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Creating Detuned Monophonic Sounds and Effects with the ES2
The Analog Saw Unison setting is a fat, heavily detuned, unfiltered basic sound. Three
sawtooth oscillators are used, but they are further detuned. The combination of Unison
and Analog (set to a high value) is essential—but this time monophonic mode is used
to stack ten voices. Without further effects, the result is a huge lead sound, much like
those used in countless dance and trance productions. With appropriate filter and envelope
settings, electro sounds that are ideal for arpeggiation and sequencing can easily be set
up.
• Set the Cutoff Frequency of Filter 2 to 0. This activates the preset filter envelope. Feel
free to check out different envelope settings.
• Switch Osc 1 to sound one or two octaves lower.
• Increase Drive or Distortion.
• Set Env 2 to be velocity sensitive. This allows for velocity-sensitive filter modulations.
• Insert a delay effect in the instrument channel strip of the ES2 (or a bus target).
Creating Clean Single-Oscillator Bass Sounds with the ES2
Not every sound needs to consist of several oscillators. There are numerous simple,
effective, sounds that make use of a single oscillator. This is especially true of synthesizer
bass sounds, which can be created quickly and easily with the Analog Bass Clean setting.
The basic sound is a rectangular wave, transposed down by one octave. The sound is
filtered by Filter 2. What’s special about this sound is its combination of Legato and Glide
(portamento). When you play staccato, no glide effect will occur. When you play legato,
the pitch will smoothly glide from one note to another. All keys must be released before
you strike a new key, in order to retrigger the envelopes.
• Check out different filter and envelope settings.
• Replace the rectangular wave with a sawtooth.
• Vary the Glide settings.
It’s best to make your edits while a bass line is playing. Create or play a monophonic bass
line, with most notes played staccato, but some legato. This can provide some interesting
results with very long Glide values.
Creating Distorted Analog Basses with the ES2
In the Analog Bass Distorted setting, Filter 1 is engaged, with high settings for Drive and
Distortion. This filter is better suited to the creation of distorted analog sounds than
Filter 2.
• Check out Filter 2 by setting Filter Blend to its rightmost position. Notice that Filter 1
works better with distorted sounds.
113Chapter 5 ES2