Understanding the PCM Synth: Every Function Explained

This video should help you understand how the PCM Synth works so you can take full advantage of its features.

[@brockhardentertainment]

I failed to go into detail on a couple settings so here is a little more info for the filters: Inverted: Reverses the direction of modulation. If a regular envelope moves up, inverted moves down. Bandpass Filter: As a low pass filter will only let low frequencies in and a high pass only high frequencies, a band pass will let multiple frequencies in according to the parameters you set with the cutoff and Res sliders. Cutoff: Blocks certain frequencies of a sound depending on the position of the slider and setting (low/high/band). Res (resonance): Controls a narrow band of frequencies near the cutoff level where the sound is amplified. Works hand in hand with the cutoff.

[@Bluegofuccincrazy]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@joedarrow5422]

Question, what generates sound in the 8 bit synth? I saw the developer video on the 8 bit synth but didn't understand what actually makes the sound, what is actually making the crunch, growl, noise and bleep sounds?

[@brockhardentertainment]

@@joedarrow5422 there is an oscillator within it but it is using mathematics to generate what sound the oscillator produces. I believe there are actually 2 oscillators since you can morph between the A and B knob. Within EVERY synthesizer, there is an oscillator. It's the heart of the synthesizer. 8 bit synth can be very confusing but you can do some research on chiptune synths for more information if you are interested, as they are often referred to as chiptune synths.

[@joedarrow5422]

@@brockhardentertainment cool, so it's basically a chip-tune synth? I like researching the actual hardware Synths that these are modelled after, like the sawsynth being like a jp-8000, the KS synth is a version of Karplus-Strong string modelling synthesis, and I think the subsynth is basically a wavetable synth, right? Just wondered if the 8 bit synth uses the same principles as like general chip tune Synths, or like the old C-64 keyboards?

[@joedarrow5422]

@@brockhardentertainment not trying to bug you man. Like I said I've learned producing and done everything by myself. No one else ever to talk to about music making, let alone Caustic specifically

[@zombeie]

I am your subscriber and I like the way you described it, very nice and thank you!

[@brockhardentertainment]

You subscribe, I describe, it all works out!

[@Bluegofuccincrazy]

You should do tutorials on how all the effects work specifically the Parametric EQ,Cabinet simulator,Limiter,and static flanger maybe even some on the compressor and distortion.. Your tip videos really come in clutch.. not a lot of in depth tutorials about how great C3 can be for producing bro so I appreciate the uploads 🔥✊🏾

[@brockhardentertainment]

A few people have asked about these things. I would like to go into some of the effects, how they work, what they are doing internally to your sound and the cool things you can do with them. Thanks for the request!

[@s.gharavi1614]

Pitch is not speed, but they are related in that when the pitch is adjusted the length of the sample changes. So good pitch shifting requires keeping the sample length the same.

[@brockhardentertainment]

Yeah I believe the pitch function inside the WAV editor it doesn't change the sample size but just adding a sample to the keyboard will change the speed if you play higher or lower.

[@fivestars8973]

Very informative, thanks

[@joedarrow5422]

Great stuff, Brock. Becoming a big fan of your videos! Plz plz do a deep dive on EQ, both the master and the one in the FX. EQ has seemed very mystical too me, lol. Would love to use it to its fullest potential also. You explain things the greatest! The distortion video blew my hair back, I've always LOVED distortion but didn't know it changes the signal to a square! Sooo enlightening. You the man, Brock.

[@brockhardentertainment]

I could probably do a general tutorial on it but EQing is a very hard thing to learn and use properly but I think I could go through the basics of it. Might take a while but I'll try to get something started. A lot of people are asking for stuff. I appreciate the request, let's me know what people are looking for.

[@joedarrow5422]

@@brockhardentertainment hey alright! Up early too? I'm just going through all your Caustic videos, man this is great stuff. So glad you're still doing tutorials on this ancient app, doesn't this thing have the greatest potential? Just started using it on iOS now, I just got the newest iPad. You know ive taught myself everything I know about producing and beat making, so your tutorials are like production class, lol. But seriously, you have the very best and most informative videos on ANY instrument on KZbin.... Hope your channel grows and you have all the resources and time to continue making these, man. Wish you all the best and success with what you're doing. 👍

[@joedarrow5422]

@@brockhardentertainment also, really wanting to get into this sampler playing my own sounds, not just presets. I'm just started using Caustic on iOS now from Android, how do you get the samples into the editor(when you hit 'sample' on the PCM Synth interface?

[@brockhardentertainment]

@@joedarrow5422 yeah this can be very time consuming and I'm doing everything for free but I'm learning as well. Many of my viewers have taught me stuff or have peaked my interest to research things.

[@brockhardentertainment]

@@joedarrow5422 you have to import them. Let's say you have a song on your ipad and you want to sample the drums. First, make sure the song is in a WAV format (mp3 wont import into caustic). Once the song is a WAV, hit "Load" within the Editor and you can navigate to where you have the song stored within your ipad. Select the song and it will import into the editor. Once you crop what you want, its a good idea to save it and it will now be stored within the editor folder of Caustic.

