10.6

564Logic Pro Instruments
Logic Pro Ultrabeat Synthesizer section
The Ultrabeat sound engine is optimized for creating electronic and acoustic drum and
percussion sounds. It combines several synthesis approaches—phase distortion, sample
playback, FM (frequency modulation), and physical modeling—to create tones. You
can also use an audio side chain input as a sound source. The sound engine provides
comprehensive modulation functions, enabling nearly every Ultrabeat element to be
modulated.
The Synthesizer section is the heart of Ultrabeat. Each drum sound in a drum kit is
an independent synthesizer and has its own set of synthesizer parameters—its own
synthesizer section.
The interface and signal flow of the Ultrabeat synthesis engine is based on classic
synthesizer designs. If you’re new to synthesizers, it might be best to start with
Synthesizer basics overview, which will introduce you to the fundamentals and terminology
of different synthesis systems.
The Synthesizer section runs from left to right, following the layout and signal flow of
a subtractive synthesizer. The basic tonal material is created by the oscillators, noise
generator, and ring modulator. A filter then takes away certain frequencies from the raw
sound, followed by volume shaping–envelopes.
Note: Although the structure and layout mirrors classic subtractive synthesizer designs,
Ultrabeat incorporates a number of different tone generation (synthesis) methods,
including frequency modulation, component modeling, sample playback, and phase
distortion. These provide unique qualities that greatly expand the range of sounds you can
create.
The details of Ultrabeat functions and their importance become more apparent when you
look at the three-dimensional nature of the interface and recognize the different levels
from front to back. The following descriptions refer to the third dimension, so keep this in
mind while reading about and exploring the Ultrabeat interface.