Tone2 Nemesis User manual

Nemesis

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Contact
If you have any difficulties installing or using Nemesis, please contact us by visiting our website
and clicking the Support button.
Tone2 website http://www.tone2.com
Tone2 forum http://www.tone2.org/forum/index.php
Support [email protected]
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Credits
Development: Markus Krause, Bastiaan van Noord
Programming & Grap ics: Markus Krause
Manual: Bastiaan van Noord, Markus Krause, Chris McKoy
Sound design: Markus Krause (MF), Bastiaan van Noord (BN), Troels Nygaard (STS), Ed Ten Eyck
(E T), Massimo Bosco (MxS), George Zondagh (GZ), Akira Complex (AC), Rob Mitchell (RM),
Mac of BIOnighT (Mac), Martin Wilkinson (MW), Xavier Pfaff (XPF), Zach Archer (ZA), Reinhard
Reschner (RR), Torben Hansen (TH), Mikko Nielikainen (MN), Ingo Weidner (IW), Rob Fabrie (RF),
Colin Cameron Allrich (CC), Johan Landquist (JLA), Satya Choudhury (sT), on Vittorio ( V),
Lukas Jankowski (TTS), Rainer Sauer (rWs), Carl Lofgren (PH), Stephen Krajewski (SK), Allen
Somerlot (BB), SupremeJA (SJA), Bryan Lee (XS), Bram van Riel (BvR), Carl Butler (BC)
T anks go to: Anna Krause, family and friends, all sounddesigners & testers, and of course to all
Tone2 customers for their continued support.

Table of Contents
Contact............................................................................................................................................
Credits.............................................................................................................................................
Installation & authorization procedure..................................................................................
Automatic installation for Mac & PC........................................................................
Manual installation for PC.........................................................................................
Manual installation for Mac.......................................................................................
Welcome – NeoFM …....................................................................................................................
What is NeoFM synthesis...........................................................................................
Some words about 'FM' and its history.......................................................................
What advantages does NeoFM synthesis offer...........................................................
Interface overview.........................................................................................................................
Menu bar.....................................................................................................................
Oscillator control section............................................................................................
Filters..........................................................................................................................
Oscillator display........................................................................................................
Synthesis methods available in Nemesis....................................................................
Additive Spectral Editor..............................................................................................................
Spectral modifiers......................................................................................................
Arpe iator.....................................................................................................................................
StepLFO.....................................................................................................................
Gate..................................................................................................................................................
Confi uration (CFG) display.......................................................................................................
Effects section..............................................................................................................................
Effect Types...............................................................................................................
Envelope section..........................................................................................................................
LFOs................................................................................................................................................
Modulation Matrix........................................................................................................................
Source menu.............................................................................................................
estination menu......................................................................................................
Midi-learn.......................................................................................................................................
Modulation Matrix: value modifiers........................................................................................
Tone2 Audiosoftware product catalo ..................................................................................

Installation & aut orization procedure
Together with the download link from Share-it you have received attached to the product delivery
email a keyfile called 'Nemesis.t2k'.
This file contains your personal serial number & your name and is used to unlock the full version.
Automatic Installation (recommended) for PC & Mac
1. Close your host (Logic, Live, Cubase, etc.)
2. Install the full version of the plugin. Note: the demo version cannot be unlocked
3. Open your host program
4. o a plugin rescan in the host if it does not list Nemesis. etailed instructions on how to
perform a rescan can be found in your host's manual
5. Open Nemesis
6. Click on the activation box in the middle
7. Select your keyfile 'Nemesis.t2k' to activate the full version
8. Restart the plugin. Note that some host programs may require a complete restart
Click inside the activation screen to browse – select your Nemesis.t2k keyfile.

