Arturia Forums
Harware Legacy versions => Origin => General Discussion on Origin => Topic started by: Philippe on February 08, 2012, 09:04:36 am
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Hi all Origin users,
The version 1.4 of the Origin firmware has entered the alpha stage. That is we have a full version which has to be internally tested so that we can detect as much regressions and new bugs as we can can before entering a public beta stage.
The main features of this version are:
- enhanced preset management features in Origin Connection app (including the possibility to NOT override your own presets with the new ones while updating your machine)
- 2 new modules ported from the OBSem : the VoiceProcessor and the MultiMode Filter
- new waves added to the WaveTable oscillator
- management of the effects at the multi level
Please note that this specification could change until the public release.
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Great to hear something is really happening :)
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Excellent !
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For those of you who may not know what is the VoiceProcessor, here are some words about it.
Imagine a real synthesizer built around a basic structure which is duplicated n times. That structure may be a sub-assembly capable of producing the sound of a single voice. Each time a new voice is started (following a note on for instance) then one of these basic structures is chosen to produce the sound for the new voice. Each sub-assembly - or board - has a set of settings that enables to generate different sounds for each boards. The VoiceProcessor is a PATCH module that emulates that kind of real synthesizer's structure. This module emulates a machine using 8 boards, and it provides 8 modulation outputs that can be connected to any compatible input of any module within the patch. The level of these modulations are programmable thru the UI of the module for each board and each output.
When a note on is processed, a "board" is chosen according to some algorithms (that you can choose in the UI: backward and forward circular, random...). The level of the 8 modulations will vary according the chosen board, and therefore the sound generated by the voice will also vary with these modulations.
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For those of you who may not know what is the VoiceProcessor, here are some words about it.
Imagine a real synthesizer built around a basic structure which is duplicated n times. That structure may be a sub-assembly capable of producing the sound of a single voice. Each time a new voice is started (following a note on for instance) then one of these basic structures is chosen to produce the sound for the new voice. Each sub-assembly - or board - has a set of settings that enables to generate different sounds for each boards. The VoiceProcessor is a PATCH module that emulates that kind of real synthesizer's structure. This module emulates a machine using 8 boards, and it provides 8 modulation outputs that can be connected to any compatible input of any module within the patch. The level of these modulations are programmable thru the UI of the module for each board and each output.
When a note on is processed, a "board" is chosen according to some algorithms (that you can choose in the UI: backward and forward circular, random...). The level of the 8 modulations will vary according the chosen board, and therefore the sound generated by the voice will also vary with these modulations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCDpPP42v9s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCDpPP42v9s)
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Phil, you speak about 8 modulations outputs, does this mean it will be superior to SEM V (6 modulations outputs) or is it just an example ?
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Not superior but slightly different. The OBSem shows parameters as choices for the VoiceProcessor outputs. Depending on the parameters it may imply more than 1 modulation connection (these connections are not visible on the OBSem but they exist under the hood). Because of the fully modular nature of Origin we cannot give a choice in term of parameter, but "only" in term of modulation connections. The current version of the Origin VoiceProcessor provides 8 modulation connections, the number of actual "under the hood" OBSem connections can go up to 12.
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Darn, I was hoping that the Prophet V OSC and filter was going to be included in the update. But as I said in some other threads, the Origin modules do come very close to the sound character of the Prophet 5, and the SEM filter is more desirable for most of us. I'm not sure what the VoiceProcessor is going to do for me, but as a synthesist - especially one who wants a real modular synth this year, any new toys are very welcome. ;)
Very much looking forward to the update, as I'm getting re-involved in my big music project.
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Great news Arturia, the OBSem is exactly the kind of update path I invested in origin for. In the first place, and what you're best at.
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Another short example about what can be done with the 8-Voice-Programmer in the Oberheim SEM V:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEGGyap8vLE
Frank
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Super news, I thought the origin had been forgotten. Great to see it hasn't been :)
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I was just to ask for it and here you post this, it's like you read my mind.
We are very happy for the update and look forward to the new update asap.
Many wishes from Sweden!
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Something I don't understand is that a few months ago you were talking about to completely rewrite the OS and now 1.4 should be released.......?
Please explain.
Cheers,
Danny
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Something I don't understand is that a few months ago you were talking about to completely rewrite the OS and now 1.4 should be released.......?
Please explain.
