MMT: what is it?

[rukaav]

We all know, that radias has MMT engine. But what does it mean in practice? What is the sense of Multiple Modeling Technology? What is the advantage and difference over others VA which use non-MMT engine? Or may be they are just beautiful words (letters) for trade purposes?

[tpantano]

We all know, that radias has MMT engine. But what does it mean in practice? What is the sense of Multiple Modeling Technology? What is the advantage and difference over others VA which use non-MMT engine? Or may be they are just beautiful words (letters) for trade purposes?

It's simply what they call the synth's synthesis engine. You of course start with your traditional subtractive synthesis, but then other features like VPM, Ring/Sync, and Waveshaping make up the complete MMT system.

[X-Trade]

They are just words that give meaning to the engine.

MMT means Multiple-Modelling-Technology. Korg decided they would call it this because:
A. It models a number of different types of synthesis
B. It sounds like a cool name for it.


The Radias and other MMT synths do cover a lot more ground than a lot of other synths. Almost so far that I would say that to even call the Radias a 'VA' is to only appreciate a quarter of its power. It is really an all-rounder synthesizer, not just providing 'analog' tones but also digital and hybrid characteristics. It doesn't try to fall into one group of synthesis types, although for the sake of being intuitive a lot of parallels can be drawn with 'traditional' subtractive VA architectures.


But really it is just a name for Korg's current-gen synthesis technology. It has a lot in common with EDS which is the engine used in Korg's current-gen workstations too.


But for example:
The previous workstation generation, the 'Triton' series used an engine called HI (Hyper Integrated). Before that the Trinity used the 'ACCESS' synthesis engine. Previous-gen synthesizers used the MOSS (multiple oscillator synthesis system) engine. The MS2000 and microKorg didn't have a name for their engine, but it was modelled off the sound of Korg's earlier analog monosynths.

[rukaav]

MMT means Multiple-Modelling-Technology. Korg decided they would call it this because:
A. It models a number of different types of synthesis

The Radias and other MMT synths do cover a lot more ground than a lot of other synths

Could you give examples? e.g. MMT can this and "other" cant this.

I dont want to argue, I'm just trying to understad.

[tpantano]

MMT means Multiple-Modelling-Technology. Korg decided they would call it this because:
A. It models a number of different types of synthesis

The Radias and other MMT synths do cover a lot more ground than a lot of other synths

Could you give examples? e.g. MMT can this and "other" cant this.

I dont want to argue, I'm just trying to understad.

(Pretty much) all subtractive synths start with a basic waveform (saw, sine, pulse/square, triangle) or noise and then pass it through a filter, then through an envelope and amp.
MMT can also:
-Sync oscillators, and use ring modulation along with cross modulation
-Can synthesize single oscillator unison
-Can put an oscillator through variable phrase modulation (similar to FM)
-Can use non-typical waveforms, such as Formants, Audio input, and Korg's DWGS/PCM
-Can use waveshaping such as Hardclip, pickup, etc.

[rukaav]

thank you a lot tpantano and X-Trade. It is quiet clear now

[rukaav]

Are "Virtual Analog" and "Analog Modeling" the same?

[X-Trade]

Are "Virtual Analog" and "Analog Modeling" the same?

Yes.

[ozy]

a nice, nerdish, geekish debate could start

QED

[X-Trade]

Well, asides from DWGS and PCM waves, the Korg synths do not use filters but mathematical algorythms and transformations to create a digital oscillator.

They are oscillators, not samples. Its just that 99.9% of both software and hardware 'virtual analog' synths do not actually model the discrete electronic components that make up an analog synthesizer's modules. They are only approximations of the end result as you say.

In fact 'analog' is really completely the wrong word. Really it is subtractive synthesis. But often the term 'subtractive' is used as a synonym with 'analog synthesis' because typically most analog synthesizers used the subtractive synthesis method - notably the minimoogm, ms20, etc.


Anyway, you've completely ruined the sentiment of the disussion here on MMT, which is that it is not just analog styled synthesis.
The great thing about MMT is that it does not really pretend to be analog. It has that typical subtractive signal chain, BUT it throws a lot more into the mix too and it is truly a unique and very flexible digital synthesizer.
It can produce some pretty fat sounds that come close to a decent approximation of 'analog subtractive synthesis', but that isn't its strong point. I'm not saying it can't do it, but it really excels at other areas.

After all, synthesizers are all about 'out of this world', unrealistic, unheard before sounds that could only be generated electronically. Just like the Wavestation - it is a 'pure' synthesizer, and so is the Radias.

And I've used analog synths. They do sound great. The problem I have with them is that they always sound analog. They all have their own character and you can't get away from that. What I like about the Radias is that it is a bit of a chameleon - it can get close to analog, it can get close to physical modelling (I don't mean analog physical modelling), and you can get all of those out of different patches on the same piece of hardware. AND it is much more expressive than a sampler, because everything is generated in realtime and has a bunch of parameters - you can control the pulsewidth, formant, waveshape depth, etc.
The only thing IMO which can compete with that flexibility is the OASYS, and the M3 with EXB-RADIAS. And possibly a PC with 1001 plugins, but then you still need something to arrange those plugins into combinations or whatever to make them into an instrument, not just 1001 separate individual unmanaged plugins.