[@Caseyafi]

Thanks

[@brockhardentertainment]

Yep, let me know if you u want me to cover anything else in Caustic.

[@SLPGroundSoundMusic]

using one shots samples and stretching by playing them like if its a full sf2 instrument file, its not necessary using it or doing it wrong , basically that's how 808 samples are used in trap most of the time, the trick to use one shots sample when it comes to sound streach on the caustic pcm and laying the sounds together melodically and making it sound good and on key together when laying them together and the trick to that is to have every sample starting on the same key, if you going to start using a sample that was on F flat, the next sample that you going use should be on F flat too, any sample, piano, strings, brass, bass, voice ect, every sample should be recorded on the same key note so when you playing and stretching it plus laying the samples together technically it shouldn't sound bad and off key as long they're on the same key, also just like an 808 sample, stretching usually sounds good between an oct up and oct down, so when playing a one shot sample like an instrument make sure to stay between an oct up and down, and yes playing one shot sound samples as an instrument its not doing it wrong.in my opinion because it has been done from the beginning of sampling and it works, that's if you know what you doing !

[@brockhardentertainment]

Yes I agree. I should have worded it differently, because it's really not wrong. It's just done differently. I used this example because I see a lot of people using a random note and since it automatically goes on C4, they leave it there and they start using it like an instrument. Key note is extreamly important. Thanks for taking the time to explain this side of sampling. I've learned quite a bit from you over these last 6 months.

[@SLPGroundSoundMusic]

@@brockhardentertainment yes key note is the most important thing acknowledge when it comes to one shots samples and yes using a random sample on the wrong key its what some people are doing wrong !! and by the way i also have learned a thing or two from you so yes we all can learn from each other that is one of reasons why i enjoy watching you video, so always keep doing what you do !

[@DECIMA1]

Interesting stuff very informative

[@brockhardentertainment]

Thank you.

[@Impactproductions_beats]

Wow the PCM synth is the best synthesizer in caustic 3 I can do more than I expected

[@brockhardentertainment]

It can do quite a bit but I dont know why the developer named it with the word Synth in it since it technically isn't a synthesizer. A synthesizer can generate it's own sound while a Sampler relys on a pre-recorded piece of digital audio. It can start to get a little confusing since a sampler can manipulate the sounds using envelopes and filters the way a Synthesizer does.

[@Impactproductions_beats]

@@brockhardentertainment I agree with you, it should have been named PCM sampler

[@mattnewman6049]

Brock I need your help. I'm using caustic app on my Samsung galaxy S 20. I'm doing great on caustic but. When I try to open sample editor on vocoder or PCM and tap record, nothing happens. No signal on the signal bar on the right of the window from my mic on my phone...really need this to work. Cheers

[@brockhardentertainment]

quit the app and plug in your mic before you open it back up. Try that for now, im at work so i cant help in depth right this minute. Also you can try restarting your phone and trying it again. Sometimes the Midi controller wont work if you plug it in after the app has started so maybe that is what is happening with the mic. I just tried to record something on my phone and it worked the first time but after i closed the WAV editor and opened it again it wouldnt work, so i closed caustic, opened it again and it worked. So try the first method i mentioned.

[@mattnewman6049]

Wow thanks for your response. I don't use a midi controller or external mic, just the mic on my phone. I've had to find a voice recorder app that records .wav ASR works good. Then I move the files into the the caustic samples folder and that is working but a bit of a process. I'm learning how to do the same on the PCM so watching this vid again. This is really helpful. Thanks

[@brockhardentertainment]

@@mattnewman6049 Ok, i use an app called Parrot if i need to record vocals but i do have an external mic if i need it. Your phone's mic is actually pretty darn good but it will pick up an incredible amount of room tone so sometimes you need to run a noisegate through the recording. Caustic has a noisegate feature in the wav editor but you can easily ruin your recording if you use it too much.

[@Assortment54321]

Would making every key a new sample be overkill? I used to do that. But im over thinking it. Lol

[@brockhardentertainment]

Ideally it would be better but you probably wouldnt really notice a difference. I go every 2 semis if you are worried about it but it will take a long time to program and you probably wont notice that big of difference.

[@galados6818]

Is there a way I can load PCM synth files into my DAW(FL Studio) using a VST?

[@brockhardentertainment]

Not that I know of. Usually you can load .sf2 files into a sampler that's in your DAW. For instance, an .sf2 file will load in the PCM synth but I dont know how to convert the pcmsynth file into an sf2. Maybe see if there is a plugin that converts files into .sf2's? That might work.

[@galados6818]

@@brockhardentertainment That ought to narrow it down, certainly. Thank you so much.

[@jack54guy]

Why is my comment being deleted

[@brockhardentertainment]

I have no idea, what did it say? Try and post it again. I don't delete any of the comments.