No actually what i meant is that a logarithmic waveshaping is applied
to the samples that are stored on ROM, think of it as strong
compression. They do this to maximize the 8-bit's that are
used....with 8-bits, only 256 levels of dynamic range can be attained.
Compare this with 16-bits which has 65,536 levels of dynamic range
(dynamic range = possible amplitudes of soundwave).

So they compress all the sound, before it goes on ROM using a
logarithmic curve. Afterwards, the dynamics are restored using an
anti-log curve (opposite of log curve)......basically, just a
resistor/capacitor envelope (Check out IC38 & IC39).

I'm actually a little dissapointed that they didn't use mulaw (u-law)
companding as many earlier ROM drum machines used (linn drum, DMX, DX
etc.), as this is true algorithmic waveshaping....Roland cheaped out i
guess using non-companding D/A convertors & resistor-ladder D/A's.

So, yes..... i think creating new sounds is possible, once i've
figured out the exact curve to apply to the sound samples...they
should sound as good (or better) than the original sounds.

Cheers

Ryan

--- In tr-707@yahoogroups.com , "kingconga42" <kingconga8@...> wrote:
>
> --- In tr-707@yahoogroups.com , "plutoniq9" <Plutonique9@> wrote:
> >
> > Well, maybe not that much of a difference. More noise & they'd have to
> > be compressed again. Actually, it's becoming easier the notion of ROM
> > replacments, I'm excited.....
>
> You mentioned before that the sound roms use "exponential envelopes."
> If you made custom roms from samples, could they have normal envelopes
>
> -justin
>