthEdit producer don't win much money on SynthEdit. First it's a product that he has provided very cheap, and second it's a product which is hacked and pirated by many people, so he wins even less on it! And the less he wins... the less he can invest on the improvements!

Period.

[Syntilla]

Stumbled across this in a dusty corner of my HD - and was able to find a functioning download link for it:
http://doveraudio.blogspot.co.uk/2008/1 ... -x-16.html

The name pretty much says it all: it's a lengthy 'live tweak session' with kx-synth-x16.
Dover666 recorded it with a single instance of the first (mono) release of this synth back in 2008 - using no more than the excellent SaviHost - within five minutes of firing it up for the first time!
Rather more Conrad Schnitzler than Klaus Schultze (it's about time 'Con '72' had a digital release ... it's even disappeared off YT) but I'm sure XK won't mind.

Be honest: when was the last time any synth inspired (or even allowed) you to do something like that?

[kx77free]

@BlackWinny:
I'm sure that Jeff will finish 64 bit VST3 export option because SE is his baby but it is possible that I should not adapt my actual 32 bit vst. In this case I will do new plug-ins.

@Syntilla
Thanks, I forgot this one, I saw and listened it in 2008.
You're right about the inspiration because this is the engine of art.
I love to find the inspiration with only a sound with infinite note.
When I work on my presets, I like the modularity because I do not know where I will go sometimes. The Kx-Synth-x16 is very good to get lost inside the analog synthesis...

[Syntilla]

I love to find the inspiration with only a sound with infinite note

It is enough to play a single note beautifully

Anyway ... I really shouldn't feel pleased about this, but after playing Kx-Synth-X16 for almost 6 years there is some weird satisfaction in finding my first bug.
(Not strictly true: the -10/+10 joystick option wasn't quite right first time around - but you fixed that before I could say anything.)
On the mono (my weapon of choice) and fx versions, the VCA envelope doesn't loop with host/seq/free sync turned off.
Since you added the authentic VCS3 trap mode (you can't imagine how happy that made me! I'd hoped for it since v1.04 - and the tooltips always hinted that it worked that way already - but I don't believe in making feature requests of freeware devs [unless they ask for them, of course]) I'm not even remotely concerned - it's taken me over two weeks to even notice! - but others might be.

[kx77free]

Hi,

Yes, this synthesizer is a little bit complex because it uses a main RUN envelope to manage the continuous signal out possibility.

So you must use a trigger signal (Midi note on or Trigger button) to start the looped Mod envelope (trapezoid) and the source of the trigger of the RUN GATE must be a continuous output signal like "out1" or use a long release with the second envelope for the VCA if you do not use the Mod envelope to control the VCA (Vca "Mod" button off, Run Gate source=Vca Env).

The essential differences between the looped (VCS3) mode and the classic ADSR mode is that the ON
parameter function:

-Std ADSR:
-> On is the time of a GATE signal added on the main GATE signal (Midi note on or Sequencer)
This signal is triggered with the main GATE signal.
Useful with the Sequencer to control the length of notes with a lot of good surprises!

So if you want to create a classic polyphonic modular VA preset, you can use the others kx77free waveforms than the specific old VCS3's waveforms and it will be better to use this classic ADSR mode in the majority of case to do poly instruments.


-VCS3 A(D)SR (only in looped mode):
-> On is the time of the sustain!
-> Off is the time after the release

But like the first preset it is possible to use a poly preset with a simple looped VCS3 envelope which controls the Cut-off of the VCF in auto-oscillation mode and the VCA!
One Synthi for each notes!
Auto-oscillation under 20hz!






I hope that help the new users of this modular synthesizer.

I will do new tutos about that.

@Syntilla
I will check if I did not forget something of the Mono and Fx versions when I modified them to do the V5.

Xavier

[seismic1]

Thanks very much for these updates. I need to put these synths to more use

[Syntilla]

whoops ... wrong place ...

[kx77free]

Hi All,

I compiled a simplified version of my Kx-PolyM-CSE (only the main engine) in VST3 64 bit this day!
So because SE 64 bit will be fine the next year and the Kx77free sounding is done with C++ hand coding work, Kx77free have a future in native 64 bit!

[valerian_777]

Hi All,

I compiled a simplified version of my Kx-PolyM-CSE (only the main engine) in VST3 64 bit this day!
So because SE 64 bit will be fine the next year and the Kx77free sounding is done with C++ hand coding work, Kx77free have a future in native 64 bit!

