Index 2Minimax Contents
Introduction
What’s the Max about the
Mini?
Just what is it about the Minimax?
Todayyouwouldprobablynotexpecttoo
much in terms of sound from a
synthesizer with 3 oscillators and noise,
a mixer, followed by a filter with an
amplifier and two envelope generators.
But we’re not talking about just any
synthesizer, we’re talking about
the
synthesizer!
Minimax is an emulation of the probably
best-knownofallvintage synths.It’s sim-
ple structure makes it easier to learn
soundcreation techniquesthanon many
other synthesizer models. And its sound
is famous.The oscillators are strong and
powerful, the filter pack and envelope
generatorsblindinglyfast.
Many have tried to duplicate these
characteristics. However, attempts by
both hardware and software
manufacturershavefailed.Withhardware,
thedifferentelectroniccomponentsoften
usedchangedthesound.Andinsoftware
only some parts of the original, such as
the filter, were successfully emulated.
Other elements, like the oscillators and
envelopes, were imported from outside
sources.
CreamWare knows how difficult a true
emulation is. From today’s perspective,
the Miniscope and Miniscope MkII must
be considered as great synthesizers in
their own right, but not as emulations of
theoriginal.
Minimax is different than anything that’s
come before. Minimax does not just
emulate parts of the instrument - Mini-
max
is
the instrument.Where there have
been limits to the hardware, such as ori-
ginal components no longer being
available, and where software has not
daredto go,theregoes Minimax.
With the Minimax we modeled all
important sound elements on the origi-
nalcircuitdiagrams.Andthroughoutthe
process we constantly recalibrated our
design to conform with the original so
that even the positions of the controls
agree. Still the reproduction was not
exact. Calibration and adjustment was
only part of the work we had to do.
Wehadyetanotherhurdletojumpbefore
we could claim success. The original
synthproducesfrequenciesthat,hadwe
relied on the usual algorithms, would
have led to aliasing. And those familiar
with aliasing know what an unpleasant
noise it is to have in a signal. The
modules used in the Minimax are built
onnewly-developedalgorithmsfreefrom
aliasing.Forthisreason Minimaxeasily
handles even the wildest filter, FM, or
oscillator modulations. And the beauty
ofit is - Minimaxalwayssoundslikethe
original. Minimax represents the
pinnacle of synthesis algorithm
development.
