Operator and samples as waveforms?

buckman · Post by **buckman** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:21 am

Just looking at operator to join Sampler with my Abe stuff..

As it looks like a powerful synth can you use samples as waveforms to mangle? or is it limited to just the standard waveforms?

Plastic Hassle · Post by **Plastic Hassle** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:34 am

No, you can't import waveforms into Operator but it has plenty waveforms of it's own to mangle including eight different types of sine wave.

blank · Post by **blank** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:14 am

theoretically, you can generate any kind of waveform by combining/modulating those already present in the synth.

timothyallan · Post by **timothyallan** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:29 am

Operator is awesome in a box.

Pasha · Post by **Pasha** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:35 am

Plastic Hassle wrote:No, you can't import waveforms into Operator but it has plenty waveforms of it's own to mangle including eight different types of sine wave.

Didn't know it!
How you actually do it?

- Best
- Pasha

timothyallan · Post by **timothyallan** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:41 am

err you just select the waveform for each oscillator?

Plastic Hassle · Post by **Plastic Hassle** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:47 am

Like the man says, go into the envelope display for each oscillator look for "Wave" this will show you the current waveform, Saw 16, Noise etc, click on the adjacent downward pointing triangle to see all the options.

blank · Post by **blank** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:38 pm

timothyallan wrote:Operator is awesome in a box.

I totally agree

but I don't like the filters on it

am I alone ?

forge · Post by **forge** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:55 pm

dont underestimate Si/ampler - especially with the AMS generator

julienb · Post by **julienb** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:02 pm

forge wrote:dont underestimate Si/ampler - especially with the AMS generator

+1

and don't underestimate Operator too.
even for drums synthesis etc etc...

Nick the Zombie · Post by **Nick the Zombie** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:09 pm

Sampler and Operator are easily the two best separately purchased instruments from Ableton, IMO. All my sounds come from these two beasts nowadays.

Operator can give you amazing results just by combining the oscillators in different ways. That's not taking into account all the other stuff that is loaded into it. And yes, making drum sounds with it is really fun. Check out the lesson that comes with Live 7, if you have that version.

- Nick

blank · Post by **blank** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:39 pm

forge wrote:dont underestimate Si/ampler - especially with the AMS generator

sampler is one of the instrument I use the most. it's a total beast.

worth every penny in my opinion but you have to dig it a bit.

Arnold-Rimmer · Post by **Arnold-Rimmer** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:11 pm

I own FM 8 by Native Instruments and Operator. Sorry to say this, but Operator is nowhere near the class of FM8. Fm 8 outclasses it by a long way in all areas. I am not saying Operator is total crap, it isn't, but for FM synthesis it lacks versatility and quality. Then again, if you haven't heard FM 8 then you won't have anything to compare it to, so buy Operator if you like it.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:37 pm

Arnold-Rimmer wrote:I own FM 8 by Native Instruments and Operator. Sorry to say this, but Operator is nowhere near the class of FM8. Fm 8 outclasses it by a long way in all areas. I am not saying Operator is total crap, it isn't, but for FM synthesis it lacks versatility and quality. Then again, if you haven't heard FM 8 then you won't have anything to compare it to, so buy Operator if you like it.

I'm sorry to say this, but I find the opposite to be true.

Indeed, the sounds coming from FM8 are "expensive-sounding", but honestly that isn't what "works" for me. True, there are a LOT of limitations to Operator, but that is also true of a lot of time-honoured classics, including the miniMoog

I'm just putting a word in for "features doesn't mean quality".

Nick the Zombie · Post by **Nick the Zombie** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:11 pm

Machinate wrote:
Arnold-Rimmer wrote:I own FM 8 by Native Instruments and Operator. Sorry to say this, but Operator is nowhere near the class of FM8. Fm 8 outclasses it by a long way in all areas. I am not saying Operator is total crap, it isn't, but for FM synthesis it lacks versatility and quality. Then again, if you haven't heard FM 8 then you won't have anything to compare it to, so buy Operator if you like it.
I'm sorry to say this, but I find the opposite to be true.

Indeed, the sounds coming from FM8 are "expensive-sounding", but honestly that isn't what "works" for me. True, there are a LOT of limitations to Operator, but that is also true of a lot of time-honoured classics, including the miniMoog

I'm just putting a word in for "features doesn't mean quality".

+ 1

I have played with FM8, and yeah it has great features. However, sheer power and features aren't everything, especially when you sacrifice interface navigability. I prefer Operator by far.