PCM Synths

PCM SYNTHS 1/2

PCM SYNTH 1 and 2 function identically. If you understand one, you understand the other. Having two, you can combine them for richer sounds, like piano with organ, or strings with flutes, or saws with tablas, it's up to you whether to use one, two or none, which sounds on each, and which effects and effects structure to use. You enable or disable the synth by clicking on the ON/OFF switch at the top right of the PCM SYNTH 1/2 module or the twin button near the top of the editor's main panel. You can quickly set the synth tone level (volume) and select the effects module to use for each synth, right on the module itself using the pull-down menu and with the level knob, or simply click on the module to open the PCM Synth parameters panel for more detailed editing possibilities.

The PCM SYNTH 1 or PCM SYNTH 2 synth modules look like this on the main editor panel:

These are the PCM SYNTH Modules.

The synth parameter settings pages, PCM Synth 1 is shown, both looks like this:

This is the PCM SYNTH parameters panel.

The following synthesizer sub-modules and their controls are available for each of the two synth modules:

Tone - Set the synth tone parameters.
PCM Synth
Pitch
Portamento
String level
Filter
Filter Cutoff
TVF
Velocity
Pitch ENV
TVA
LFO 1
LFO 2

More information about each of the sub-module settings follows.

Tone Parameters

The Tone sub-module allows you to specify the following synth tone parameter settings:

TONE SWITCH - Enable (ON) or disable (OFF) the synth. Tones that are turned “OFF” will not sound (they are muted).
TONE LEVEL - Set the volume level of synth tone in the mix of the four tone modules. Balance it here with the other synth, COSM and guitar tones levels.
PAN - Left/right in the stereo mix.
NUANCE SWITCH - Enable (ON) or disable (OFF) the System > GK > Nuance parameters to influence control of this synth.
LINE ROUTE - Select multi-effects (MFX), amplifier and modeling (Amp/Mod), or Bypass as effects options.
LEGATO - Enable (ON) or disable (OFF) slurring from note to note. When you play notes in a smoothly connected manner by hammering-on or pulling off, only the pitch will change, and no attack will be heard for the subsequently played note. The legato function can be used if CHROMATIC is ON, which can be set in the Pitch sub-module, described below.

PCM Synth

SYNTH TONE - Select which sound style tone to assign to the synth.

Pitch

CHROMATIC - Turn this “ON” if you want the tone to sound in chromatic steps. If this is “ON,” the pitch will change only in semitone steps, even if you “bend” a string.
OCTAVE - Shifts the tone’s pitch in steps of an octave. Range: -3 to +3 octaves.
PITCH SHIFT - Specifies the tone’s pitch (semitone steps, +/-2 octaves). Range: -24 to +24 semitone steps.
PITCH FINE - Specifies the tone’s pitch (in one cent steps; equivalent to 1/100 semitone). Range: -50 to +50.

Portamento

SWITCH - Three-way: ON/OFF/TONE, where TONE uses the setting most appropriate for the tone (e.g. Piano = OFF).
TYPE - Select RATE or TIME
RATE - The time required for the pitch change is proportionate to the amount of pitch change.
TIME - The pitch change will occupy the same length of time regardless of the amount of pitch change. Use the TIME knob to set the time value.

String level

STRING 1-6 - Set the output level for each string, from 0 to 100, independently for each synth..

Filter

Filter Types

OFF - The filter will not be used.
LPF - Low Pass Filter. The region above the cutoff frequency will be cut, making the sound more mellow.
BPF - Band Pass Filter. The region around the cutoff frequency will remain, and the regions above and below will be cut. This is a useful way to create a distinctive sound.
HPF - High Pass Filter. The region below the cutoff frequency will be cut. This is appropriate for percussive sounds with a distinctive high-frequency component.
PKG - Peaking Filter. The region around the cutoff frequency will be emphasized. You can produce a wah effect by using an LFO to cyclically change the cutoff frequency.
LPF2 - Low Pass Filter 2. The region above the cutoff frequency will be cut, but the filter sensitivity will be half that of LPF. This is suitable for simulating instruments such as acoustic piano.
* If “LPF2” is selected, the RESONANCE setting will be unavailable.
LPF3 - Low Pass Filter 3. The region above the cutoff frequency will be cut, but the filter sensitivity will change according to the cutoff frequency. This is suitable for simulating acoustic instruments, but even with the same TVF ENVELOPE settings, it will produce a sound with a different nuance than LPF2.
* If “LPF3” is selected, the RESONANCE setting will be unavailable.
TONE - The setting most appropriate for the tone will be used.

Filter Knobs

CUTOFF - Specifies the frequency at which the filter will begin to be applied. Range: -50 to +50.
RESONANCE - Boosts the region near the cutoff frequency, giving the sound a distinctive character. Raising this value excessively may cause oscillation and distortion. Range: -50 to +50.

TIP: Try assigning one of these to the GK knob for those Kieth Emerson or Brian Eno moments on long sustained synthy sounds! Yowza!

Filter Cutoff

VELO SENS - Specifies the amount by which your playing strength will vary the cutoff frequency. With positive “+” values, stronger playing will raise the cutoff frequency. Range: -50 to +50.
VELO CURVE - FIX/1-7/CURVE: Specifies the curve by which your playing strength will affect the cutoff frequency. Normally, you should choose “TONE.” The optimal curve for each tone will be used. If you don’t want the cutoff frequency to be affected, choose “FIX”. The seven curves are shown below:
KEY FOLLOW - Specifies how the pitch of the note you play will affect the cutoff frequency. With positive “+” values, the cutoff frequency will rise as you player higher notes. Range: -200 to +200.
NUANCE SENS - Specifies how nuances of your performance (see also: Using the Nuance Parameters, below ) will affect the filter cutoff frequency. Range: -50 to +50.

