#

Young Monkey Studios

'young monkey' began as the vision of two musicians. Over a decade ago, it was just two people, an analog drum machine, two analog synthesizers, a Commodore 64 and lot of hoping and dreaming. Much has changed since then... 'young monkey' has grown to include a professional audio/video production facility, recording studio, creative design studio, and a hardware and software development studio. Projects have included film soundtracks, audio recordings and book publications to name just a few. We have even managed two TopTen alternative dance songs. Even through all that, one thing still holds it all together... 'young monkey' is a birthplace for new ideas and dreams.

'young monkey' has always been about creativity and originality. In order to meet this expectation of ourselves, we began developing custom software and hardware to facilitate creative ideas. There has been much interest in our developments and we have often been approached about our one-of-a-kind devices and software. With this in mind, we have started assembling the pieces... it is time to share dreams.

If you have dreams of your own or want more information about 'young monkey', contact us at:

                                    Internet
                                   ----------
                               info@youngmonkey.ca

                                     - or -

                                  dhomas@unb.ca

                                      Mail
                                     ------
                              young monkey studios
                               797 Mitchell Street
                                 Fredericton, NB
                                CANADA    E3B 3S8

## General Information

### Future Development

One important thing to note about 'young monkey' is that we use all of our software and hardware products ourselves. For this reason, our products will continue to evolve long into the future. All of our products are designed by people who use the products on a daily basis. We have included many time saving features developed through years of experience and put the features that are needed most often right at your fingertips.

We are very excited about what we have to offer, and look forward to helping others towards finding their own dreams. We are very open to suggestions and new ideas and hope to hear from others out there.

In addition to other software products, not listed here, we are currently developing low-cost DSP and MIDI hardware for integration with our software and for third party applications.

### Technical Support

We understand the frustrations of buying computer products and not being able to get needed support. We have been in that position ourselves.

'young monkey' will offer Internet support through EMail, a WWW Information System, FTP and more. We also have a couple surprises in the works. Of course... you can still send us letters through the postal service.

Free software updates will be available online as often as daily. If a bug is found, you will not have to wait six months, or more, for a new release. We will do our best to fix the problem and have an update online as soon as possible.

### Developers

To faciliate the need for our customers to develop their own ideas for integration in our products, 'young monkey' will offer several developer programs.

## General Product Information

### OS Compliant

All software code follows Amiga OS guidelines and rules to ensure OS compatibility.

### Intuitive Interfaces

User-friendly design: including WYSIWYG-like features that all programs should have, such as smart gadgets. For example: If a particular numeric entry gadget should not allow negative values, it will not let the user enter a negative sign, rather than changing it after you press enter. -or- If a gadget will have no effect at a particular time, it is disabled.

### External Control

Where applicable, all software will be extensively controllable through ARexx.

### Third Party Support

Where possible, support will be added for third party system enhancements, such as: MIDI libraries, graphics cards and audio hardware.

## Preliminary Detailed Product Information

Please note: not all features are listed and not all listed features will be ready for the first release, but will be available in following updates.

As well as operating independantly, a special software control system will allow integration of these programs within each other. For example: The ability to directly read waveform data from a sampler disk (via the 'Sampler Utility' module) into a waveform buffer within 'WaveFormer'.

## SIMthesizer

'SIMthesizer' is a waveform generator/modifier that combines mutiple synthesis technologies, including: analog, digital, wavetable, additive, subtractive, granular, frequency modulation, phase modulation, waveshaping, phonetic speech, Ghunöga, Re-Haus and more.

As well as generating new sounds, 'SIMthesizer's' extensive waveform modification features can be used to enhance existing sound sample data.

The 'SIMthesizer' design engine is very intuitive and can be easily understood by both novices and experts. Multiple components, called 'Elements', are arranged on a grid and joined together as 'SIMths'. Commonly used element configurations can be combined as macro elements, called 'modules'.

### Education

The simplicity of 'SIMthesizer' makes it an ideal educational tool, as well. Beginning with as few as 2 elements (Sound Source element + Output element) waveforms can be generated and visually/audibly studied. As the sound designer gains an understanding of audio basics, new elements can be added to create enhanced and more complex sound structures.

Many tutorials and sample 'SIMths' will be included.

### Emulation

In attempting to emulate existing synthesizer technologies, several important factors must be considered:

### Instability

Hardware components used in early analog synthesizers often colored sounds with parasitic variations. Though sometimes unwanted, these variations could be used to enhance sounds. Used properly, "thicker" and uncontrolled/unexpected, but desirable, harmonic content can be generated. Newer technologies no longer capture the element of surprise like the good old days: "ZAP! Sizzle! What happened. What it is doing. WOW! What a great sound!"

### Inherent Noise

All synthesizers contain some level of inherent noise, caused by parasitic imperfections in the electronic components. This noise is always present in the background and contributes to the instrument's signature 'sound'. As more studios turn to full digital recording, engineers are sometimes finding it necessary to introduce noise into digital recordings to get a particular 'feel'.

To better emulate these kinds of factors, 'SIMthesizer' includes several enhanced features:

### Parasitic Parameters

'SIMthesizer' allows the assignment of Parasitic parameters in several areas. This exciting feature provides the sound designer with the capability of creating subtle to extreme variations on built-in algorithms.

### Signature Profiles

'Noise' Signature Profiles of various manufacturer's products will be included as controllable parameters.

In keeping with 'young monkey' philosophy, every original copy of 'SIMthesizer' will have a different internal Parasitic factor. This ensures that sounds created on one copy of 'SIMthesizer' will not sound exactly the same as on another.

### Elements

Where applicable, elements have extensive parameter and modulation capabilities.