Manual installation for PC
1. Close your host (Logic, Live, Cubase, etc.)
2. Install the full version of the plugin. Note: the demo version cannot be unlocked
3. Copy 'Nemesis.t2k' to the VST directory. Steinberg hosts often use C:\Program
files\Steinberg\VSTplugins as the default plugin path. You can also take a look at your host's
folder configuration. Note that the 'Nemesis.t2k' keyfile should be inside the same folder that
the Nemesis.dll is in.
4. Open your host program.
5. o a plugin rescan in the host if it does not list Nemesis. etailed instructions on how to
perform a rescan are found in your host's manual.
6. Open Nemesis. Now the normal user interface appears. If this is not the case, close your
host and go back to step 3, as most likely you did not copy the keyfile to the right place.
Manual installation for Mac
1. Close your host (Logic, igital Performer, Live, Cubase, etc.)
2. Install the full version of the plugin. Note: the demo version cannot be unlocked
3. Copy 'Nemesis.t2k' to 'Library/Audio/Plug-ins'. The correct path for the file is:
'/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Nemesis.t2k'.
4. Open the host.
5. o a plugin rescan in the host if it does not list Nemesis. etailed instructions on how to
perform a rescan can be found in your host's manual
6. Open Nemesis. Now the normal user interface appears. If this is not the case, close your host
and go back to step 3, as most likely you did not copy the keyfile to the right place.

Welcome - NeoFM
Welcome
Welcome to our latest synth, Nemesis. Nemesis takes FM synthesis to its next evolutionary step:
NeoFM synthesis.
Aside from NeoFM synthesis, Nemesis features an astounding selection of no fewer than 22
combinable synthesis types. From Waveshaping, Phase istortion, Sync, Wavetable, Ringmod,
Vintage FM, up to the Reso and Advanced Formant Synthesis exclusive to Nemesis.
Each synthesis type is built with attention to sound quality, musical potential and the capability to
produce a wide variety of sounds not possible with other synths.
You can resynthesize a waveform from your own samples, or use the comfortable additive spectral
editor to further manipulate & shape your wave by editing its partials.
With several play modes such as polyphonic, monophonic & legato, true 4x stereo unison, 22
synthesis types, and an unlimited number of waveforms, the sky is the limit...literally. .
What is 'NeoFM synthesis' (NeoFM synthesis)
NeoFM is an exclusive new and improved approach to FM synthesis that is extremely powerful and
intuitive.
Nemesis includes traditional FM synthesis as well as a completely new and improved approach to FM
called NeoFM synthesis. It is now easier than ever to get very good sounding results.
The sound quality of Nemesis surpasses conventional synths, making it easy to locate the sonic sweet
spot. Nemesis features an easy-to-use interface, which ensures that you will experience FM synthesis
at its best and most entertaining.
FM (Frequency Modulation) is a very powerful synthesis method, capable of creating a wide variety of
sounds, both harmonic and inharmonic. By frequency modulating the timbre of a waveform with a
modulation frequency within the audio range, a more complex waveform can be established.

In the example picture above, FM is shown using two sine waves. The first sine wave is called the
modulating wave, the second is the carrier wave. The modulation wave is used to change the
frequency of the carrier wave.
This is best heard if the modulator wave is running at a low frequency (which sort of sounds like a
vibrato effect). As a rule, the higher the modulation frequency, the more complex your sound will get.
One major advantage that Nemesis has to offer is that NeoFM sounds very good with any kind of
waveform, whereas most other FM synths are limited to dark sounding sinoids or triangle waves.
Some of the most interesting timbres in FM can be achieved if you use alternative tunings.
Use for example Tune M1 and constant < > Octave M1 inside of Nemesis' Modulation
Matrix, tuning the modulator to a non standard tuning.

