The first 10 images were taken from a 15 minute program entitled Quick Break by Rayma Ditson-Sommer Ph.D. It is the only program that both the XCELR8R II and the Voyager XL have in common. For this reason I felt it would best serve for the comparison. Excerpts were taken from three points in the program for both machines: 1 minute, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes. Each image represents a sound form less than 1 second long. Compare the paired images (images separated by break lines). The most important features to notice is wave complexity (timbre), variance in wave form and amplitude. NOTE: These graphs are not intended to compare ALL aspects of sound complexity. There are a total of 13 images with comments on each to follow.
Program: Quick Break (#48) Begins at: minute 1. Zoomed x5.
Notice the simple sine wave form.
Program: Quick Break (relax A-2) Begins at: minute 1. Zoomed x5.
Notice the smaller sine waves within the larger wave form. Here we see a complex of pitches (harmonics) within a larger, more dominant, wave form. Also, note the variances in amplitude throughout the wave form.
Program: Quick Break (#48) Begins at: minute 5. Zoomed x5.
The XCELR8R II's overall wave "pattern" remains unchanged at minute 5 save for an alteration of pitch.
Program: Quick Break (relax A-2) Begins at: minute 5. Zoomed x5.
Not only has the Voyager XL's amplitude changed at minute 5, so has its pitch and overall wave "pattern" (pulse variance).
Program: Quick Break (#48) Begins at: minute 10. Zoomed x5.
Again, the XCELR8R II's overall wave "pattern" remains unchanged at minute 10 save for another alteration of pitch.
Program: Quick Break (relax A-2) Begins at: minute 10. Zoomed x5.
The Voyager XL's pitch has also changed at minute 10. However, the amplitude and overall wave "pattern" has changed as well. This wave form is similar, but not identical, to the form seen at minute 1.
Program: Quick Break (#48) Begins at: minute 5. Zoomed x2.
The magnification is only x2 here (same image as minute five above with less zoom) and the amplitude changes (or lack of)are more clearly seen. Compare this straight (non-pulsed) wave form to that of the Voyager XL's below.
Program: Quick Break (relax A-2) Begins at: minute 5. Zoomed x2.
Notice the pulsed dominant wave form. This pulse (changes in amplitude) adds an interesting variable to the sound.
Program: Quick Break (#48) Begins at: minute 1. Zoomed x8.
A highly zoomed image showing the XCELR8R II's nice sine wave. Same image as minute one above with higher magnification.
Program: Quick Break (relax A-2) Begins at: minute 1. Zoomed x8.
This highly zoomed image confirms the Voyager XL's ability to produce pure sine waves. Same image as minute one above with higher magnification.
Program: #7 Begins at: minute 1. Zoomedx8.
This image shows a "saw tooth" wave form. These wave forms usually occur as a result of a poor quality sound driver. The goal of the sounds designer is to make the wave form come as close to a pure sine wave as possible. In this case, the SLX has not succeeded in producing such a wave form. The sound from a saw tooth wave form often sounds less "natural" (more synthetic) than pure sine waves. Other programs on the SLX were analyzed and the same pattern was seen.
The following 2 samples were taken from the Voyager XL's program U.F.Oria by Richard Daab (president of Theta technologies Inc.)
Program: U.F.Oria (Energize A-3) Begins at: Times not noted. Zoomedx6.
Notice the complex harmonics and pulsed wave form.
Program: U.F.Oria (Energize A-3) Begins at: Times not noted. Zoomed x6.
Again, notice the changes in amplitude and harmonics.
NOTE: The U.F.Oria program offers many changes throughout the session. The result is truly psychedelic. Sampling each wave form would have been excessive but would show many, many more unique sound wave patterns.