Coursera

Berklee College of Music

Introduction to Music Production
Week 6


Eduardo Alejandro Motta Porras

Using the synthesizer basic controls on the

ES2 for Logic Pro X
Hi! I am Eduardo Motta from Antigua, Guatemala, a small country in Central
America. Im an electrical engineer and studying music production has always been
my passion. This lesson is for week 6 of Introduction To Music Production at
Coursera.org. I will be demonstrating how to use the ES2 synthesizer in Logic Pro X

Objetive: On a synthesizer of your choice demonstrate the usage of these controls:
Oscillator waveform, oscillator frequency, filter type, filter frequency, filter
resonance, and amplitude envelope ADSR. How are they similar and how are they
different from the simple synthesizer used in the video demonstrations?

Fig 1: ES2 stereo synthesizer in Logic Pro X

Oscillator waveform

The oscillator is the most important element in a synthesizer as it is in real
instruments. You need something to create a sound, and this is your oscillator. In the
ES2 the oscillator is located in the left side of the main controls.

In this synthesizer you can use three different oscillators with each individual shape.
You can see a triangle in the right, this kind of matrix allow you to control which
amount of which oscillator is being used. It even includes some other new options
(extras), as they are: the tune knob, the CBD knob and the bend range control. You
can choose between different shapes as they are: sine, square, pulse, triangle, saw-
wave, FM, noise and more.

Oscillator Frequency

Each oscillator has a frequency knob next to it, when you select it you can move it by
seconds or cents.

Filter Type

In the ES2 filter section we have two filters, which we can either use in a parallel or
series configuration. In each filter se can either choose between a low pass, high
pass, band pass, BR, and peak filters. The filter has three knobs, the first one is to
select the filter frequency, the second will determine the amount of resonance and
the third one will augment the drive.

Filter Frequency

In the filter section the cut knob will be the one that will adjust at which frequency it
will be put on effect. The numbers will be from 0-1, which means it will be
calculated between the human hearing range: 20Hz-20KHz.

Filter Resonance

The second knob in the filter is the resonance knob. The amount will also be in a
parameter from 0-1.

Amplitude Envelope ADSR

The envelope ASDR in this synthesizer is really nice. But as the most of this
synthesizer it doesnt have a graphic way of seeing it. But either way the synthesizer
provides a very complete envelope. From left to right it starts with the Attack Time,
then comes the Decay time, followed by a Sustain Level, then comes an extra option
of time (this will affect in the sustain instance), then comes the Release Time, ending
with a Velocity level.

As I hope you could have seen, this synthesizer is really nice. It is very complex so it
takes a good time to learn how to use it, but once you get the hang of it, it awesome
for creating music.

Thank you for reviewing my homework for this week. I hope its useful for anyone
interested in using Logic Pro X. The ES2 synthesizer in Logic Pro X is great and easy
to use, but its important to understand how it works and the different options you
might be able to use.