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Chapter 14 Ultrabeat 336
Ultrabeat Synthesizer section overview
Ultrabeat’s 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 ow of Ultrabeat’s synthesis engine are based on classic synthesizer
designs. If you’re new to synthesizers, it might be best to start with Synthesizer basics
overview on page 471, which will introduce you to the fundamentals and terminology of
dierent synthesis systems.
The Synthesizer section runs from left to right, following the layout and signal ow of a
subtractive synthesizer. The basic tonal material is created by the oscillators, noise generator, and
ring modulator. A lter 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 dierent 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.
Oscillator 1
Oscillator 2
Ring
modulator
slider
Signal flow button Filter
Signal flow button
Noise generator
The details of Ultrabeat’s functions and their importance become more apparent when you look
at the three-dimensional nature of the interface and recognize the dierent levels from front to
back. The following descriptions refer to the third dimension, so keep this in mind while reading
and exploring Ultrabeat’s interface.
The large, round, elevated Filter (and Distortion) section is in the center. Its placement and
design are both symbolic and practical, as the lter plays a central role in Ultrabeat. The Filter is
discussed in Use Ultrabeat’s lter section on page 349.