Some words about 'FM' and its history
From the technical point of view, traditional and conventional 'FM' synths like the X7 did not do
frequency modulation, but rather phase modulation (PM).
Here the phase of a carrier oscillator is changed by a modulator oscillator. The advantage of PM is that
it is easier to calculate for the chipsets.
Since the X7 was limited to the use of sine waves there was not a big audible difference between FM
and PM.
We assume that this is the reason it was marketed as an FM synthesizer, although it was a Phase-
Modulation synthesizer from the technical point of view.
Later models like the X11 adopted the phase modulation approach, added alternative waveforms
besides sine waves and were also marketed with the successful and popular term 'FM'.
However, the phase modulation approach has a major disadvantage: it is limited to very dark sounding
waveforms like sinoids and triangles. Most of the time classic waveforms such as Sawtooth and
Square waves do not sound good with this. PM often creates a sharp, aggressive, and disharmonic
sounds with lots of energy in the high frequency spectrum. Furthermore the traditional approach
suffers from disharmonic sounding aliasing, or a dull, bell-like sound.
In the analog realm, a handful of synthesizers does 'real analog FM' synthesis, such as the Andromeda,
for example. However these 'real analog FM' oscillators also have drawbacks: they suffer from drift.
With FM and PM synthesis drift is very problematic, because slightly detuned oscillators only result in
heavily detuned sidebands. This means that they frequently suffer from a disharmonic and out of place
sound, In addition to this, they also lack immediate phase control.

W at advantages does 'neoFM' synt esis offer compared to conventional met ods?
• Unrivaled sound quality with a unique signature sound.
• Offers a new and user-friendly approach to FM synthesis. Nemesis makes FM synthesis
accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level or experience.
• Easy to tweak presets or program your own sounds with.
• NeoFM covers all important aspects of traditional FM synthesis, but is in no way limited only
to bell-style sounds. It offers a very large sonic range, one that is much more varied than other
FM synths.
• ue to its innovative technical approach, neoFM does not suffer from a metallic sound or from
the weaknesses of conventional FM.
• No fewer than 22 combinable synthesis types. Nemesis expands FM with further synthesis
methods such as Additive, Formant, Wavetables, Waveshaping, Phase distortion, Sync and
Reso synthesis.
• Contains 1000 inspiring patches from professional designers.
• Nemesis features a large number of exclusive sounds that are not possible with other
synthesizers.
• Perfect for modern as well as all other music styles.
• Wave import, resynthesis and the additive spectral editor offer unlimited sonic possibilities.
• True 4x stereo unison.
• An extensive number of high-end quality effects, with flexible and innovative routing options.
• Trancegate with an extensive selection of setup options.
• High-End sound quality with low demands on your CPU.
• Powerful, easy-to-use arpeggiator.

Interface overview
Interface overview
The Nemesis interface is split up into several sections:
1. Patc Display The patch display is used to select your preset category, your presets, and
it displays the current controller value.
2. Oscillator section The oscillator section contains all oscillator specific controls for OSC1 &
OSC2.
3. Envelope section Contains all controls for Envelope1 & Envelope2.
4. LFO section Contains all controls for LFO1 & LFO2.
5. Main section Inside the main section you'll find the Volume & Volume Envelope,
Pan, Glide, as well as all Unison controls.

Menu bar
Menu bar
The menu bar is used to switch between Nemesis' feature displays:
■BROWSE displays the Patch Manager
■SHOP the Shop link found in the Menu bar can be used to shop for / download new
presets & expansions for Nemesis.
■FILE The File menu offers basic preset management functions.
- Load patch Loads a patch from disk into Nemesis
- Save patch Saves the current patch to disk
- ownload sounds Opens a link to the online preset section.
- Init all Initializes Nemesis (oscillators, arpeggiator, fx,..) to its default
settings.
- Init matrix Initializes the Modulation Matrix to its default settings.
- Copy Osc1 to Osc2 Copies Oscillator1 settings to Oscillator2
- Copy Osc2 to Osc1 Copies Oscillator2 settings to Oscillator1
- View handbook Opens the Nemesis P F manual
■ARP switches the display to show the Arpeggiator controls.
■GAT switches the display to show the Gate controls.

■FX switches the display to show the Effects slots.
■CFG switches the display to show configuration panel.
■MAT switches the display to show the 1st Modulation Matrix page.
■MAT switches the display to show the 2nd Modulation Matrix page.

