2009

• Alter the modulator frequency (Oscillator 2) by adjusting Fine Tune from 0 c to 50 c.
You’ll hear a very slow frequency modulation, which can be compared to the effect of
an LFO. The frequency modulation, however, takes place in the audio spectrum. It is
adjusted in semitone steps by the frequency selector. Check out the entire range from
−36 s to +36 s for Oscillator 2. You’ll hear a broad spectrum of FM sounds. Some settings
will remind you of classic FM synthesizer sounds.
• Select other waveforms for Oscillator 2. Sine is the classic, standard FM waveform, but
other waveforms lead to interesting results as well, especially the Digiwaves.
• You will achieve further interesting results by altering the carrier (Oscillator 1) frequency.
Check out the entire range, from −36 s to +36 s here, as well. The odd intervals are
especially fascinating. Note that the basic pitch changes when you do this.
Controlling ES2 FM Intensity with an Envelope and FM Scaling
In the FM Envelope setting, you can control the FM intensity with an envelope, generated
by Envelope 2. The modulation target is the range that falls between Sine and FM in the
Oscillator wave selector. The first Router channel is used for this modulation routing. You
can control a wider range by using additional modulation routings, which have been
pre-prepared for you. All you need to do is set their values. As these modulations work
without velocity sensitivity, you can set them in the Editor view by moving both the lower
and upper fader halves to their topmost positions.
• Set the second modulation channel to 1.0. You’ll hear how the modulation now
“wanders” through a broader sound range.
• Set modulation channels 3 and 4 to a value of 1.0 as well, and listen to the increase in
the sound range.
• After these drastic augmentations to the modulation range, the sound will become
uneven across the keyboard. In the lower and middle ranges it sounds nice, but in the
upper key range the FM intensity appears to be too severe. You can compensate for
this effect by modulating the Osc 1 Wave target by keyboard position (kybd) in
modulation routings 5 and 6. This results in a keyboard scaling of the FM intensity.
• As the sound range is so vast (due to the 4 modulations), two modulation routings are
required to compensate for this. Set the lower slider halves to their lowest positions.
Good keyboard scaling is essential for any FM sound.
Using FM Drive and Filter FM to Change the Color of ES2 Sounds
The FM Drive setting illustrates how dramatically the character of FM sounds can be altered
when you apply Drive and Filter FM. The results are reminiscent of the feedback circuits
of classic FM synthesizers.
• Check out different Drive and Filter FM settings.
• Lower the Cutoff Frequency of Filter 2 to 0. Envelope 2 modulates Filter 2. This
modulation routing is already present in the setting.
116 Chapter 5 ES2