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Table Of Contents
Ultrabeat is a synthesizer that is designed to create percussive sounds and polyphonic
rhythms.
Ultrabeat’s sound engine is optimized for creating electronic and acoustic drum and
percussion sounds. It combines several synthesis approaches—phase distortion, sample
playback, FM (frequency modulation), and physical modeling—to create tones. You can
even use an audio side-chain input as a sound source, if desired. The sound engine
provides truly comprehensive modulation functions—allowing nearly every aspect of
Ultrabeat to be modulated.
Ultrabeat also incorporates a powerful, integrated step sequencer, which you can use to
create polyphonic rhythmic sequences and patterns. The sequencer displays running
light-style controls like those of classic drum machines and shares many of the sequence
and pattern creation methods employed in these devices.
Ultrabeat’s sequencer expands on the features of hardware drum machines by providing
extensive automation and editing features. These enable you to precisely vary the timbre
of the sound and the overall dynamics—at any point in the pattern. The sequencer plays
an important role in shaping the rhythms and sounds that you can produce with Ultrabeat.
Ultrabeat can directly import EXS instruments, in addition to loading audio samples and
its own settings. This facilitates enhanced sound design and rhythm processing options
for EXS instruments. A further bonus is the ability to play and control EXS drum kits with
Ultrabeat’s intuitive drum mixer layout.
This chapter covers the following:
Getting to Know the Structure of Ultrabeat (p. 242)
Loading and Saving Ultrabeat Settings (p. 244)
Getting to Know the Ultrabeat Interface (p. 245)
Getting to Know Ultrabeat’s Assignment Section (p. 245)
Importing Sounds and EXS Instruments into Ultrabeat (p. 249)
Getting to Know the Ultrabeat Synthesizer Section (p. 252)
Getting to Know the Ultrabeat Oscillators (p. 254)
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Ultrabeat
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