User Guide

Chapter 28 Sculpture 533
Note: The most relevant performance range for basses is found exclusively below C3.
For this reason, you should make use of the green sliders to set the actual timbre of the
sound. The primary sliders found around the ring determine the timbre of the sound
above C3. For the moment, ignore the blue sliders (which control high key-scaling) and
simply set them to the same positions as the main sliders.
Once activated, the key-scaling function is used to adjust the timbre of the sound,
independent of pitch. To do this, you should initially employ the Resolution parameter.
This is normally used to set the balance between DSP load and sound quality. As the
overtone spectrum is reduced at low Resolution values, this parameter can also be
used to shape the sound.
To use the Resolution parameter to control the timbre, independent of pitch:
1 Play some notes at the higher end of the bass’s range (around C2), then move the
Resolution slider all the way to the right and then gradually back towards the left.
2 You can hear how the sound loses overtones, yet simultaneously becomes louder. At
low Resolution values, an inharmonic metallic rattling is heard in the sound.
3 Increase the Resolution value until the metallic rattling disappears. Set the slider to the
following position:
4 Play some notes in the bottom range (around E 0). You’ll note that the sound is quite
muffled and vintage-like. Move the green Low Keyscale slider (found below the main
Resolution slider) all the way to the right; the low range should now sound a little more
wiry.
With most stringed instruments, the overtone content decreases as the pitch becomes
higher. Strictly speaking, this is only true of open strings, and even then, in a limited
sense. If the strings are fingered, the length of the string is shortened (especially in the
high register) and the effect becomes more significant.