My First Plugin: programming the Korg NTS-1 (part 2)

One of the main reasons I got the NTS-1 is so I could play with the Korg 'logue SDK. In this video, I'm finally writing my first plugin. This is what I think is possibly the easiest MODFX modulation effect, a simple Noise Gate.
Hello World: programming the Korg NTS-1 (part 1) • Hello World: programmi...
Music Gear List: kit.co/o0/musique-electronique
Video Gear List: kit.co/o0/music-video-gear

[@McTroyd]

I come from (more of) a development background than a music one, which was a big part of why an NTS-1 now occupies space on my desk. As a lifelong synth fanboy, the idea of being able to directly manipulate & modify the engine under the hood is attractive. Synth manufactures are usually very careful with the secret sauce that makes the synth. Korg being even *this* open with their platform is a stunning change, and I like it. So, thanks for the primer, and I look forward to more!

[@ghostandiv]

Have u explored the Korg "Custom panel" as well?

[@McTroyd]

@@ghostandiv I've seen it, and it looks like a pretty neat idea. So far though, I'm keeping to the stock front panel. I've been exploring MIDI SysEx messaging to deal with the lack of preset storage, and communicate with my computer + keyboard.

[@joelluth6384]

Thanks for this! This was a great intro to this process, really whets my appetite for digging into it. Couple suggestions though for the audio demo: - Show the NTS-1 display, would be neat to see how the parameters in the code show up when you're adjusting them on the unit - Cut the background music, it kind of overwhelmed the demo audio

[@Marathongadas]

Very clear. Thanks for sharing.

[@exequiel21]

thanks you!I have to do more research on programming the NTS-1. C'est cool ce petit synth

[@strangersun7721]

Nice. Thanks! You're a great maker.

[@almightyEsquilax]

Thanks, you definitely demystified that!

[@chadfoley]

very helpful

[@francoisrousseau7893]

First thanks a lot for taking the time to break the ice - i assume that each audio samples is signed - to make the code "cleaner" should you use the absolute value to compare against your threshold ? i'm asking to get a better understand of the input values to that PROCESS function. What is the range to audio samples inputs ? thanks again Olivier !

[@markfelixm]

Thank you very much! I've wanted to try making custom effects but didn't know where to start with my limited experience. Are there any resources to better understand how an audio signal is processed by the NTS-1 and how to program it for desired manipulation? E.g. How would you make a simple filter using this gate patch as a starting point.

[@OlivierOzoux]

This is why you get a block of samples, and not just a single one. anything that needs to work in the frequency domain is a bit more complicated, because you'll need to convert that block to extract frequencies from it.

[@McTroyd]

@markfelixm Korg uses Pulse Code Modulation, which takes either 44,100 or 48,000 samples per second (I forget which). Each of those samples is stored in a 2-byte (16-bit) "word." So, a raw PCM 1-second sample of audio would be 48000 * 16 bits = 768,000 bits, or 96,000 bytes, of data. Korg takes a much smaller sample than 1 second to process the audio, but the math is still the same -- you end up with a block of data that gets processed with the program you wrote as audio passes through the synth's memory. Understanding PCM is key to understanding how the audio signal is processed; more info at Wikipedia here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation. In the example you give of writing a frequency filter, you'd need to take that data and apply some math in your program -- at a minimum, you're going to need trigonometry to understand the waveform ( remember SOHCAHTOA?: www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/sohcahtoa.html ). In many cases, what's being done is a function called a Fourier transform ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourier_transform ), which essentially breaks an incoming waveform into "buckets" of different frequencies (in the same way a graphic equalizer breaks out different audio bands). A low-pass filter, for example, would then identify and pass the frequencies below the threshold you set, and block frequencies above that point. Of course, there's then the small matter of learning C/C++, which is an old semantic-laden language from an era when a computer would have only bytes (yes, just bytes) of memory. Korg is using it here because, as difficult as it is to learn, it's extremely fast, making it possible to run these complex algorithms in what we perceive to be real-time. So, obviously, there's a lot of layers to it, but if you take each problem individually it's easy enough to get there. The reward for doing so is threefold: you can manipulate your instrument in ways other musicians can only dream, you can practically apply all of that math you were probably subjected to in school, and you learn a language that virtually all computers speak (synthesizers or not). Nothing ventured nothing gained, right?

[@laberinttto]

Hi, is there any link to get your plugin? thanks!

[@thephonemenuk6866]

s it possible to copy plugs in from a Korg NTS1 as ive lost the orginal and would like to put a copy on another NTS1 thanks

[@re8et355]

Olivier, is it possible to install on Linux the sdk?? ty Sergent!!

[@OlivierOzoux]

Yes. The dev environment runs on Mac / Windows / Linux it’s in the docs.

[@droidon]

amazing, is your plugin available?i would love to use it :)

[@OlivierOzoux]

I think it's way too primitive to actually be useful, but I should still post it to Github as an example. I'll update the description once I've done that.

[@droidon]

@@OlivierOzoux thanks for that, a gate function is something i still want to see on the nts-1, keep it up!

[@wul01]

Olivier Ozoux did you post the code to github?

[@jevogroni4829]

I can see why some could be frustrated or disappointed. If you aren't a programmer, or if you aren't a synth guy, the video moves a little fast. Have to pause and take notes and go learn and catch up. Very nice video though.

[@OlivierOzoux]

Thanks, personally I prefer to hit pause and catch up than those videos that are slow and force you to watch at 2x or constantly skip ahead. I’m glad you found it useful. I need to get back to my NTS-1 and try something a bit more advanced.

[@ericfricke4512]

I'm not sure why someone would watch this if they aren't a programmer and/or synth enthusiast.

[@vasil3089]

Not a fan of the glow in the dark ornaments [PTSD] but other than that, thanks.

[@nicholasbrewer2394]

I was hoping that it was easier to program it takes away the fun

[@OlivierOzoux]

In reality audio programming is pretty hard, I chose a gate, because that's the simplest thing you can implement that actually sounds like a real thing, but for most programs you'll have to handle converting a block of samples which are just amplitudes, into the frequency domain before you can do anything useful.

[@stevewoywitka3258]

Thanks for making it easy korg.... I'm selling it

[@OlivierOzoux]

Was it something I said? 😜

[@stevewoywitka3258]

@@OlivierOzoux no just not the programming guy and an editor for korg products have been you know bread an butter but this one I have no chances with