Synthesis ES1 and ES2

Autumn 2013

Synthesiser

Source Oscillator (waveform and pitch)

Modifier (filter) (Tone colour)

Modifier (Loudness over time)

Subtractive Synthesis

Both the ES1 and ES2 are design to function like a subtractive synthesiser Subtractive synthesisers create sounds by taking an harmonically rich waveform (source) and by using filters (modifiers), removes certain frequencies in order to create the required sound.

Oscillators

An oscillator is a simple electrical waveform generator It can generate waveforms rich in harmonics The output of the oscillator is fed into a filter where harmonics are removed (filtered out)

Waveforms

Typical waveforms which are used in subtractive synthesis are

Sine waves Sawtooth waves Square waves Triangle waves

These are simple symmetrical waveforms and are easy to generate electronically

Sine Wave

Triangle Wave

Sawtooth

Square Wave

Subtractive Synthesiser

VCO Voltage Controlled Oscillator (waveform and pitch)

VCF Voltage Controlled Filter (Tone colour)

VCA Voltage Controlled Amplifier (Loudness over time) ADSR

ES1

ES2

Subtractive Synthesiser

VCO

VCF

VCA

LFO

ADSR envelope

Modulate change or vary a parameter

The ES1 Oscillators

Wave knob: Selects the waveform of the primary oscillator, which is responsible for the basic color of the tone.Mix slider: Defines the level relationship between the primary and sub-oscillator signals. When the sub-oscillator is switched off, its output is completely removed from the signal path.Sub knob: The suboscillator generates square, pulse, and white-noise waveforms. It also allows you to route a side chain signal through the ES1 synthesizer engine 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 buttons: Transpose the pitch of the oscillators up or down by octaves. The lowest setting is 32 feet, and the highest is 2 feet. The use of the term feet to determine octaves comes from the measurements of organ pipe lengths. The longer and wider the pipe, the deeper the tone

The Filter Section

Cutoff slider: Controls the cutoff frequency of the ES1s lowpass filter. Resonance slider: Cuts or boosts the portions of the signal that
surround the frequency defined by the Cutoff parameter. Slope buttons: The lowpass filter offers four different slopes of band rejection above the cutoff frequency. The four settings are arranged clockwise from the top left, as follows: 24 dB classic: Mimics the behavior of a Moog filter. Turning up the resonance results in a reduction of the low end of the signal. 24 dB fat: Compensates for the reduction of low frequency content caused by high Resonance values. This resembles the behavior of an Oberheim filter. 12 dB: Provides a soft, smooth sound which is reminiscent of the early Oberheim SEM. 18 dB: Tends to resemble the filter sound of Rolands TB-303. Drive slider: An input level control, which allows you to overdrive the filter. Use it to change the behavior of the Resonance parameter, which will eventually distort the sound of the waveform. Key slider: Controls how strongly the keyboard pitch (the note number) modulates the filters cutoff frequency: ADSR via Vel slider: Determines how note velocity affects the filter cutoff frequency modulationcaused by the envelope generator

Envelope Section

Modulation Parameters

LFO parameters: Used to modulate other ES1 parameters. Router: Allows you to choose which ES1 parameters are modulated Modulation Envelope: A dedicated modulation control source, it can

Using the LFO

Int via Whl slider: The upper arrow defines the intensity of the LFO modulation if

the modulation wheel (MIDI controller 1) is set to its maximum value. The lower arrow defines the amount of LFO modulation if the modulation wheel is set to zero. The distance between the arrowsshown by a green barindicates the range of your keyboards modulation wheel. You can simultaneously adjust the modulation range and intensity by dragging the green bar, thus moving both arrows at once. Note that as you do so, the arrows retain their relative distance from each other.

Mod Envelope

Form slider and field: Allows you to fade in (attack) or fade out (decay) the modulation. When set to the full position, the modulation envelope is turned off. Int via Vel slider: The top arrow controls the upper modulation intensity setting for the modulation envelopeif you strike a key with the hardest fortissimo (velocity = 127). The bottom arrow controls the lower modulation intensity setting for the modulation envelopeif you strike a key with the softest pianissimo (velocity = 1). The green bar between the arrows displays the impact of velocity sensitivity on the intensity of the modulation envelope.

Task: 1.

Create a square wave bass sound where the cut off frequency is modulated by the LFO ( triangle wave), synced to the tempo of the song. Vary the rate using automation. A sawtooth pad sound with a slow attack, a light vibrato and chorus

2.

A pulse wave keyboard sound with distortion, high resonance, sub bass and tremolo. A square wave lead sound with distortion and a slowly opening cut off filter controlled by an envelope. A police/ambulance siren Name and save each sound