9

Modulating the Noise Color
Oscillator 3 has more up its sleeve than the output of neutral sounding white noise,
however. You can modulate the tonal color of the noise signal in real time—without
using the main filters of the ES2—by modulating the waveform of Oscillator 3.
To change the noise color, set up a modulation routing as follows: modulation target
Osc3Wave, source ModWhl. The modulation amount slider behaves somewhat differently
with this routing, essentially acting like a filter.
• Use negative modulation amount values (not −1.000) to set a descending filter slope
that roughly equates to 6 dB/octave, and the sound becomes darker (red noise) as
you adjust the mod wheel downwards.
• You can effectively tune this pseudofilter down to 18 Hz, with a modulation amount
setting of −1.000. When Osc3Wave is modulated positively, the noise becomes brighter
(blue noise).
• If you choose a modulation amount value of +1.000 for the Osc3Wave modulation
target, the filter cutoff frequency is set to 18 kHz.
Emulating Detuned Analog Synthesizer Oscillators in the ES2
The Analog parameter is found towards the top left of the ES2 interface. It alters the pitch
of each note—and the filter cutoff frequency—in a random fashion.
Much like polyphonic analog synthesizers, all three oscillators maintain their specific
frequency deviation from each other, but the pitches of all three oscillators are randomly
detuned by the same Analog amount. For example, if the Analog detuning is set to around
20%, all three oscillators (if used) will randomly drift by 20%.
• Low Analog values can add a subtle richness to the sound.
• Medium Analog values simulate the tuning instabilities of analog synthesizer circuitry,
which can be useful in achieving that much sought-after “warmth” of analog hardware
synthesizers.
• High Analog values result in significant pitch instability, which can sound truly out of
tune—but this may be perfect for your needs.
57Chapter 5 ES2