Specifications

Chapter 59: Sci-Fi 291
Sci-Fi Mod Type Controls
The four Mod Type buttons determine the type
of modulation applied to the frequency of the se-
lected effect. Depending on the type of modula-
tion you select here, the sliders below it will
change to provide the appropriate type of mod-
ulation controls. If the Mod Amount is set to 0%,
no dynamic modulation is applied to the audio
signal. The Effect Frequency slider then be-
comes the primary control for modifying the
sound.
LFO Produces a low-frequency triangle wave as
a modulation source. The rate and amplitude of
the triangle wave are determined by the Mod
Rate and Mod Amount controls, respectively.
Envelope Follower Causes the selected effect to
dynamically track the input signal by varying
with the amplitude envelope of the audio signal.
As the signal gets louder, more modulation oc-
curs. This can be used to produce a very good
automatic wah-wah-type effect. When you select
the Envelope Follower, the Mod Amount slider
changes to a Mod Slewing control. Slewing pro-
vides you with the ability to smooth out extreme
dynamic changes in your modulation source.
This provides a smoother, more continuous
modulation effect. The more slewing you add,
the more gradual the changes in modulation will
be.
Sample+Hold Periodically samples a random
pseudo-noise signal and applies it to the effect
frequency. Sample and hold modulation pro-
duces a characteristic random stair-step modu-
lation. The sampling rate and the amplitude are
determined by the Mod Rate and Mod Amount
controls, respectively.
Trigger+Hold Trigger and hold modulation is
similar to sample and hold modulation, with one
significant difference: If the input signal falls
below the threshold set with the Mod Threshold
control, modulation will not occur. This pro-
vides interesting rhythmic effects, where modu-
lation occurs primarily on signal peaks. Modula-
tion will occur in a periodic, yet random way
that varies directly with peaks in the audio ma-
terial. Think of this type of modulation as hav-
ing the best elements of both sample and hold
modulation and with an envelope follower.
Sci-Fi Mod Amount and Mod
Rate Controls
These two sliders control the amplitude and fre-
quency of the modulating signal. The modula-
tion amount ranges from 0% to 100%. The mod-
ulation rate, when LFO or Sample+Hold are
selected, ranges from 0.1 Hz to 20 Hz.
If you select Trigger+Hold as a modulation type,
the Mod Rate slider changes to a Mod Threshold
slider, which is adjustable from –95 dB to 0 dB.
It determines the level above which modulation
occurs with the trigger and hold function.
If you select Envelope Follower as a modulation
type, the Mod Rate slider changes to a Mod
Slewing slider, which is adjustable from 0% to
100%.
Sci-Fi Output Meter
The Output Meter indicates the output level of
the processed signal. Note that this meter indi-
cates the output level of the signal—not the in-
put level. If this meter clips, the signal may have
clipped on input before it reached Sci-Fi. Moni-
tor your send or insert signal levels closely to
prevent this from happening.