The Synth Engine

The C15's first synthesis engine is named "Phase 22". The following block diagramm shows its components and signal flow. Please note that two levels of detail are available.

Design Concepts

The design goal for Phase 22 was to take advantage of digital synthesis algorithms in order to build an expressively playable instrument that has a strong individual character. At the same time the set of parameters should be small enough to be easily accessible.

The core structure is a phase modulation synth that is based on two sine oscillators and two sine shapers only. Their signals can be passed through a comb filter, a state-variable filter, and a chain of five effects.

The Comb Filter is a tool for complex spectral shaping and also works as a resonator. The State Variable Filter can be applied flexibly for subtractive filtering.

The signal routing is determined by the settings of the Output Mixer and the Feed- back Mixer. The feedback bus can be used to create feedback loops between different function blocks.

The filters and effects have an important influence on the feedback behavior: their amplitude and phase responses determine the frequencies where the feedback can result in self oscillation.

For more background on the synthesis engine, please read here.

The Components in Detail

Oscillator A, B

The two sine wave oscillators are the only signal sources. With a random frequency fluctuation they can also produce tunable noise. They are equipped with three phase modulation inputs for:

  • self modulation
  • modulation from the other oscillator
  • modulation from the feedback (FB) signal

Here you see the oscillator signal for different amounts of self modulation and here various oscillator fluctuation spectra.

Shaper A, B

The signal of each oscillator is processed by a wave shaper. The shaping curve is a sine function with adjustable foldback and asymmetry. The mix amounts of the shaper signal can be adjusted individually for each phase modulation branch and for the output.

The Shaper block also contains mixing points for the feedback signal and the result of a ring modulation between the output signals of the branches A and B.

These diagrams show the output signal depending on Drive, Fold and Asymmetry.

Envelope A, B

These two ADBDSR envelopes are the control sources for:

  • the output amplitude of the Oscillator-Shaper branch
  • the Oscillators' phase modulation depths
  • the Drive (input gain) of the referring Shaper

There is detailed control of how the velocities and the key position influence levels and times.

This diagram shows the segments of the envelopes and here you see some typical applications.

Envelope C

The third ADBDSR envelope has bipolar Breakpoint and Sustain levels. It can modulate:

  • the pitches and fluctuations of Oscillator A and B
  • the feedback signal
  • parameters of the Comb Filter and the State Variable Filter

This diagram shows possible shapes of Envelope C.

Comb Filter

The Comb Filter contains:

  • a precisely tunable delay (Pitch)
  • a control for the Decay time of the impulse response
  • a second-order Allpass (AP) filter
  • a lowpass (Hi Cut) in the feedback loop
  • a delay modulation by the Oscillator signals, similar to phase modulation (PM)

Here you see a block diagram of the Comb Filter and these graphs show two basic frequency responses.

State Variable Filter

The State Variable Filter has a variable 4-pole structure with:

  • two internal 2-pole filters with splittable cutoff frequencies (Spread)
  • crossfade between serial and parallel modes
  • crossfade between lowpass, bandpass, and highpass mode
  • cutoff frequency modulation (FM) by the Oscillator signals

Here you see a block diagram of the State Variable Filter. Additional graphs show the frequency responses in serial and parallel mode.

Output Mixer

The Output Mixer creates a stereo sum of the signals from Oscillator/Shaper A and B, the Comb Filter and the State Variable Filter. It includes a sine shaper for the sum signal of each voice.

This diagram shows the signal flow of the Output Mixer.

Feedback Mixer

This mixer combines the following signals for the feedback bus: the outputs of the Comb Filter and the State Variable Filter and the output of the Effects chain, with a separately adjustable amount of Reverb. It includes a sine shaper for the sum signal.

The feedback bus signal (FB) can be used for the phase modulation of the Oscillators and it can be injected into the signal path behind the Shapers for direct audio feedback.

In Layer Sounds the Feedback Mixer can route signals between the layered voices. It provides an additional input for the Oscillator signals (A/B) of the other Part, and the Comb, SV Filter and Effects channels can also receive signals of the other Part.

This diagram shows the signal flow of the Feedback Mixer.

Flanger

An LFO-modulated stereo delay plus a 4-pole allpass filter creating a wide range of chorus, flanger and phaser effects. The LFO can also modulate the amplitudes of the output signals for a tremolo effect.

This diagram shows the signal flow of the Flanger.

Cabinet

A stereo distortion unit (sine shaper) with pre and post filtering that can sound similar to a guitar amp driving a speaker.

This diagram shows the signal flow of the Cabinet.

Gap Filter

A 4-pole lowpass and a 4-pole highpass in a parallel or serial structure, creating a flexible band-rejection or band-pass filter. The offset between the center frequencies of the left and the right channel can be controlled.

