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• Raise the LFO 1 rate from its preset value of 0.230 to 4.400. The result is a classic, fast
PWM.
• In this and the next step, the PWM will be set so that it sounds slower in the lower
keyboard range and faster in the upper range. This is desirable for many sounds, such
as synthetic strings. First, reduce the LFO 1 Rate to 3,800.
• Change the modulation intensity of the second router channel (target = LFO1 Rate,
Source = Kybd) to 0.46. This will alter the scaling of the PWM, making it sound faster
in the treble range. You can also hear this type of effect in the PWM Scaled setting.
Tip: Avoid Drive and Distortion with PWM sounds.
Creating ES2 String Sounds with Pulse Width Modulation
To make the sound fatter, add Oscillator 3, which can also be pulse width modulated. In
fact, even the first oscillator can deliver PWM. In the PWM 2 Osc setting, both oscillators
are detuned quite significantly. Develop your own personalized PWM string sound, using
this setting as your base.
• Adjust the Chorus intensity. You’ll probably choose higher values, which make the
sound rather broad.
• Program Envelope 3 according to your taste. You should, at the very least, raise the
attack and release times. Define it to react to velocity, if you prefer. If you want to use
the sound for something other than a simple pad, a shorter Decay Time and a lower
Sustain Level of about 80 to 90% may be more appropriate.
• Reduce the Cutoff Frequency and Resonance of Filter 1 to make the sound softer.
• Save the new setting.
• Compare the result with the original PWM 2 Osc setting. You’ll hear that the sound has
undergone a remarkable evolution.
• Also compare it to PWM Soft Strings, which was created as described above. You’ll
probably notice a few similarities.
Creating Sounds with Ring Modulation in the ES2
A ring modulator takes its two input signals and outputs their sum and difference
frequencies.
In the ES2, Oscillator 2 outputs a ring modulation, which is fed with a square wave of
Oscillator 2 and the wave of Oscillator 1, when Ring is set as Oscillator 2’s waveform.
Odd intervals (frequency ratios) between the oscillators result in bell-like spectra, much
like those heard in the Ringmod Start setting.
The third oscillator can be used as a tuning reference, to maintain a kind of basic tuning.
On occasion, you may find that it’s nice to leave the sound out of tune—for use as a
source of overtones and harmonics for another basic wave, supplied by Oscillator 3.
117Chapter 5 ES2