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Operator and samples as waveforms?
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:21 am
by buckman
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?

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:34 am
by Plastic Hassle
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.
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:14 am
by blank
theoretically, you can generate any kind of waveform by combining/modulating those already present in the synth.
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:29 am
by timothyallan
Operator is awesome in a box.
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:35 am
by Pasha
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
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:41 am
by timothyallan
err you just select the waveform for each oscillator?
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:47 am
by Plastic Hassle
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.
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:38 pm
by blank
timothyallan wrote:Operator is awesome in a box.
I totally agree
but I don't like the filters on it
am I alone ?
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:55 pm
by forge
dont underestimate Si/ampler - especially with the AMS generator
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:02 pm
by julienb
forge wrote:dont underestimate Si/ampler - especially with the AMS generator
+1
and don't underestimate Operator too.
even for drums synthesis etc etc...
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:09 pm
by Nick the Zombie
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
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:39 pm
by blank
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.
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:11 pm
by Arnold-Rimmer
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.
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:37 pm
by Machinate
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".
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:11 pm
by Nick the Zombie
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.