3
Minimax
Structure and Overview
Like the original, Minimax has an oscillator
section with three oscillators. Oscillator 3
can also serve as an LFO. The oscillator
signals are mixed with noise or an external
signal, if desired, in the mixer section. From
the mixer, the combined signal is sent to
an amplifier and a filter, each of which has
an associated envelope generator with
adjustable attack, release and sustain.
The quality of the algorithms is readily
apparent in all sections of the synthesizer.
The full-range oscillators produce signals
with extended highs giving you soaring
sound with great vitality and energy. We
also paid careful attention to the saturation
behavior of the mixer section, both for
internal and external signals. Saturation
gives the sound more ability to penetrate.
More power.
Although the goal of the development of
Minimax was to create an absolutely
faithful reproduction, we couldn’t resist
adding a few enhancements. The envelopes
have adjustable velocity and switchable
trigger behavior, and the normal low-note
priority can be switched instead to last-
note priority.
Our love of detail is also apparent in the
graphic front panel. The controls were
treated with particular care so that they
correspond exactly to the originals. If you
still have any of your old sound sheets,
you can set them up on the Minimax and
then store them as presets!
The filter, in particular, benefits from the
new algorithms. Although previous filters
had resonance, it was never as convincing
as true analog resonance. With digital filters
designers had to make sure that aliasing
would not develop during filter sweeps.
Therefore, many filters limit the resonance
range (or do not allow it to fully open) to
prevent the signal from exceeding the
aliasing threshold (the Nyquist frequency,
half the sample rate). Filter sweeps with
these filters are useful, but are less lively
than they could be. The Minimax filter is
completely convincing all down the line.
The filter has a unique liveliness and
produces all the resonance and distortion
you could ever wish for in a filter.
Resonance can be fully opened up and
sweeps are free of aliasing - even beyond
half the sampling frequency.
Finally, the envelope generators need not
shrink from comparison with their analog
counterparts either. Not only are they fast
- they reproduce the overall behavior of
the original with great accuracy.
