Welcome to Skewl!
Documentation version: 1.003.05
WARNING!
This program is BETA!
This documentation is BETA!
I do not take any responsability if Skewl does any direct or indirect damage to your computer, brain and/or life :-).
DOWNLOAD:
You can download the latest Skewl here:
(If it doesn't work, left click)
QUICK:
If you want to hear something quickly, do this: Tap some buttons from the sequencer, and activate the FREQ, DECAY and VOL buttons for this channel.
INTRODUCTION:
Skewl is a 4 channel cross modulation synthesizer. It is based on a design by LazyFish.
The synth is divided in 4 parts:
SEQUENCER:
The sequencer is quite straightforward. Just tap each button to activate a note in the sequence. Each row is a channel.
GENERATOR:
The generator of each channel is a quadratic waveform. It is similar to a sinusoid with some slight harmonics.
It has several settings for each channel: FREQ is the generator's frequency, DECAY is the decay.
The FREQ ENVELOPE option adds initially to the FREQ frequency the ENV value, and the speed of decay is controlled by DECAY. Good for drums.
The FREQ MODULATION works as follows: Each channel's output is connected as an input to the 3 other channels. This input modulates the generators frequency. The IN control specifies the input gain for this modulation. The OUT control sets the output level to be fed back to the 3 other channels.
The RING MODULATION works as follows: Each channel's output is connected as an input to the 3 other channels. This input modulates the generators amplitude. The IN control specifies the input gain for this modulation. The OUT control sets the output to be fed back to the 3 other channels. Yeah, it is similar to the FREQ MOD, but it modulates amplitude.
VOL is the volume :-).
FILTER:
The outputs of the 4 generators are summed and first passed through a second-order lowpass filter, then through a first-order highpass filter. Finally sound passes a distortion section.
The lowpass filter frequency is controlled by the LP control. The Q control sets the resonance of the filter (or Q Factor). The HP control sets the highpass filter frequency.
There is also a LP ENV (lowpass envelope) section: It modulates the second-order lowpass filter frequency with the input's amplitude. SENS is the modulation level, and THRES the reaction time of frequency changes due to volume changes.
The lowpass filter frequency can also be modified by the LP LFO (lowpass low-frequency oscillator). This is done with a triangular wave. LEVEL controls the modulation level, SPEED the modulation frequency.
DIST is the distortion section. LEVEL sets the level of distortion, and VOL is just a master volume control. Distortion is quadratic.
DELAY:
The delaying section sums to the output a delayed version of it (echoing).
NOTE sets the delay time in multiples of notes (up to 16 notes), TICK in multiples of 1/16 notes (up to a single note).
The LFO section modulates the delay time with a square-wave waveform. LEVEL is the delay modulation level, SPEED is the speed of modulation. Bubble type effects... I don't like this though, I think I'm going to change this.
The BAND section filters the feedback (delayed) signal. LP is the lowpass filter frequency, HP is the highpass filter frequency.
The FEEDBACK section sets the feedback. WIDE is a stereo effect, which changes left/right channel delays. LEVEL is the feedback (echo) level. MIX sets the relation of dry/wet sound (original/fed back sound).
STORING/RETRIEVING SETTINGS:
Press the Presets button. Select a preset slot, press GET to retrieve it. To store it, press STORE. You can also specify a name for the preset after you select the slot.
WAVE RECORDING:
Press the Wave Recorder button. Press the [...] button, and select a filename for the recording. Then press REC. Close the window, recording will continue. Now do your stuff :-). To stop recording, go again to the Wave Recorder, and press STOP.
BPM:
Go to BPM settings. That's it :-)
You can also activate the BPM meter by pressing ENTER on the main screen. Wait 4 seconds to reset the meter.
KNOWN BUGS:
It's weird, on my machine Skewl hangs sometimes when it is closed. Still unexplainable... please tell me your experiences.
There is also some video flickering to be fixed!
UNKNOWN BUGS:
Write me AT ONCE! Please :-)
You can write me at this addresses:
Thank you!
Also, write me if you have questions or suggestions.
THIS PAGE:
SKEWL© 2000 by Marc S. Ressl