One of the things Yamaha’s original DX7 did not have, as it was May 1983, was splits or layers. Splits were the idea that you could have one timbre on the left side of the keyboard, a different timbre on the right. Layers, also somewhat obvious, was the notion that you could take two timbres and have them simultaneously play across the keyboard. Since Dexed is a direct model of the original DX7, it has the same limitations. Today, I’m going to show you how to create easy layers and splits within Dexed in a DAW environment.

That said, with the immense power available in most Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) today, we can create splits and layers of wonderful 6-Op FM synthesis using Dexed with included DAW tools. Our recent focus has been on maximizing Dexed in a DAW environment, and this post is another step along that path. Let’s open the garage roll-up door and take a look under the hood – we’re going to figure out how this works.

Logic Pro: Building a Dexed Layer

To me, layering multiple tones is the most interesting task, and we’ll take a look at that first. In Logic Pro, the way to accomplish a layer is to create a Summing Stack. A combines the audio signals from multiple tracks, each with Dexed, into a single aux mix channel. With this aux mix channel, you’re then able to apply effects, automation, and volume control to the entire stack.

Step-by-Step: Create a Dexed Layer in Logic Pro

1. Open Logic Pro and create a new Project, or use a template that you are comfortable with.
2. Create a Software Instrument Track, with Dexed as the Instrument. I do this right from the Create Track dialog, selecting Software Instrument, then under the Details tab, navigating to AU Instruments > Digital Suburban> Dexed Stereo.
3. For this tutorial, let’s select Chroma 5Y, from the default Dexed cart as our first sound. 

4. Next, select the track and type Command D (⌘ D) to duplicate this track, then select SloSwl //Y as the voice for Track 2. As a side note, it’s sometimes confusing when you have the same AU instrument assigned to two tracks, as the UIs are identical. Make sure you are on Track 2 for this voice assignment.

5. Now that we have two Dexed instances and two tracks, let’s combine them into a Summing Stack by selecting both tracks via shift-clicking both, then right-click and select Create Track Stack … then select Summing Stack. Now, a tab appears above both of our tracks labeled Sum1.
6. Because I’m fussy and like to make things clear, I renamed the Sum1 stack to Dexed Layer for clarity.
7. Now, when we select Dexed Layer, in the Track Select pane, we see both Chroma 5 Y and SloSwl playing at the same time. Congrats – a layer has been created.

Step-by-Step: Create a Dexed Split in Logic Pro

1. Follow the steps outlined above, creating a layer.
2. Decide which sound will be to the left side of the keyboard, and which will be the right. Also, decide where you want the split point to occur
3. In our example, we’ll put Chroma Y on the upper half, and SloSwl on the lower half, splitting at C#, Middle C. (I have an entire prepared rant on C3 vs. C4 and Middle C that is on my list to publish. For now, let’s just use Logic’s default, which is Middle C = C3.

4. Select Track 2, the one with Chroma Y as the Dexed voice. In the Track Inspector, the leftmost column of the display, edit the Key Limit to go from C3 to G8.
5. Similarly, in Track 3, edit the Key Limit to go from C-2 to B2. 
6. Selecting Track 1, or the Summing stack, we can now play the keyboard and hear the split between the two Dexed instruments at Middle C.
7. There, now we’ve created a split.

The beauty of using Summing Stacks with multiple instances of Dexed is that a single audio effect can be assigned to the FX bus for both sounds, creating an integrated “Patch.” 

Perhaps more importantly, these Summing Stacks, along with their MIDI FX, Audio FX and track settings, can be saved as a single Patch for recall later. Opening the Library Tab on the left of the Track display and pressing Save… at the bottom opens a dialog to name and save this patch. These patches – combinations of layers, splits, effects, and all now appear in the User Patches list at the top of the Library Pane. Nice.

Step-by-Step: Create a Dexed Layer in Bitwig

1. Create a New Project in Bitwig by tapping the “New Project” button
2. On the right-hand browser tab, scroll down until you see Dexed, either CLAP or VST versions.
3. Drag the Dexed icon over to the track selection pane on the left side of the display and drop the icon in an empty space below the “+” sign.
4. Select Chroma Y as the voice for this instance of Dexed.
5. Drag and drop another instance of Dexed from the browser to the tracks area, then select Slo Swl//Y as the voice. 

6. Shift-select both of the Dexed tracks, then either right-click and select Group, or type Command G (⌘ G). You have now created a layer in Bitwig.

1. After creating a Track Group as above, insert a Note Filter in front of the Dexed instance for the Chroma Y track by pressing “+” in front of the Dexed information in the Device Information Panel.
2. Edit the Note range in the Note Filter to C3 to G8

3. Repeat for the Slo Swl track, editing the upper note range to B2.
4. Split editing in Bitwig is now complete.

Not the toughest concept, but it’s foundational

Look, I admit that making layers and splits in Dexed is not a PhD-level activity, nor are they that satisfying sonically. Performing these activities is the foundational step to further advanced use of Dexed in a DAW. We absolutely will be following these steps in future Dexed Owner’s Manual activities.

Speaking of our Dexed Owner’s Manual, there’s a complete set of tutorials, from downloading and installing Dexed to advanced FM programming lessons, all located here. I’m going to continue to build on this list of posts and have several more planned at the moment for the coming weeks. DexedOwnersManual.com is full of ideas for maximizing your enjoyment of Dexed. I encourage you to join our mailing list – that will get you a discount coupon to use anywhere on SoundEngine.com, for Dexed sounds or not. We’ve got similar sets of tutorials for Nils’ K1v, a Kawai K1 emulation, as well as Logic’s Sampler VST and MIDI Sysex messaging and management. I hope you’ll join us.

In the meantime, thank you for this post about easy layers and splits, and I hope this post has given you some creative horsepower for your tunes.

Resources:

• SoundEngine’s Complete Dexed Owner’s Manual Series:
  
  
  • Dexed: An Owner’s Manual
    
    
• Our custom programmed Crankshaft: Dexed bank:
  
  
  • https://soundengine.com/product/crankshaft-dexed/
    
    
• Our custom programmed Flywheel: Dexed bank:
  
  
  • https://soundengine.com/product/dexed-flywheel/
    
    
• The Dexed plug-in:
  
  
  • https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
    
    
• FM Synthesis:
  
  
  • FM Theory and Applications by Dr. John Chowning and David Bristow