Tuning operator and understanding spectrum

[Karldali]

Hello peeps

I want to start making my own synth sounds with Operator (up until now i've just been taking a preset a modifying it).

The problem i have is that my Frequency to note table tells me that a certain freq will make a certain note but i cannot relate these figures to the Osc in Operator. So there is course, fine, and level, but i dont understand how i can manipulate these functions to make the note i want.

I've seen other plug ins synths and the osc are easier because the readings are in Hz and such, so i can relate that to my table, i dont really want to use plugins at this stage.

I hope this makes sense.

Second question. I have a sound, I dont know the root note so, i stick a Spectrum on it to see what it might be and then, confusion. Its very confusing for me when there are lots of different peaks or a wave that is spread across a wide frequency range, what part of the wave should i be concentrating on to get precise note readings.

Thnx

[Karldali]

Bump

Must be someone who knows the responses to these questions

[pepezabala]

I find it most easy to just drop in a second instrument that is tuned fine already, and adjust my own creation's pitch to that one.

When using spectrum to find the note, I would read the leftmost peak. The peaks to the right should be overtones. But I guess this depends a bit on the sound, there could be exceptions to that rule.

[Warrior Bob]

The problem i have is that my Frequency to note table tells me that a certain freq will make a certain note but i cannot relate these figures to the Osc in Operator. So there is course, fine, and level, but i dont understand how i can manipulate these functions to make the note i want.

To play the note you want, send that note to Operator via MIDI.

As I understand it, those coarse and fine knobs adjust that oscillator's offset from the indicated note. If I remember right coarse is in full octaves, and fine is in percents of that octave. Double check me with the manual (I don't have it in front of me at the moment). Level is just the volume of that oscillator.

[AceLuby]

Stop using spectrum and start using your ears to determine what 'note' something is. Since you're talking about operator, just look at the MIDI input to figure out what note it is. If your talking about what the knobs in operator do to the note, look in the manual or take a single osc and see what it does to the note you are pressing.

[R7]

The reason operator is set up that way is because it is meant to be an FM synth and those tend to be designed to use ratios of the pitch. So if course is set to 1 and you hit a c3 on your keyboard a c3 will come out the end, if it is set to 2 the note that comes out will be up an octave, so in this example a c4, and so on. A setting of 0.5 will move you down an octave to c2. The fine knob will offset the pitch but not in steps, ie it's like turning a tuning head on a guitar, it just detunes the note, but unless you actually go and tune it to a specific note it will essentially just be out of tune. To be honest I wouldn't touch the fine knob, unless you know what you're trying to do with it. One use of the fine nob might be if you have two osc's if you offset one of the osc slightly using the fine knob the sound will get a slightly phased sound. But I wouldn't turn the fine knob very far because you'll start to make very dischordant sounds.

Hope that helps...

[yur2die4]

Doesn't the coarse knob adjust in harmonic overtones?

[Karldali]

OK cheers guys.

This has cleared a few points up for me. Nice one.

[chapelier fou]

Doesn't the coarse knob adjust in harmonic overtones?

Right, it's a frequency multiplier, so it makes octaves only on powers of 2.