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Shepard-Risset continuous "ever rising" tones in the Audulus node-based digital modular synth/
Format: 4K + SOUND, duration 14 mins. The main synth sound exploration starts at 01:00.
Has up to four "octave" oscillators per Risset tone generator group, and two Risset tone generator groups can be combined with a phase shift to make even more interesting sounds. This video only shows the top-level control patch and explores sounds under the various controls and settings (the sub-patch machinery is not shown here).
00:00 - Introduction
00:15 - [SILENT] Thanks to Audulus LLC with link
00:25 - [SILENT] Only the top-level control patch is shown
00:35 - [SILENT] Plot of typical Risset frequencies in Mathematica
00:50 - [SILENT] Patch User Guide snapshots. Optionally pause to read.
00:55 - [SILENT] Apologies for the occasional audio "click"
01:00 - CHAPTER A: A single Risset tone generator group
01:05 - Quick view of the entire patch running.
01:35 - A single "octave" oscillator: meters and spectrum
02:20 - The DC Blocker
03:05 - With 2 "octave" oscillators and increased frequency range and effective period.
04:00 - With 3 "octave" oscillators and higher frequency range
04:40 - With 4 "octave" oscillators and even higher frequency range
05:30 - The Phasors driving various waveforms: Sin, Tri, SinSaw, Saw
06:35 - CHAPTER B: Combining Risset tone generator groups
06:40 - GLOBAL mode parameter controls
07:15 - LAYERED mode and combining groups with a time/phase offset
09:45 - LAYERED mode without GLOBAL mode on (decoupled parameters)
10:20 - Slew-limiting of the cycle time TT
10:30 - Exploration of the full Risset tone engine with LAYERED groups
10:50 - About the aims of the patch and relatively simple DSP use.
12:25 - The SinSaw reflected Sin x Saw with phase halving.
12:50 - The basic Sine in LAYERED mode with four oscillators per groups.
13:20 - The basic Sine with four oscillators in a single group.
13:50 - Thanks for watching! Like it if you Liked it.
14:15 - Webel IT Australia mini trailer.
14:20 - END
I might also make another video later with underlying theory explored in Wolfram Mathematica.
Apologies for some very slight "clicks" and "stutters", they are unavoidable (at least with the current implementation) when changing some parameters (some do have slew limiting to help reduce clicks). When actually using it (as opposed to demonstrating all of the controls) you usually just set it up and then let it run smoothly without fiddling with every parameter live.
It has not yet been decided whether the Audulus patch itself will be made available.
You have the permission of Webel IT Australia to use this video AS IS for non-commercial (strictly only) educational purposes with full attribution to Webel IT Australia as the video creator. Creation of derivate videos or presentations is NOT permitted, and recording of the synth sounds for use in other derivative creations is NOT permitted.
With thanks to the Audulus developers and community for this brilliant software and for making a free version available to the public!
DISCLAIMER: This educational presentation by Webel IT Australia is for solely non-commercial purposes and does not represent Audulus LLC.
[OOPS: There's a small typo at around 00:15 where it says Audulus LCC instead of Audulus LLC.]
© Copyright 2026 Darren R C Kelly (Webel IT Australia). All rights reserved.