Oscillator control section
Oscillator control section
Nemesis offers two main oscillator panels, Oscillator1 & Oscillator2. Each Oscillator panel is divided
into a Carrier & Modulator oscillator (Oscillator 1: Carrier + Modulator) - (Oscillator 2: Carrier +
Modulator)
The Carrier and Modulator sections of an oscillator use their own waveform and offer a dedicated
Tune, ENV, Filter & Mix control.
■Tune C Tune C controls the tuning of the Carrier oscillator.
■Tune M Tune M controls the tuning of the Modulator oscillator.
■Det / Drift Oscillator detune / drift Control.
- Turning this control clockwise will detune the oscillator.
- Turning this control counter clockwise will apply oscillator drift to the oscillator.
■P ase Adjusts the oscillator's starting phase. When set to a value of zero the oscillator's
start phase will be Free running & Global. Changing the Oscillator phase can be
used to clean up your sound. For example, by taking one of the waves out of phase,
it's easy to get rid of colliding frequencies or make everything fit a bit better.

■Feedb Introduces a feedback signal into the oscillator. Feedback works best with
either a sinoid waveform as Carrier or if the Filter C knob is set to a low
value.
■Key FM keyfollower for the Neo FM knob. When FM key follow is set to a higher
positive value and a higher key is played it will result in more frequency
modulating (FM) being applied to the sound.
If you play a low key the sound will have less frequency modulating being
applied.
■Neo FM The Neo FM control adjusts the amount of FM applied to the oscillator.
■Env2 Controls how much of Envelope 2's modulation is applied to the Filter C
control.
■Env1 Controls how much of Envelope 1's modulation is applied to the Neo FM
control.
■Filter C Filter C controls the amount of filtering applied to the carrier oscillator.
■Filter M Filter C controls the amount of filtering applied to the modulator oscillator.
■Mix C Controls how much of the oscillator's carrier signal is mixed in.
■Mix M Controls how much of the oscillator's modulator signal is mixed in.

Filters
Filters
Inside of Nemesis' oscillator section you'll see two knobs labeled Filter C & Filter M. These knobs
control the amount of filtering applied to the Carrier oscillator and Modulator oscillator.
The filters in Nemesis do not work like classic VA / Subtractive filters. They are innovative 0phase-
filters which operate directly on the waveform and are specifically optimized to be used with neoFM
synthesis.
There are several advantages to this: they provide 2 additional real-time controls for shaping your FM
sound, offer a more precise sound, do not suffer from phase shift, and filter with a 90dB slope per
octave.
If the filter is set to 0, all partials with the exception of the lowest one are filtered out and you will hear
a pure sine wave. With the filter completely opened the entire wave as-loaded will be audible, such as
a saw or a squarewave
Nemesis' digital filter has an extremely steep slope of 90dB per octave. This extreme slope
is useful for the FM and punchy sounds, due to the filter cutoff being lowered very quickly.
At times this can sound too warm or dark for certain sounds.
What helps here is to add more energy in the waveform's high spectrum. To do this: click on the
waveform to open the 'Additive Spectral Editor' and then click edit->' amp Brighter'.

Oscillator display
Oscillator display
The oscillator display offers several options: switching Synthesis Modes, loading factory waves,
loading-in & exporting-to external waves, up to a Spectral Editor to edit partials.
First we'll look at what is displayed – the oscillator display is split into three parts:
1. The Carrier wave (top)
2. The Modulator wave
(bottom)
A menu will open when you click on either Carrier or Modulator wave. From this menu, several
options are offered.
○Additive Spectral editor: switches the display to the Additive Spectral Editor mode.
○Load / Resynthesis Wave: allows you to load a wave from disk. When a wave file larger then
8000 samples is loaded the user is asked if the waveform should be resynthesized (extracting a
waveform from the center of the wavefile) or if the sample should be loaded completely.
○Export Wave: exports the current wave. This gives you the option to save & load an edited
wave back into Nemesis or other program.
Both Carrier & Modulator wave displays are dynamically updated, whenever changes are
made to the oscillator (e.g. Filter/Phase/Spectral editor...) their display will automatically
follow the changes made.
3. The current synthesis mode (right)
Nemesis currently offers no fewer then 22 synthesis modes. Clicking on the current synthesis mode
label will open a menu with all available synthesis modes. To switch to another mode, simply select &
click on the preferred synthesis mode.

