10.6

716Logic Pro Instruments
ES2 modulation routing
ES2 provides ten modulation routings, in columns. Each routing column is quite similar to
the modulation controls found in ES1.
In the first routing column shown above:
• The modulation target is Pitch123. The pitch—the Frequency parameter—of Oscillators
1, 2, and 3 is affected by LFO2, the modulation source.
• LFO2 is the modulation source. The two arrows to the right of the column indicate the
modulation amount. To make the modulation more intense, vertically drag the upper
or lower arrows, or both, thereby increasing the range of the modulation amount. The
upper arrow determines the maximum amount of modulation, and the lower arrow
determines the minimum amount of modulation.
• The via control is the ModWhl. Its range is determined by the sliders to the right of the
channel. The amount of modulation is directly controlled with the modulation wheel of
your keyboard. When the modulation wheel is at the minimum setting, at the bottom of
its travel, the amount of oscillator pitch modulation is minimal, or off (no modulation).
As you move the modulation wheel upward, the frequency of all three oscillators is
directly controlled by the LFO (within the range determined by the sliders).
Common modulation sources
The main envelope generator of the synthesizer not only controls levels over time, but it
also is often used to modulate other sound parameters when you press or release keyboard
keys. Many synthesizers, such as ES2, feature multiple envelope generators.
The most common use of envelope modulation is to control the filter cutoff and resonance
parameters with the keyboard velocity or keyboard scaling modulation sources (see
Modulation overview).
A modulation source found on nearly all synthesizers is the LFO (low frequency oscillator).
This oscillator is used only as a modulation source and does not generate any audible
signals that form part of your actual synthesizer sound, because it’s too low to be heard. It
can, however, affect the main signal by adding vibrato, filter sweeps, and so on.
Common LFO controls
• Waveform: Allows you to choose the type of waveform—triangle waves and square
waves are common.
• Triangle waves are useful for filter sweeps—slow changes to the filter cutoff
frequency—or when simulating an ambulance siren—slow changes to the oscillator
frequency.
• The square waveform is useful for rapid switches between two different pitches,
such as vibratos or octaving.