Instruments and Effects

570 Chapter 29 Ultrabeat
When saving a drum kit using the Settings menu, the location of the sample is saved
with the setting. The Ultrabeat setting doesn’t actually save the audio files
themselves—only a reference to their location. If you load a setting that contains a
reference to a sample that has been moved or erased, Ultrabeat will present you with a
dialog box that requests you to find it. To avoid this problem, it is highly recommended
that you use a dedicated Ultrabeat sample folder.
Model
This oscillator type offers a physical model of a string instrument for the creation of
percussive sounds. The parameters at your disposal are based on the physical
properties of a real string.
Two contrasting exciters, each with different sound characteristics, are available. You
can switch between them with the corresponding buttons (Type 1 and Type 2).
Note: In Ultrabeat’s Oscillator 2 model, an exciter is the agent or triggering device used
to initiate the vibration of the string. It should not be confused with the effect plug-in
of the same name.
In the Material Pad, you can set the Inner Loss and Stiffness string parameters. These
parameters actually determines the material qualities of the physical model.
Inner Loss determines the damping of the string which, in the real world, depends on
the material the string is made of (for example steel, glass, nylon, or wood). Damping
primarily affects high frequencies, and forces the sound to become more muffled and
smooth during the decay phase.
Stiffness controls the stiffness or rigidity of the string. In the real world, this depends on
the material the strings are made of and their diameter (or, more precisely: their speed
of vibration or response to being struck or plucked and so on). Rigid strings create an
inharmonic vibration where the overtones do not represent whole number multiples of
the fundamental frequency. These overtones are, in fact, slightly higher. Marked
increases in rigidity (stiffness) ultimately transforms the string into a metal rod.
Along the x-axis of the Material Pad you’ll find the value range for the Stiffness
parameter, and the value range for the Inner Loss parameter along the y-axis. To adjust
the parameters, click-hold on the dot in the Material Pad and move it.
Note: Click on the dot in the Material Pad while holding down Option if you want to
return the string parameters to their default values.