### Sound Sources

Oscillator: Sin/Cosine, Sawtooth/Triangle, Pulse Width Sample: External sound sample data file

Wavetable: Multi-sample loops
Phonetic Speech: Phonetics based waveform generation
Noise: Color controlled parametric equalization where noise spectrum

can be defined using an RGB palette selector. This feature provides the ability to create noise content other than the standard White/Pink.

- Modulation parameters: Pitch, symmetry, amplitude.

### Outputs/Monitors

Oscillocope, speaker, file, standard MIDI transfer.

### Envelopes

Fully controllable/programable Envelopes are available for modulation of Sound Sources, Wave Shapers, Filters and other Envelopes.

: Exponential, dampen, DC offset, gate, linear envelope

- Modulation parameters: amplitude.

### Mathematical Functions

These functions provide a means to mix and modify sounds.

: Sum, multiply, average, gain, integration, differentiation, cross-fade.

### Feedback / Echo / Delay

Multi-Element feedback registers allow generated signals to modulate themselves and/or other element's parameters.

### Filters

Provide a means of emphasizing/suppressing harmonic content.

: Low, high, band pass, notch reject, all pass.

- Modulation parameters: Cut-off frequency, resonance/Q

### Transforms

Allow direct modification of waverform shape using algorithms based on gamma curves, parabolas, sinusoids, linearity, non-linearities (such as diodes) and arbitrary shapes.

- Modulation parameters: dependant on the shaping algorithm.

### Clipping

Should any potential clipping occur at any point in the sound generation process, the 'element icon', where clipping would occur, is highlighted and the sound designer may examine the waveform and consider modifications. Because 'SIMthesizer' generates sounds in a higher resolution than the ouput waveform, clipping will not actually occur, but warnings will be generated to show elements where clipping would exist on the output waveform.

### Data Conversion

8/12/16/24/32 bit data conversion.

Raw, IFF-8SVX, AIFF, NeXT, Sun, Wave, U-Law, A-Law, AVR, Mac, IRCAM, Voc, SampleVision, etc.

## WaveFormer

'WaveFormer' is a waveform editing system designed to work standalone or in conjunction with professional sampling hardware and third party audio cards. Support for hard disk recording hardware is planned.

Includes many time saving features such as 'free-hand repair mode' which adjusts bad sample data. For example: given levels '0 5 10 32767 10 0', the level 32767 is very likely to be incorrect. To repair it, simply drag the mouse over the offending sample and it is adjusted to '0 5 10 5 10 0'.

### Features

### Waveform Transformation

Morphing, enhanced digital effects, Fourier analysis and transforms, free-hand edit, algorithm editing, cross-fading, percent complete indicator for intensive calculations, non-destructive (undo).

### Waveform Viewing

Simultaneous full and zoomed displays, multiple graph methods (Min/Avg/Max, Min/+Avg/-Avg/Max, Filled, Points, etc.), multi-colored, enhanced split-view (ideal for loop alignment).

### Auto-Location

Multiple definable increment/decrement values for scrolling, jump-to: start/end/mark/loop start/loop end/ range start/range end/last edit, auto locate: 0/min/max/range.

### Waveform Auditioning

Audible auditioning even while editing.

### Bookmarks

Multiple bookmarks can be visually/numerically defined, named and assigned as loop points/ranges/or just notes for future reference, on/off toggling.

### Clipboard

Each clip can be named and assigned to a temporary buffer or to disk storage, clipped ranges can be selected from a list of names for copying/pasting, non-destructive (undo).

### Looping

Smoothing, multi-loops, auto/manual looping, forward/reverse/ping pong.

### Waveform Editing

Free-hand edit, free-hand repair.

### Data Conversion

8/12/16/24/32 bit data conversion. Raw, IFF-8SVX, AIFF, NeXT, Sun, Wave, U-Law, A-Law, AVR, Mac, IRCAM, Voc, SampleVision, etc.

- Features, such as the number of waveform buffers, clips and bookmarks, are limited only by available memory and/or disk storage space.

  ## MIDI SYStem EXplorer

  'MIDI SYStem EXplorer' is an extensively configurable MIDI exploration system, including a patch editor, librarian, control system and much more...

  ### Features

  - Extensive customization allows the user to design standard interfaces for all MIDI products connected to the system.
  - Graphic interfaces are designed external to the main program. This minimizes memory requirements and increases the interface speed.
  - Just about everything is customizable, including: layout, fonts, gadgets, colors, images, menus, MIDI events, etc.
  - Allows the user to enter MIDI information from a device's user manual and configure a custom interface to access parameters.
  - Supports ALL MIDI events.
  - Patch/Librarian data is stored in MIDI standard format, for easy importing to other software.
  - Has the ability to edit individual parameters on devices that only support patch dumps.
  - MIDI communication can operate with realtime feedback and/or through user interaction.
  - Edits can be made without connection to a MIDI device, if required.
  - Includes lots of examples and common device interfaces, to get you started.

  ## Sampler Utility

  'Sampler Utility' provides the capability of transferring sample data between professional audio samplers and a computer.

  ### Features

  ### Data Exchange

  Disk (direct read/write of many professional sampler disk formats on standard Amiga disk drives), standard MIDI transfer. (SCSI communication is planned).

  ### Waveform Auditioning

  Audible auditioning of waveforms.

  ### Disk/Patch/Tone Information

  Disk name, patch/tone lists, parameter information, etc.

  ### Data Conversion

  8/12/16/24/32 bit data conversion.

  Raw, IFF-8SVX, AIFF, NeXT, Sun, Wave, U-Law, A-Law, AVR, Mac, IRCAM, Voc, SampleVision, etc.

  'young monkey', 'SIMthesizer', 'MIDI SYStem EXplorer', 'WaveFormer' and 'Sampler Utility' are copyrights of 'young monkey studios' and 'scott dhomas trenn'.