pouët.net

What do you mean exactly by "stack based"?

he means 4klang.

operator stacking is soooooooo 1999

I mean in terms of the interface really. Something akin to guitar rig if you've ever seen that.

You drop your components onto the stack and they're processed in top to bottom order. You can also move them up/down.

Something like this:

I'd call it a modular layout.

raizor_: I prefer the 4klang style. It's extremely versatile and flexible. Just remember to make it relatively easy to use ;)

Thanks noby. At least it sounds like I'm on the right track then :)

Can someone in layman terms tell me what Z-plane filters are and why I want them (besides "everybody has them").

I've never heard of anything called “Z-plane filters” before. You can analyze the properties of linear time-invariant filters by using the Z transform and looking at roots and poles of the resulting function, but that's primarily an analytic tool, not a special kind of filter. Maybe they mean IIR filters? (If so, see previous discussion in this thread.)

Apparently it is something high end Emu's has.

From what I can see on the Internet, it's just a fancy name for “digital filter” and then a useful way to interpolate between two such filters.

Cheers. I figured it was trash talk for "I have Emu, you have not".

Emu introduced a system of filters which can morph from one setting to another and called the 'Z-plane filters' for marketing purposes. They're regular digital filters although they are implemented in a special way to make morphing them less CPU intensive. There is at least one paper on these filters available through the AES.

The z-plane filters are not simple lowpass, bandpass or highpass filters but consist of a combination of these and other types, such as shelving filters, allowing complex tone variations. These filters were first introduced when Emu released the Morpheus synthesizer module.

Stack approach, how much screen space can you waste on redundant GUI elements :)

..which reminds me! Sesse, any chances of making SaneStation layout more compact?)

@el-bee: Suggestions for how? :-)

using leet madskillz!

Sesse, let me give the synth a proper spin first ;)

Is anyone here using QtCreator to compile VSTi's on OSX? If so, what settings should I use.

Further details: Xcode sucks, I'm trying to use VSTGUI not Qt as the GUI lib.

Trc_ I spend a little time looking at the information you provided. Ok...it is kind of sexy.

I found z-plane filters interesting also, but restrictive at the same time -- only Emu could develop new Z-plane filters and many of the sound characteristics could be emulated/approximated by other methods, which were already present in synthesizers, such as a phaser.

The fact that it hasn't been adopted by other synthesizer manufacturers is a dead give-away that it is just 'interesting' as a technology.

trc_wm: this reminds me of our initial talks around VST development.. I'll dig up the mail thread :)

trc. I think the reason nobody picked up on it is because it is a patented technology. Speaking of VST's. Is it so good I ponder, that it is worth emulating with its own (illegal) VST. So far all examples i have heard could be emulated with a properly set up FX chain AFAIC

@gloom: still looking for a general set of widgets for VSTi's to replace my 'coderstyle' stuff.

@eebliss: The patent mostly covers the coefficient transform, which is not needed. And most of it applies to ASIC hardware, not software. You wouldn't get into trouble if you implemented high-order multi-stage modulating filters in your VST and sold it, just don't call them 'z-plane' filters.

@trc_wm: do you have a set of specifications for how you need it to be?