Reason's "Subtractor" Synth

(kind of) Emulation of the "Subtractor" from Propellerheads Reason

(68 Votes)
1.0 (Updated 14 years ago)
532.6kB
June 06, 2009
Reaktor 5 or lower

DESCRIPTION

This is an emulation of Propellerheads "Subtractor", a polyphonic synthesizer based on subtractive and phase offset synthesis.
In fact this is no real emulation, because I only rebuilt the structure without any emulation of the specific sound. So it does only look and feel but not sound like Subtractor.

OSCILLATOR SECTION:
The oscillator section consists of
all in all 5 oscillators.
Each of the two main oscillators (Osc1 & 2) consist of one normal waveform and a copy of this, that can be phase-offset to the first one (for phase modes = "x" & "-"). Then, the two signals are subracted (for Phase Mode = "-") or multiplied (for Phase Mode = "x"). Setting Phase Mode to "o" turns the second oscillator off and just puts out the normal waveform.
The noise oscillator is mixed to Osc2, Osc1 can be mixed with Osc2 (now having the noise in it) using the Mix control.

FILTER SECTIONS:
After that, there are 2 Filters that can be linked. Filter 1 is multimode and has an own envelope, Filter 2 is a lowpass filter.

VOLUME SECTIONS:
All volumes are controlled by the volume envelope.
The master Level is the last control before the signal leaves the synth.

MODULATION SECTIONS:
Some parameters can be modulated by different sources:
- monophonic LFO (LFO1)
- polyphonic LFO (LFO2)
- extra envelope (Mod. Envelope)
- Velocity
- Modwheel
- Midi (Ext. Mod)
---------------------------------

CHANGES (in compare to the original Subtractor):

Improvements:
+ All oscillators can now work synced to gate now (using teh "Osc Sync"-button), so that same snapshots wont sound different,
when re-loading after changes (I experienced this issue using the original "Subtractor").
+ There now is a clip indicator above the master level control.

Restrictions:
- Legato mode only works in "Mono"-Mode.
- Polyphony settings can not be saved with snapshots (use "Mono"- or "Poly"-Mode to save at least this information inside snapshots).
- "low BW" option is not available. To save CPU costs, lower your sample rate and/or control rate
- only the four most important waveforms are available
- bad FM and ring mod sound
- there is no analog sound emulation at all, everything is fully digital
- current knob and fader values are only displayed in the "Current Value" box, not as a cursor tooltip/hint
---------------------------------

For more information & help look at the control-descriptions (hints) or contact me:
Simon.Klapper@gmx.de

Please also report bugs
or improvements you find out, i.e. according to the restrictions, so I can upload an improved version, or upload one yourself, but inform me about that. Thanks! :-)

COMMENTS  (22)

Goremall
1 year ago
This will always be one of my favorite Reaktor ensembles.
Artem Moroz
3 years ago
Thank YOU!!!
Luiza Carvalho
10 years ago
Yes, Malström!
Paul Timber
12 years ago
thx
kaka zaka
13 years ago
Thank you
Ruben Perez
13 years ago
not found :(
zaragoza Franck
13 years ago
great !!
Entheogen
14 years ago
Hot damn.. +10
Simon D Klapper
14 years ago
Thats funny, because (as i said in the introduction) i did not do any sound-shaping at all, just used the given modules.
Mark Bonnington
14 years ago
Simon, I prefer your ensemble's sound compared to Stephan's version. It has a warmth about it. If Stephan V's CPU-Saver tips can be implemented without affecting the sound, go for it. Otherwise, please leave your ensemble as it is.
Thomas Schumacher
14 years ago
Great!
GG.G SakabeaT
14 years ago
nice one dude!
Trevor Gavilan
14 years ago
Reaktor vs Reason??? come on! like if you could not tell who's gonna win...
Stephan Becker
14 years ago
I built the same synth some weeks ago. there's a much more CPU-friendly way of implementing the phase offset modulation. you don't need two synced oscillators per waveform, it's easier to use a delay module. the advantage of that is you can also use a sampler module with all the other subtractor waveforms (or others). your synth needs ~40% CPU with 8 voices at 88200 Hz on my computer (4x2.4 GHz), while my version needs only ~12% with the same settings. I'll upload my version to give you an idea how to save a lot CPU power.
Christopher Soulos
14 years ago
Phenomenal.
spencer b
14 years ago
crikey! thats quite a feat
David Waldman
14 years ago
I vote for Maelstrom.
Bertrand Antolin
14 years ago
Alright, Reaktor vs Reason !
Mark McDonald
14 years ago
Someone do a Thor!
Jedinhopy Xelon
14 years ago
Nice sounds. :)
Mark McDonald
14 years ago
That would be to good to be true. Is it possible?
Shai Levy
14 years ago
crazy :)
now