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Table Of Contents
288 Chapter 22 ES2
Tutorial Setting: FM Megafat
Topic: Distorted FM in monophonic Unison
This sound is hard core, and is well-suited for distorted basses and guitar-like sounds. In
its treble range, this sound gets rather “rude. This cannot be compensated for by
scaling, but not every sound has to be nice over the entire keyboard range!
Check out extreme detunings by adjusting the Analog parameter.
Check out the Flanger with this sound.
Engage the filter envelope by lowering the Cutoff Frequency of Filter 2 down to 0.
Add some Glide to lead sounds.
As always, when it comes to FM: You can dramatically alter the sound by varying the
frequencies of the oscillators. Make sure you check out the odd intervals, as well.
Tutorial Setting: FM Out of Tune and FM Tuned
Topic: FM with Unusual Spectra
If you’re unconcerned with the pitch of your sound, you can get the weirdest spectra
out of odd frequency ratios (oscillator intervals).
This setting offers a bell-like sound, reminiscent of a ring modulator. It was achieved
through a setting of 30 s 0 c, with the modulator set to a value of 0 s 0 c. Sounds like this
were very commonly used in the electronic music of the eighties, and have undergone
a resurgence in popularity in modern ambient and trance music styles.
You can further develop the sound by applying filtering, envelope modulations and
effects. There is, however, one little problem—the sound is out of tune.
Use Oscillator 3 as a reference for the tuning of the FM sound, by moving the cursor
in the Triangle.
You’ll notice that the sound is 5 semitones too high (or 7 semitones too low,
respectively).
Transpose both oscillators 1 and 2 five semitones (500 ct) lower. Transposing them
upwards is not practical, as youd need to select 37 s 0 c for Oscillator 1, which maxes
out at 36 s 0 c.
Its important to maintain the frequency ratio (interval) between Oscillators 1 and 2.
This means that Oscillator 1 will sound at 25 s O c and Oscillator 2 at 5 s 0 c.