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200 Chapter 20 ES2
The CBD (Constant Beat Detuning) parameter matches this natural effect by detuning
the lower frequencies in a ratio proportionate to the upper frequencies. Besides
disabling CBD altogether, four values are at your disposal: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%. If you
choose 100%, the phasing beats are (almost) constant across the entire keyboard
range. This value, however, may be too high, as the lower notes might be overly-
detuned at the point where the phasing of the higher notes feels right. Try lower values
for CBD (and detune, of course) in cases where the bass appears to be a little too far
out of tune.
The reference pitch for CBD is C3 (middle C): Its detuning stays the same, regardless of
the CBD value.
Glide
The Glide parameter controls the portamento time. This is the time it takes for the pitch
to travel from one note to another. Glide behavior depends on the value of the
Keyboard Mode parameter setting.
If Keyboard Mode is set to Poly or Mono, and Glide is set to a value other than 0,
portamento is active. If Keyboard Mode is set to Legato, and Glide is set to a value
other than 0, you need to play legato (press a new key while holding the old one) to
activate portamento. If you do not play legato, portamento will be inactive. This
behavior is also called fingered portamento.
Bend Range
Bend Range determines the pitch range for pitch bend modulation. The range is ±36
semitones. There are separate range settings for upwards and downwards bends, plus
an optional Link mode.
Keyboard Mode (Poly/Mono/Legato)
A polyphonic instrument allows several notes to be played simultaneously—as you
would with an organ or piano, as examples. Many synthesizers are monophonic,
especially the older ones. This means that only one note can be played at a time, much
like a brass or reed instrument. This shouldn’t be viewed as a disadvantage in any way,
because it allows playing styles that are not possible with polyphonic keyboard
instruments.
You can switch between Monophonic and Polyphonic modes by clicking on the Poly
and Mono buttons. Legato is also monophonic, but with one difference: The envelope
generators are only retriggered if you play staccato (release each key before playing a
new key). If you play legato (press a new key while holding the old one), the envelope
generators are only triggered with the first note you play legato, and then continue
their curve until you release the last legato played key. If you switch to Mono, legato or
staccato playing does not have this impact: The envelope generators are retriggered
with every new note that is played.