TVF

ROLAND's online glossary defines TVF as Time Variant Filter, the component within a tone or partial that controls the frequency content of its audio. The following TVF parameters are available in the GT-100:

ENV DEPTH - Adjusts the depth of the TVF envelope. Higher values will increase the change produced by the TVF envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
ATTACK (Time) - Adjusts the attack time of the filter envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
DECAY (Time) - Adjusts the decay time of the filter envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
SUSTAIN (Level) - Adjusts the sustain level of the filter envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
RELEASE (Time) - Adjusts the release time of the filter envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
ATTACK VELOCITY (Sens) - Specifies how your playing strength will affect the filter attack time. With positive “+” values, stronger playing will shorten the attack time. Range: -50 to +50.
ATTACK NUANCE (Sens) - Specifies how nuances of your performance (p. 28) will affect the filter attack time. Range: -50 to +50.

Velocity

LEVL VEL SEN - Specifies the amount by which your playing strength will vary the TVF. With positive “+” values, stronger playing will raise the filter. Range: -50 to +50.
VEL CURVE TYPE - FIX/1-7/CURVE: Specifies the curve by which your playing strength will affect the TVF. Normally, you should choose “TONE.” The optimal curve for each tone will be used. If you don’t want the TVF to be affected, choose “FIX”. The seven curves are shown below:

Pitch ENV

ENV VEL SENS - Specifies how your playing strength will affect the depth of the pitch envelope. With positive “+” values, stronger playing will increase the change produced by the pitch envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
ENV DEPTH - Adjusts the depth of the pitch envelope. Higher settings will increase the change produced by the pitch envelope. Range: -12 to +12.
ATTACK TIME - Adjusts the attack time of the pitch envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
DECAY TIME - Adjusts the decay time of the pitch envelope. Range: -50 to +50.

TVA

ATTACK TIME - Adjusts the attack time of the amp envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
DECAY TIME - Adjusts the decay time of the amp envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
SUSTAIN LEVEL - Adjusts the sustain level of the amp envelope. Range: -50 to +50.
RELEASE TIME - Adjusts the release time of the amp envelope. Range: -50 to +50.

The following features can only be seen and adjusted if Single Window Layout is disabled (OFF) in the GT-100 FloorBoard - Preferences panel under the menu item Settings > Preferences > Window (editor restart required):

ATTACK VEL SENS - Specifies how your playing strength will affect the attack time. With positive “+” values, stronger playing will shorten the attack time. Range: -50 to +50.
ATTACK NUANCE SENS - Specifies how nuances of your performance (p. 28) will affect the attack time of the level.
LEVEL NUANCE SENS - Specifies how nuances of your performance (p. 28) will affect the volume. Range: -50 to +50.
RELEASE MODE -

1 - The next note will be sounded while maintaining the release of a previously played note sounding on the same string.
2 - Any previously played note sounding on the same string will be forcibly decayed before the next note is sounded

LFO 1 and LFO 2

LFO 1 and LFO 2 work alike, but can be configured independently for creating more interesting effects. The following parameters can be configured.

RATE - Specifies the LFO rate (speed). Range: 0 to 100.
BPM - Makes the LFO rate synchronize to the tempo in units of the note value you specify.
TONE - The LFO rate will be set appropriately for the tone.

LFO1/2 PITCH DEPTH OFF - Specifies how the LFO will affect the pitch. Choose “OFF” if you don’t want the LFO to affect the pitch.
LFO1/2 TVF DEPTH OFF - Specifies how the LFO will affect the cutoff frequency. Choose “OFF” if you don’t want the LFO to affect the TVF.
LFO1/2 TVA DEPTH OFF - Specifies how the LFO will affect the volume. Choose “OFF” if you don’t want the LFO to affect the TVA.
LFO1/2 PAN DEPTH OFF - Specifies how the LFO will affect pan (stereo position). Choose “OFF” if you don’t want the LFO to affect pan.

Using the Nuance Parameters

The Nuance parameters detect when you play your guitar/bass with a soft touch, and apply a corresponding change to the sound of the PCM tone.

For example, if CUTOFF NUANCE SENS is set to a positive “+” value, the cutoff frequency of the PCM tone will be lowered when you play a muted or a finger-picked note, producing a softer tone quality.

As another example, you might use PCM TONE 1 to create the sound that will be heard when you pluck the string with a pick, and PCM TONE 2 to create the sound that will be heard when you pluck the string with your finger. Then set the Nuance parameters as follows, allowing you to switch between PCM TONE 1 and 2 by alternating your performance technique.

PCM TONE 1 settings
TONE CATEGORY/NUMBER: the tone sounded for a note played with a pick
LEVEL NUANCE SENS: +50

PCM TONE 2 settings
TONE CATEGORY/NUMBER: the tone sounded for a note played with your finger
LEVEL NUANCE SENS: -50

To enable the Nuance parameters, turn NUANCE SW “ON” and adjust each NUANCE SENS parameter as desired.
If you want to adjust the nuance so it’s appropriate for the guitar or bass you’re using, set the SYSTEM > GK SETTING parameters NUANCE DYNAMICS and NUANCE TRIM (for more information, see owner's manual p. 75).