Cheers,
Danny
Not sure what you have in mind. A few month ago I explained why the update would not be ready in october 2011. One of the reason was that we had to rewrite *parts* of (and not completely) some low level layer of the OS, particularly the DSPs OS in order to make room for the new modules, which took me some time. The 2nd reason - but not the least - was that our management decided to move the Origin dev team resources to some other projects. Just before I restarted the work on the update (end of 2011), the product team analyzed the whole list of possible features for the coming 1.4. And the conclusion was the specifications I've posted in this thread. For non-yet-developed stuff the focus has been put on features that would be in line with the heart of the machine, and to cancel all unfinished developments that would not strictly be in line. Also the decision has been taken then to limit the nature and the amount of the new features so that we could provide a version in a limited time. It is possible - though not yet decided - that there'll be a second 1.4 release later with some more features/modules.
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Ok, thanks for the reply. I think I must have misunderstood some *parts* of the former explanation
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The main features of this version are:
- enhanced preset management features in Origin Connection app (including the possibility to NOT override your own presets with the new ones while updating your machine)
- 2 new modules ported from the OBSem : the VoiceProcessor and the MultiMode Filter
- new waves added to the WaveTable oscillator
- management of the effects at the multi level
great update, the SEM modules will definitely be a very welcome surprise. Thanks for the effort on this.
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I have to reiterate something. I've been plonking along on my workstations lately, and laying the groundwork for a music project, so I've been neglecting the Origin for a while. Last night, I fired it up again, and...
Just noodling around on it, checking out the patches from Arturia and my own creations, I've forgotten just how good this little beige box sounds! Lately, I've caught the modular bug and want to buy a huge system the size of a Mg Modular III. And a poly analog, a Prophet 08 at least. Well, just getting reacquainted with the Origin has soothed that hunger greatly.
And it baffles me why some people have grown tired of this synth in its current form. This IS a modular synthesizer. You MAKE INSTRUMENTS on it. Virtually. ;) But it sounds fantastic, very analog. And programmable, and polyphonic! Something a real modular just doesn't do unless you have a small fortune to spend on a custom synth. You can make patches of just about any vintage synth you want with the building blocks in it right now. I'm looking forward to the SEM Filter of course, as it sounds different than the Origin Filter I'm currently using to recreate Oberheims, as well as Prophets and other synths. So sure, I want more modules made for it in the future, especially the Prophet OSC and Filter, the SEM OSC, the CS-80 template, whatever they can fit into it. I'm hoping it has plenty of room in the EPROM for more goodies in the future, because I want everything I can get. Except maybe the organ model which is redundant for me.
But as it is now, this is one of the BEST synthesizers on the market. Extremely flexible, fairly easy to program - yes, it would be great to have a computer editor. But my vision isn't the greatest, and I can still plow through the various blocks and their parameters quite easily. It's tedious, but tell me a modular that isn't. And again, you don't have to scribble out patch notes or take pics of your front panel, and you can play big juicy CHORDS! With effects even. No other instrument will let me create not just modular Mgs, but ARPs, Rolands, even Yamahas. And soon, Oberheims!
I don't get the whole flap over it lacking DAW integration. Does a Mg synth have DAW integration, or a Jupiter or Andromeda? A Prophet 5 or a Matrix-12? Does any guitar or drumkit?
I love all my instruments, and hate the thought of selling anything, which I might have to do to get a few choice synths this year. But one thing I'll never sell is the Origin. Even if an Origin II gets released, this thing is just too useful, and an O II would have to do a LOT of things to make me think of getting rid of my Original.
To heck with this typing stuff, I want to make some noise. ;D
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Nicely put.
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The Origin is Arturia's Crown Jewel. It is without a doubt one of the best synths in production. The only actual problem with the Origin has nothing to do with the Origin itself; it's the competition and expectations that arise from products in the same playing field; ie, the Virus TI. I personally think that both are brilliant; just different approaches; and thus there's room for both.
I expect that development of the Origin will be done in fits and starts; which is of no concern. Who knows? New things may still be coming down the pike for the Origin 10 years from now.
It's a Crown Jewel; and I'm comfident that Arturia will treat it as such.
BTW:I own 2 Origins; so my money is where my mouth is.
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Hi Arturia,
Any update on 1.4 Beta?
Cheers
Ian
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It'd be nice to report on patient's condition once in a while... Is SHE ready to come home, or still in a COMA ? !!! I don't know whether to start planning for a welcome home party or make arrangments with the undertaker... :'(
leo
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The internal tests have brought a bunch of bugs that need a couple of week to fix. We also have some reliability problems with the new version of Origin Connection, so we may decide to publish a release without the enhancements that were planned for this application. The enhanced version of Origin Connection could be delivered later.
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Arturia,
For my money separate the updates, I'd be more than happy with the origin update prioritised, the connection later.
Ian
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Come on Arturia, have mercy... :(
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We have started a second run of internal tests. These tests showed some more bugs which are currently being fixed. However the bug list is getting really short now, but some of them are not minor at all and we do need to fix them, and then to run another bunch of tests before releasing anything. A couple of week or so maybe....
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So nice.