10.6

271Logic Pro Instruments
Create Logic Pro ES2 ring modulated sounds
A ring modulator takes its two input signals and outputs their sum and difference
frequencies.
In the ES2, oscillator2 outputs a ring modulation, which is fed with a square wave of
oscillator2 and the wave of oscillator1, when Ring is set as the oscillator2 waveform.
Odd intervals (frequency ratios) between the oscillators result in bell-like spectra, much
like those heard in the Ringmod Start setting.
The third oscillator can be used as a tuning reference, to maintain a kind of basic tuning.
On occasion, you may find that it’s nice to leave the sound out of tune—for use as a source
of overtones and harmonics for another basic wave, supplied by oscillator3.
Create an atmospheric bell sound in ES2
In Logic Pro, try the following with the Ringmod Start setting:
• Experiment with the various frequency ratios of oscillators 1 and 2. You may want to use
the 29s 0c/21s 0c ratio, which doesn’t sound out of tune at all. Ring modulation is not
only useful for bell-like sounds, it’s also good for a great variety of spectra that tend to
sound weird at lower frequency settings. Also try alterations to the fine-tuning of the
oscillators.
• Check out an Intensity of 50% and a Rate set to around 2/3 of the maximum value for
the Chorus effect.
• Set the Attack and Release Times of Envelope3 to taste.
• Check out Drive and Filter FM if you like your sounds a little “out of control.”
• The rest is up to you.
Create Logic Pro ES2 oscillator sync sounds
If you select the synced square and sawtooth waveforms for oscillators 2 and 3, they are
synchronized with oscillator1. In the Sync Start setting, only oscillator2 is audible, and
oscillator3 is switched off.
Typical sync sounds feature dynamic frequency sweeps over wide frequency ranges. These
frequency modulations (the sweeps) can be applied in various ways.
Enhance the Sync Start setting in ES2
In Logic Pro, do the following:
• Try the pre-programmed pitch modulation, assigned to the modulation wheel first.
• In the second router channel, an envelope pitch modulation has been preprogrammed
(target=Pitch 2, Source=Env1). Setting the minimum value to 1.0 results in a typical
sync envelope. Also check out shorter Decay Times for Envelope1.
• To avoid a sterile, lifeless sound (after the decay phase of the envelope), you may also
want to modulate the oscillator frequency with an LFO. Use the third router channel, and
set the minimum modulation applied by LFO1 to about 0.50.
• Substitute the synchronized square wave with the synced sawtooth wave, and see if you
like the results.