::|CONTENTS
- How to do it
- Why does it work?
- Small list of VRC7 examples
OPLLs can feel pretty limited in how much control you have over their sounds. 15 preset patches, and only 1 custom one can be used at a time. There's not much leeway for getting unique sounds out of them. If only you could mix some of the sounds together...
...except you can! With the power of...
Patch Switching!!!
Patch switching allows you to get more sounds out of your measly patches by combining some of their properties.
So.... how do you do it?
How to do it
While the specifics will vary from software to software, here's a general idea of what you should do:
1) Play a patch, any one so long it isn't the user one (in your pattern editor)
2) On the next frame/tick, play a second patch BUT make sure you don't reset the ASDR on this note (also not the user one)
If done correctly, congrats! You have successfully usedpatch switching, giving you a new sound!
The thing that makes this powerful is that, since you did just swap between 2 stock patches, it doesn't count as a user one, and so you can use as many as you like, all at the same time!
But....
Why does it work?
I don't understand the nitty gritty of it myself, but essentially, when you swap to the 2nd patch, without reseting the ADSR, for some reason only certain parameters get reset correctly, and you end up with some weird hybrid of the 2.
Small list of VRC7 examples
In order to fully enjoy this, it's best if you experiment on your own. However, here are a few (VRC7) examples:
- Clarinet (05) -> Flute (04): White Noise. Perfect for percussion!
- Xylophone (0A) -> Bass Guitar (0D): Sine wave! Nice for ambience or a soft kick drum!
- Clarinet (05) -> Piano (03): Somewhat distorted bass sound
These are a few examples. Now go and experiment!
