2009

Table Of Contents
Set Env 2 to be velocity sensitive. This allows for velocity-sensitive filter modulations.
Insert a delay effect in the instrument channel strip of the ES2 (or a bus target).
Creating Clean Single-Oscillator Bass Sounds with the ES2
Not every sound needs to consist of several oscillators. There are numerous simple,
effective, sounds that make use of a single oscillator. This is especially true of synthesizer
bass sounds, which can be created quickly and easily with the Analog Bass Clean setting.
The basic sound is a rectangular wave, transposed down by one octave. The sound is
filtered by Filter 2. What’s special about this sound is its combination of Legato and Glide
(portamento). When you play staccato, no glide effect will occur. When you play legato,
the pitch will smoothly glide from one note to another. All keys must be released before
you strike a new key, in order to retrigger the envelopes.
Check out different filter and envelope settings.
Replace the rectangular wave with a sawtooth.
Vary the Glide settings.
Its best to make your edits while a bass line is playing. Create or play a monophonic bass
line, with most notes played staccato, but some legato. This can provide some interesting
results with very long Glide values.
Creating Distorted Analog Basses with the ES2
In the Analog Bass Distorted setting, Filter 1 is engaged, with high settings for Drive and
Distortion. This filter is better suited to the creation of distorted analog sounds than
Filter 2.
Check out Filter 2 by setting Filter Blend to its rightmost position. Notice that Filter 1
works better with distorted sounds.
To control the filter modulation, move the green sliders of the first modulation channel
in the router. This controls the modulation intensity.
Using FM Intensity and Frequency to Create ES2 Sounds
The FM Start setting is great for familiarizing yourself with linear frequency modulation
(FM) synthesis. You’ll hear an unmodulated sine sound, generated by Oscillator 1.
Oscillator 2 is switched on and set to produce a sine oscillation as well, but its level is set
to 0: Drag the small square in the uppermost corner of the Triangle to change the settings.
In the ES2, Oscillator 1 is always the carrier, and Oscillator 2 the modulator. In other words,
Oscillator 2 modulates Oscillator 1.
Adjust the intensity of the frequency modulation by slowly moving the wave selector
from Sine to FM. You will hear a typical FM spectrum, with the carrier and modulator
set to the same frequency.
115Chapter 5 ES2