Program Mode
The Algorithm (ALG) Page
6-23
Algorithm Basics
Each of the 59 available algorithms represents a preset signal path. With our new Dynamic VAST
feature, you can edit any preset signal path and make your own, unique algorithms, but that will
be explained further on in this section. Take a look at Algorithm 1 in the diagram below. It’s one
of the simplest algorithms.
The DSP functions are represented by the rectangular blocks. The lines connecting the blocks
together indicates the flow of the digital signal from left to right; they represent what we call the
“wire” of the algorithm: the actual physical path that the signal follows through the algorithm.
Selecting different algorithms can be compared to connecting different DSP functions with
different wiring diagrams.
Think of the left side of each block as its input, and the right side as its output. Depending on the
algorithm, the signal may split into two wires, enabling part of the signal to bypass certain
portions of the algorithm. Split wires may rejoin within the algorithm, or they may pass all the
way through as split signals. If the last block has two wires at its output, we call it a double-
output algorithm. If it has one wire, it’s a single-output algorithm, even if there are two wires in
earlier portions of the algorithm.
Each block of the algorithm represents a certain function in the signal path. In every non-
cascaded algorithm (see
Alt Input for Algorithms (Cascade Mode)
below), the signal flows first
through a one-stage DSP function that controls the pitch of the samples in the keymap (this
function is represented as a block labeled
PITCH
in the upper right-hand corner of the display).
In fact, the first DSP function in each algorithm always controls pitch, even though it doesn’t
apply in every instance and, as will be explained later in this section, it is bypassed in cascaded
algorithms. Similarly, the last DSP function always controls the final amplitude of the signal (this
function is represented as a block labeled
AMP
in the upper right-hand corner of the display).
The number of
function-parameters
a DSP function can have depends on the relative size of its
function-block on the Algorithm page (four slots is the largest block size.) For instance, a
function-block that is three slots long can have up to three function-parameters, whereas a
function-block that is two slots long can have up to two function-parameters. For each function-
parameter, there’s a corresponding “subpage” on both the DSPCTL and DSPMOD pages. On the
DSPCTL subpages, there are
fine adjust
and
hard-wired parameters
with which you can make fixed
adjustments to the function-parameter. On the DSPMOD subpages, there are
programmable
parameters
that you can assign to any control source in the Controller List to modulate the
function-parameter. The above italicized parameter-types are described in
Common DSP Control
Parameters
on page 6-24
. More information on the subpages can be found in
The DSP Control
(DSPCTL) Page
on page 6-29
and
The DSP Modulation (DSPMOD) Page
on page 6-30
.
Highlighting any of the function-blocks on the ALG page and pressing the
Edit
button takes you
to the DSPCTL page.