Adding a distortion knob

[pcs800]

I added a saturator effect to use as distortion (is there a better option?). It shows up at the bottom of the FX tree. I want it to be at the top, or at very least, before the output, which should be last.
When I try to drag and drop it, it just jumps back to where it started.
I am in edit mode.

[d.healey]

@pcs800 Dragging modules in the tree is a tile game :) Every time you drag one it will jump to the bottom (except for EQs which will stay at the top). So you need to drag every module, except the Saturator to the bottom.

You can also use containers in your tree to give you a structure where you can add effects at different levels.

[pcs800]

@d-healey Well that sounds fun :-|
You'd think the dev would change that.

[pcs800]

@d-healey Is there a better nodule or procedure to create a distortion knob? The saturation raises the volume significantly when saturation of pregain is applied.
Or should I put a limiter in line right after it?

[griffinboy]

@pcs800

You'll want to compensate with decreasing volume after. Limiting or clipping the output should be an option to the user

[d.healey]

@pcs800 said in Adding a distortion knob:

You'd think the dev would change that.

We lasted 8 years without being able to move modules at all! you came in during a golden age :p

You can also just add it directly at the top of the chain by right-clicking on an existing module and selecting add before this one

[pcs800]

@d-healey Oh, that might be what I want to do, thanks.
@griffinboy How do i compensate with decreasing volume proportionately?

[griffinboy]

@pcs800

Not possible unless you're going to write the dsp math for the distortion yourself! The best you can do is feed in an 'expected signal' and then figure out for certain distortion values, how much you need to decrease volume to keep it level.

You can use scriptnode or the hise script to control the compensation based on an array or curve.

It'll be some kind of curve, not linear.

[pcs800]

@griffinboy And I have no idea how to do that.
Before I started using HISE, I was making instruments that ran in Kontakt, using Kontakt GUI maker. It had a distortion effect you could add that just added distortion, not overall volume. I really need that to happen in these plugins I am making.
If anyone is willing to help with scripting, since I am new to that too.

[griffinboy]

@pcs800

mmm yeah, Hise is a bit more involved, it's a step up from Kontakt in terms of complexity.

Were you using KSP in your kontakt instruments previously?
If you were, you'll have less issue doing what I said.

If not, you've got a bunch to learn here!

[pcs800]

@griffinboy said in Adding a distortion knob:

Were you using KSP in your kontakt instruments previously?

Since I don't know what that is, I'm gonna go with no :-)

So, I actually added a limiter in line after the saturator and set it up so the overall volume doesn't change when saturation is added, and it worked!

[griffinboy]

@pcs800

haha, it will, but try it on drums.

You will now get heavy limiting, potentially adding weird dynamics.

It may be what you are after. Make sure to test on a bunch of program material to make sure its doing what you intended.

[pcs800]

@griffinboy Actually, a multiout drum instrument is in my future plans for Hise, so thanks for the warning.
I do have three developers on my team who are totally familiar with juce, javascript, and C++. So I am sure I'll be bugging them when the time comes.

[pcs800]

@griffinboy Yikes!
Having added the saturator and limiter seems to have added a bunch of latency to the plugin.
I exported and opened it in my daw project which also contains a drum track that the instruments plays along with, and it is about 100ms behind.
Anyone have insight on latency being introduced?

[griffinboy]

@pcs800

I'm sure that's the lookahead on the limiter.

There is a hisescript command to compensate for latency

[pcs800]

@griffinboy I will look around for that. And yes, I took out the limiter and the latency went away.

[Lindon]

@pcs800 just use a faust limiter - tis less (much les)) latency

[pcs800]

@Lindon Isn't that involving adding code instead of adding it with the gui editor?

[Lindon]

@pcs800 said in Adding a distortion knob:

@Lindon Isn't that involving adding code instead of adding it with the gui editor?

yes - if you are looking to build a meaningful and class compliant product without writing code I fear you will be disappointed.

[griffinboy]

@Lindon
@pcs800

Indeed, but everyone has to start somewhere. My first Hise vst was a sine generator with a pretty UI and a pitch knob.

Start with getting a programmed interface to control what already exists in Hise.
Get a UI working for your current project.

Next, explore scriptnode if you want to take it further.

Then Faust, snex or c++ would be the next step.