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306 Chapter 23 Ultrabeat
The Synthesizer
The majority of Ultrabeat’s user interface is dedicated to creating and shaping
individual drum sounds; in short, Ultrabeat’s synthesizer. The parameters of the drum
sound selected in the assignment section are displayed in this synthesizer section.
Note: Despite its vast feature set, Ultrabeat’s user interface only requires a single Plug-
in window. Depending on the function selected, only a few parts of the synthesizer
section will change to display different parameters and operational elements, as
necessary.
The Signal Flow
Ultrabeat’s synthesis engine is based on classic subtractive synthesis principles.
If you look at the synthesizer section from left to right, you’ll recognize the classical
structure and signal flow of a subtractive synthesizer. First, the basic tonal material is
created by the oscillators and noise generator. A filter then takes away certain
frequencies from the raw sound, followed by volume shaping (envelopes). The details
of Ultrabeat’s functions and their importance become more apparent when you look at
the three dimensional interface, and recognize the different levels from front to back:
The elevated Filter section is in the middle. It’s a large, round control object. Its
placement and design are symbolic, as the filter section plays a central role in
Ultrabeat.
The filter receives its signal from the following sound sources: Oscillator 1, Oscillator 2,
the Noise Generator and the Ring Modulator. Their output sections are displayed by four
objects that sit adjacent to the filter (three round objects and the smaller, rectangular
ring modulator to the right of the filter). One level down, you’ll find the control
elements for these sound sources.
On each of the objects that adjoins the filter you’ll find a small, red signal flow button
which indicates whether the signals should proceed through the filter or bypass it on
their way to the output section of the synthesizer. Along the output path to the right,
the signals pass through two equalizers and a stage for stereo expansion or panoramic
modulation.
The output of the drum voice is then passed along to the mixer that is integrated into
the assignment section (see “The Drum Mixer” section, on page 305).
You can find a detailed description of all synthesis parameters in “The Synthesizer
Parameters” section, on page 309.