This diagram shows the signal flow of the Gap Filter and here you see some of its frequency responses.

Echo

A stereo delay effect with adjustable cross-feedback.

This diagram shows the signal flow of the Echo.

Reverb

A flexible simulation of rooms and halls. The Size can be varied without artefacts.

This diagram shows the signal flow of the Reverb.

Macro Controls

Six Macro Controls (A, B, C, D, E, F) are available as modulation sources. 106 parameters can be assigned as modulation targets with individual amounts. For each Macro Control a Smoothing time can be set.

Hardware Sources

Eight physical control elements are available, that can be mapped to the six Macro Controls:

  • four Pedals
  • two Ribbons
  • the Bender
  • Aftertouch

This illustration shows how the modulation works.

Voices

The parameters in this group control the monophonic mode and the use of the voices for Unison.

Part and Master

Master Volume and Master Tune are always available, while the Part groups are used to control aspects of the two Parts of a Split Sound or a Layer Sound.

Scale

The Scale group offers twelve Offsets to tune the keys of an octave. The Base parameter can be used to shift the base key of the scale.

This diagram shows an equal-temperament scale and the available tuning range, and this diagram shows a scale where four keys have been micro-tuned.

Oscillator Oscillator

Oscillator Group

Oscillator Group

Osc-Dia Osc-Dia

Oscillator signal without modulation, with a small amount of self modulation, and with stronger self modulation

Oscillator-Fluctuation Oscillator-Fluctuation

Oscillator Fluctuation Spectra

Shaper Shaper

Shaper Group

Shaper-Drive-Dia Shaper-Drive-Dia

The influence of the Drive parameter of the Shaper.

Shaper-Fold-Dia Shaper-Fold-Dia

The influence of the Fold parameter of the Shaper.

Shaper-Asymetry-Dia Shaper-Asymetry-Dia

The influence of the Asymetry parameter of the Shaper.

Envelope B Envelope B

The parameters of Envelope A

(identical for Envelope B)

Envelope AB Envelope AB

The four segments of the envelopes.

Envelope C Envelope C

The parameters of Envelope C

Envelope C Dia Envelope C Dia

Examples of Envelope C shapes with different polarities of the Breakpoint and Sustain levels.

Envelopes Examples Envelopes Examples

3 examples for envelopes and the influence of different amounts.

Comb Filter Comb Filter

The parameters of the Comb Filter

Comb Filter Dia 1 Comb Filter Dia 1

Signal flow of the Comb Filter

Comb Filter Dia 2 Comb Filter Dia 2

Basic frequency responses of the Comb Filter.

Setting the Decay to negative values has similar results like the inverted mix.

State Variable Filter State Variable Filter

The parameters of the State Variable Filter

State Variable Filter Dia 1 State Variable Filter Dia 1

The signal flow of the State Variable Filter.

State Variable Filter Dia 2-1 State Variable Filter Dia 2-1

Frequency responses of the State Variable Filter with Parallel set to 0 %

State Variable Filter Dia 2-2 State Variable Filter Dia 2-2

Frequency responses of the State Variable Filter with Parallel set to 100 %

Output Mixer Output Mixer

The parameters of the Output Mixer

Output Mixer Dia Output Mixer Dia

Signal flow of the Output Mixer

Feedback Mixer Feedback Mixer

The parameters of the Feedback Mixer

Feedback Mixer Dia Feedback Mixer Dia

Signal flow of the Output Mixer

Flanger Flanger

The parameters of the Flanger

Flanger Dia Flanger Dia

Block diagram of the Flanger

Cabinet Cabinet

The parameters of the Cabinet

Cabinet Cabinet

Block diagram of the Cabinet

Gap Filter Gap Filter

The parameters of the Gap Filter

Gap Filter Dia Gap Filter Dia

Block diagram of the Gap Filter

Gap Filter Dia Gap Filter Dia

Frequency responses of the Gap Filter

Echo Echo

The parameters of the Echo

Echo Dia Echo Dia

Block diagram of the Echo.

Reverb Reverb

The parameters of the Reverb

Reverb Dia Reverb Dia

Block diagram of the Reverb.

Macro Controls Macro Controls

The six Macro Controls and their Smoothing times

Hardware Sources Hardware Sources

Hardware Sources and Amounts

Modulation Scheme Modulation Scheme

Modulation Scheme

Voices Voices

Parameters of the Voices group controlling the Mono and Unison modes

Master Master

Parameters of a Part of a Split Sound, a Part of a Layer Sound, and the Master group

Scale Scale

Parameters of the Scale group

Scale Scale
Scale Scale