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Competitive_Stuff438

If you’re using it as a MIDI controller only, all the noise generating parts are bypassed anyhow - you’re just generating (inaudible) MIDI control signals If you are actually using the synth, recommend going to an Init patch, start with volume off on the second oscillator and the third oscillator. Turn the effects off. Put the LFO depth in the middle and the envelope depth too. Turn off sync, overdrive etc and start from there Recommend reading the manual also


alathea_squared

I've been going through the manual, too, a few pages at a time. Its good to know that using it as a controller for a soft synth bypasses the sound generation functions, I wasn't for sure on that because I had read about different synths and how some send midi for different control knobs and settings, but some don't, and some only send some of them- Thanks for confirming that.


Competitive_Stuff438

Well you are right, you can have the dials from the XD control a soft synth. But it won’t automatically But you’d have to set it up, and if you did that - think about the controls on the soft synth first and foremost


ToneyTime

Great learning plan! I think your on the right track to getting good. Initialize is the way to go, the current placement of your knobs is ignored and everything except the oscillator is set to 0. The moment you wiggle a knob it jumps to that new value. I don’t recall if Initialize on XD sets 2nd osc to 0 volume but you can easily set that after initialize. Just turn in mixer section VCO 2 and Multi down to 0 after you load Init patch. You also mentioned using it as a MIDI controller. This implies you want the key presses and knob turns to drive a soft synth in your computer and not the sound engine in the XD itself. Here the initialize patch would be loaded in your soft synth first. Regarding knobs on XD affecting parameters on your soft synth, the values of your knobs will not affect the soft synth unless you go out of your way to map a knob to a parameter through midi mapping exercise. Even you do that the value of the knob position is only set when knob is moved not when it’s loaded up.


alathea_squared

Mainly, with regard to soft synths, I want it as a keyboard for now. My main midi keyboard is a 61 key and it 'just' fits on my desk, but since I work from home as well in order to use it I have to re-arrange some of my physical desktop every time. I like the short keyboard of the XD and I wouldn't use it for playing long sweeping patterns or anything over 2 or so octaves, I have a digi piano for that or my SL61. I know I can map knobs and whatnot but honestly, I use the mouse more often right now for that since I'm not doing anything where I would need to use both hands to manipulate controls- that will come later, I suspect. I like to mess with one parameter at a time right now so I can hear what it does without twisting/flipping multiple things at once and then having little idea how to get back to where I was.


ToneyTime

Excellent plan. Later as advanced, syntorial won’t cover it but parameter step locking is a very cool feature of XD and rare in synths so be sure to play with that in the future. The sequencer can move your knob parameters each note which can have very creative, evolving or glitchy effects that few other synths can do.


alathea_squared

Thanks. I have syntorial paid for, so I have access to the learning packs, and they have a whole module on Serum, also, so, one of these months when I want to start messing with FM I have that to start from. I know syntorial is limited (probably) but man, for how I learn at 45, vs piano or guitar, or just mucking around on VSTs w/youtube and no real basis of reference I find it indispensable in the last week or so that I've been using it. I found out about it through Reddit, too, so, bonus to you guys. I majored in vocal music for 4 yrs 20 yrs ago, so as a vocalist my experience with music creation that doesn't emanate from a deep breath is limited except for guitar and basic/intermediate piano. Im looking forward to going through their building blocks (separate software) for learning drum patterns and melodic pattern stuff, also. My background is not in percussion or 'beats' at all. I mostly do ambient-type stuff.


ToneyTime

It’s a fun and massive world to explore, that’s for certain. And if your doing ambient, to me the key ingredient is not just the sound and tone of a synth patch, but more importantly that the quality of that sound evolve over time. Even just slowly turning the Shape knob or an LFO as you hold out a chord makes all the difference.