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

[Syntilla]

Just noticed that the link to the official EMS site on your Kx-Synth-X16 product page - and on your site - is outdated: it changed a few months ago to
http://www.emssynthesisers.co.uk/
The site itself hasn't changed, unfortunately - for about 15 years! And there hasn't been any news out of Cornwall (that I've heard) since around 2010.

I also notice on your site that you credit Peter Zinovieff with having created the VCS3.
While Zinovieff did found EMS, the VCS3 was designed and built by David Cockerell - with input from EMS composer-in-residence Tristram Carey.
Zinovieff's own interests were focused on the use of computers in music - 'MAO', do you call it? The VCS3 was conceived as a means to help EMS out of financial difficulties, and was described by Zinovieff as 'that pathetic little box'.
Cockerell must have been a huge disappointment to him!
In '72, Cockerell moved to Electro-Harmonix, where he designed most of their effects pedals - I don't recall anyone describing them as 'pathetic', least of all the company's chairman!
As passionate about vintage analogue gear as you so clearly are, it would be nice if you could give Cockerell the credit he so richly deserves - and not perpetuate the myth that Zinovieff's interest in the Synthi range was anything more than pecuniary.

[Syntilla]

Hi, M. Kalensky -

I know I said I don't make feature requests, but ...

Would it be possible to release a version of the v5.0 Kx-Synth-x16M with the 'Meter' outputs restored?
I like to use them to send a Mod signal - Osc3 / LFO / Env (or some combination) - between the -x16M and the -x16Fx. The output EQs, naturally, produce a kind of DC-kill which makes this impossible.
An EQ bypass option on one of the channels could serve the same function.

If this involves more than 'simply' (simple for you, maybe!) re-connecting an existing module already in the synth (the meter gain knob is still there...), please ignore this request: in its current state, the Kx-Synth-x16M is already a better VCS3-style instrument than I ever expected to see in software.

[fmr]

Just noticed that the link to the official EMS site on your Kx-Synth-X16 product page - and on your site - is outdated: it changed a few months ago to
http://www.emssynthesisers.co.uk/
The site itself hasn't changed, unfortunately - for about 15 years! And there hasn't been any news out of Cornwall (that I've heard) since around 2010.

I also notice on your site that you credit Peter Zinovieff with having created the VCS3.
While Zinovieff did found EMS, the VCS3 was designed and built by David Cockerell - with input from EMS composer-in-residence Tristram Carey.
Zinovieff's own interests were focused on the use of computers in music - 'MAO', do you call it? The VCS3 was conceived as a means to help EMS out of financial difficulties, and was described by Zinovieff as 'that pathetic little box'.
Cockerell must have been a huge disappointment to him!
In '72, Cockerell moved to Electro-Harmonix, where he designed most of their effects pedals - I don't recall anyone describing them as 'pathetic', least of all the company's chairman!
As passionate about vintage analogue gear as you so clearly are, it would be nice if you could give Cockerell the credit he so richly deserves - and not perpetuate the myth that Zinovieff's interest in the Synthi range was anything more than pecuniary.

What you say is not entirely true. Based on the book written by Tristram Cary, the VCS-3 is the little brother of the Synthi-100, which was the main synth produced by EMS, and was the one installed in their studio, with connections to a computer (DEC PDP8). The ancestor of the VCS3 (which was called just VCS) was built to Don Banks. Their aim was to produce a synth that could be sold for less than 100 british pounds. Compared to the Synthi-100, which was in Zinovieff studio, the VCS-3 is indeed a "pathetic little box".

And besides going to Electro-Harmonix, I think that David Cockerell was later in Akai (during the eighties), designing their samplers.

[kx77free]

Hi,

@Syntilla and fmr
Thanks about these details, I'm not a specialist about the story of EMS, I will correct my url pages following the updates but not immediately the helps files inside the setups or zip files.

@Syntilla
Following your bug report I updated the FX and M version of the Kx-Synth-x16, the VCA LP button was not connected and this is why you could not loop the VCA envelope.
About the possible 4 outputs feature like the v4, why not... but just for one additional mono version because only some musicians like you use these kind of features and they are not fully compatible with all hosts specially in 64 bit use with jBridge.

Xavier