Synthesis Modes available in Nemesis
○ neoFM
Our exclusive and new approach to FM synthesis. The modulator oscillator 'M' changes the
frequency of the carrier oscillator 'C'. Special 90dB 0-phase filters damp the oscillators before
FM is applied, providing 2 additional dimensions of sound manipulation.
○ neoFM Softsync
neoFM synthesis with soft sync. The phase of the modulator oscillator is inverted as soon as the
phase of the carrier oscillator passes 0. Softsync gives a resonating, formant-style sound with a
subharmonic.

○ neoFM Hardsync
neoFM synthesis with hard sync. The phase of the modulator oscillator is reset as soon as the
phase of the carrier oscillator passes 0. Hardsync gives a sharp, resonating and formant-style
sound.
It's interesting to sweep the pitch of the modulator oscillator with an envelope. In the matrix
select an envelope like 'Env1' as source and select the modulator pitch as target with 'Pitch M1'.
○ neoFM Winsync
neoFM with a completely new and secret approach to syncing, exclusive to Tone2 products. It
gives an exciting, resonating sound - especially with combinations of squarewaves.
○neoFM Vintage
The old YM chipsets of the X7 were still quite weak. That's why they suffered from many
round-off errors and aliasing, which resulted in hiss-noise and other frequency garbage.
However some people say that it did also add 'character'. This mode is a hybrid between the
neoFM and the old, noisy YM chipsets.
○ neoFM + OscC
When you use FM synthesis with higher levels of FM, the sounds sometimes lack some
'bottom'. This mode mixes an additional unmodulated carrier oscillator to fill the frequency
gap.
○ neoFM + SubC
When you use FM synthesis with higher levels of FM, the sounds sometimes lack some
'bottom'. This mode mixes an additional unmodulated carrier sub-oscillator one octave lower to
fill the frequency gap.
○ neoFM + SubDampM
When you use FM synthesis with higher levels of FM, the sounds sometimes lack some
'bottom'. This mode mixes an additional, damped modulator sub-oscillator one octave lower to
fill the frequency gap.

○ FM / PM
Conventional phase modulation – often mistakenly called 'FM'.
Only sine waves, combinations of sine waves (with a low number of partials) or triangle waves
will work well as Modulator waveform. Other, more complex waveforms do not work well
with this traditional FM/PM mode.
○ FM / PM Vintage DX
Conventional, vintage sounding phase modulation – this is what people typically call 'FM that
sounds like the X'.
The old YM chipsets of the X7 series were still quite weak. That's why it suffered from many
round-off errors and aliasing, which resulted in hiss-noise and other frequency garbage.
However some people also say that it did add 'character' to its sound.
○ Waves ape Soft
Conventional waveshaping suffers from sharp sound with heavy disharmonic artifacts. We've
solved this problem by applying the neoFM approach to it. The modulator oscillator changes
the shape of the carrier oscillator. By turning the FM knob the waveform morphs.
Low FM values can result in silence - that's why we recommend that you always use a small
amount of FM or that you also mix the modulator oscillator. Note that the 'Waveshape'
synthesis mode mostly requires an FM level larger than 0 to be audible.
○ Waves ape Hard
Is like the Waveshape Soft mode, but with sharper sound. It is similar to the traditional
approach of Waveshaping but without the disharmonic artifacts. We recommend that you use
more dark sounding waveforms with it, like sine or triangle. Note that the 'Waveshape'
synthesis mode mostly requires an FM level larger than 0 to be audible.
○ PWM
Applies pulse width modulation to the waveform of oscillator C. The FM knob controls the
amount of PWM. Unlike traditional synthesizers that are limited to a squarewave, our PWM
can be applied on any waveform and supports feedback. The Spectral Editor can be used to
create very interesting morphing transitions. Note that 'FM key follow' should be set to 100
when you use this mode.