KAWAI Gmega / K11
Overview

DMS2

DMS2 (Digital Multi Spectrum 2) is basically a PCM synthesizer with some deeper synthetic features.

It has two classes of waveforms - PCM and DC (Hence Multi Spectrum). DC (Digital Cyclic) waves are single cycle loops reconstructed from longer PCM samples using additive synthesis.

The waves can be processed by AM (Ring Modulation) and Multimode Filters with various routings.

Architecture

The figure below shows how DMS2 processes the sounds with subtractive/nonsubtractive synthesis.


KAWAI DMS2 synthesis
DMS2 signal routings


DMS2 has more routings option than KAWAI K4's DMS.

In K4's DMS, at least 2 oscillators and their AM sounds are processed by 1 LPF. 2 filters can be cascaded to add more powerful effects.

Gmega/K11's DMS2 has 1 multimode filter per 1 oscillator.
AM sounds are not filtered and output directly. The AM modulator, OSC1's sound can also be added - a rare implementation for hard synths, except CASIO HT-6000 and CASIO CZ series' hidden functions.
Strangely, when 2 filters are cascaded in Gmega/K11, they affect only OSC2, and OSC1 is left unfiltered.

Oscillator

Gmega / K11 has 77 DC waves, 179 PCM waves (variations included), and other waveforms for drum kits in 6MB ROM. There are 32 oscillators (max. 32 polyphony).

There is 1 LFO and it can only modulate the pitch. There is no Pitch Envelope/Auto Bend.

Multimode Filter

LPF and HPF can be selected, and both has resonance. Deeper resonance often makes sound thinner like YAMAHA SY series (see SY55, RY30 and SY99 pages).
But resonance becomes powerful when 2 filters are cascaded.

The parameter works in a confusing way - Cutoff frequency can be set at 0-255, but the values over 100 seem to make no difference. Cutoff Velocity and Cutoff Key-Scaling Switch make sound much brighter.

Envelopes

Each filter and amp has its own envelope. The envelopes are ADSSR type, and they always loop between 2 sustain points. This is useful for creating complex modulation without LFO, though it ceases to take effect in the release segment.

Effect and others

There is only one effect - Reverb.
Gmega / K11 are 32-part multi-timbral. K11 has an extra function - 4 Single sounds can be layered in a Performance.




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3. 28. 2004