M50 sfx volumes

[Enri]

Hi! Has anyone noticed that the explosion volume is really low? I tried putting an explosion effect together with a string in combination mode.

What I did up till this point:

1. I set the explosion sfx on the first 2 low keys so that it doesn't interfere with my playing
2. I lowered the strings volume at almost minimum raised the master volume up to maximum and maxed out the explosion volume
3. I added an exciter effect only to the explosion so I can make it even louder

And When I play it the guitars and drums still cover it up, it's almost as if it's not there. I'm really out of ideas here, how can I make it even louder? It has to be like a bang, when the song starts.

[ursamajor]

Is the explosion sfx a patch (Specify number)?
Did you try to alter the volumesettings in the patch?

[Enri]

Bank G(3): 128 Explosion. That is the name of the patch in the sfx category, program mode.

The volume setting is already at max (127). I tried messing with the EQ, turned the mid and high freq up to max and set the low freq to the lowest value. Now it is more obvious but it feels a bit too light, I'm not sure what to say about this, I'll try it with the band at our next gig.

I think the key to successfully create this effect is by messing with the freq, I need to find a range where it doesn't overlap with the guitars and drums freq, somehow completing the sound range and create that wall of sound.

[michelkeijzers]

What I did on the M50 was to set all timbres (program) volumes in a combi to 100 by default to have some headroom (but yes, even then it sometimes was not enough). Then you can use an EQ or compressor.

In the next after next release of PCG Tools I want to have an option to change the volumes of lots of combis at the same time to lower them to 80% or so to have more headroom.

[Enri]

That option would be awesome, volumes are such a pain when playing in a band.
I think that a band with complicated keyboard passages has no chances of sounding perfect without their personal sound engineer, that comes at every show and knows all their songs.

A keyboardist by himself is doomed to fail.

[michelkeijzers]

That option would be awesome, volumes are such a pain when playing in a band.
I think that a band with complicated keyboard passages has no chances of sounding perfect without their personal sound engineer, that comes at every show and knows all their songs.

A keyboardist by himself is doomed to fail.

Yes but we don't live in a perfect world ... besides, we play mostly in reasonable small cafe's/bars (50 to 200, sometimes more) people and there is mostly just some money for the PA system and a bit for the band.

[michelkeijzers]

[quote="Enri"]That option would be awesome, volumes are such a pain when playing in a band.
[quote]

The only 'problem' is you cannot audit the change immediately since it still is a PCG file. But it can be used e.g. to lower the complete volume of a combi bank or set list by a percentage or fixed value.

Assume you lower it by 20% (i.e. all 127 volumes will be 101.6->102. Then on the synth itself you can readjust it if necessary.

The problem I now sometimes have is that I lower them default by 100 (by hand). But then I come to the conclusion one should be more than 127 again (or lower the rest). So then you can load the PCG file in PCG Tools and lower everything by 20%, then load the PCG file in the synth and change the one you want to increase back to 110 or so (if you still need 127 you could have better decreased all volumes by 40%).

Btw this function does not exist yet... just an idea.

I also want to change set list slots (for the Kronos) this way ... I'm not sure yet about program banks, these are a bit tricky (since there are lots of differences between models regarding program volume.

[michelkeijzers]

[quote="Enri"]That option would be awesome, volumes are such a pain when playing in a band.
[quote]

The only 'problem' is you cannot audit the change immediately since it still is a PCG file. But it can be used e.g. to lower the complete volume of a combi bank or set list by a percentage or fixed value.

Assume you lower it by 20% (i.e. all 127 volumes will be 101.6->102. Then on the synth itself you can readjust it if necessary.

The problem I now sometimes have is that I lower them default by 100 (by hand). But then I come to the conclusion one should be more than 127 again (or lower the rest). So then you can load the PCG file in PCG Tools and lower everything by 20%, then load the PCG file in the synth and change the one you want to increase back to 110 or so (if you still need 127 you could have better decreased all volumes by 40%).

Btw this function does not exist yet... just an idea.

I also want to change set list slots (for the Kronos) this way ... I'm not sure yet about program banks, these are a bit tricky (since there are lots of differences between models regarding program volume.

[Enri]

It would be awesome if on the next generation workstations you could program the volume level and other settings using some sort of alien technology that recognizes what you are playing at the moment and shifts all the settings the way you programmed them to be when you start playing that while in a certain patch.

Maybe even doing cool stuff like slowly changing the sound from a guitar to a piano fluently.

[michelkeijzers]

It would be awesome if on the next generation workstations you could program the volume level and other settings using some sort of alien technology that recognizes what you are playing at the moment and shifts all the settings the way you programmed them to be when you start playing that while in a certain patch.

Maybe even doing cool stuff like slowly changing the sound from a guitar to a piano fluently.

In that case you probably don't need any keys anymore ... just think what you want to play.

[Enri]

It would be awesome if on the next generation workstations you could program the volume level and other settings using some sort of alien technology that recognizes what you are playing at the moment and shifts all the settings the way you programmed them to be when you start playing that while in a certain patch.

Maybe even doing cool stuff like slowly changing the sound from a guitar to a piano fluently.

In that case you probably don't need any keys anymore ... just think what you want to play.

Power Metal with allot of symphonic and orchestral elements + synth/lead sounds. That is what I'm playing right now.

[michelkeijzers]

It would be awesome if on the next generation workstations you could program the volume level and other settings using some sort of alien technology that recognizes what you are playing at the moment and shifts all the settings the way you programmed them to be when you start playing that while in a certain patch.

Maybe even doing cool stuff like slowly changing the sound from a guitar to a piano fluently.

In that case you probably don't need any keys anymore ... just think what you want to play.

Power Metal with allot of symphonic and orchestral elements + synth/lead sounds. That is what I'm playing right now.

Sounds like my style (although I play in a 'normal' rock band).

[Enri]

It's a really fun style to play and fast too.

[michelkeijzers]

As long as it has a melody I probably like it.

[raffi.nordiguian]

i used once that explosion when i was playing Finally Free outro (if you re a Dream theater fan) and experienced the same problem.

what i did is add an Tube PreAmp effect and messed with the Gain.

It worked, the explosion was loud.