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Chapter 23 Ultrabeat 351
The Kraftwerk Snare
A further classic electronic snare drum sound is the highly resonant lowpass filter of an
analog synthesizer that quickly closes with a “snap”. This sound was used extensively by
Kraftwerk.
Proceed as follows to recreate this sound with Ultrabeat:
1 Choose the “Snare 1” sound to start with.
2 Direct the signals of both oscillators and the noise generator to the main filter.
3 Modulate Cutoff with Env 1 (this is already modulating the volume of the noise
generator).
4 Modulate the filter resonance with Env 2.
5 Now begin to experiment with the parameters described in steps 1–5 (especially the
envelopes), introduce EQ into the sound, and discover how much “playing room” these
basic settings allow you.
Note: An exemplary sound called “Snare 5 - KW” is in the tutorial set, at a pitch of G#1.
Analyze, and compare it to your own creation.
Toms and Tonal Percussion
Tonal percussion sounds such as toms or congas are relatively easy to emulate
electronically with sine or triangular wave oscillators. Ultrabeat’s Phase Oscillator offers
you a broad spectrum of suitable basic sounds with which to start. Control the pitch of
the oscillators with envelopes, and use the programming techniques discussed in the
bass and snare drum sections to alter tonality. You should find it easy to create a broad
range of toms and similar sounds.
Note: At the pitches A1 to B0 in the tutorial set you’ll find typical 808 toms. Analyze
these sounds and modify them as you see fit.
At this point, spend some time experimenting with the Model mode of Oscillator 2. Try
to familiarize yourself with the effect of each parameter, and create some of your own
tonal percussion sounds, ranging from small tabla drums to glass bowls.
Note: The “Tabla” and “Glass” sounds (at pitches C2 and C#2) of the tutorial set combine
both Osc 2 Model and FM. They are also good examples of the complex use of velocity
as a modulation source.