IS this an LFO at work?

[nate_dennis]

I don't want to copy this guys sound. (I guess a lot of people try to "decode" other peoples patches.) But I am curious if the part of the sound that speeds up on each note is an example of an LFO at work or is it another effect?

YouTube - Alesis Micron Complex FM Pad

I am getting my first synth and want to get a good grasp on some of the concepts. Thanks a lot.

 

[diggy_dude]

The vibrato effect is an LFO. The pitch sweep could be an envelope generator or an LFO. Dude didn't stop tweaking knobs long enough to establish a recurring pattern. If it's fairly repetitive and rhythmic, it's an LFO.

 

[nate_dennis]

Yeah, he changes a lot. I didn't know you could set an LFO to speed up like that without moving a knob!!! Like I said, I'm just trying to understand the concepts at play here. I'm excited to get my micron on Friday! I'm sure tons of questions will follow. Thanks diggy!!

 

[Toddskins]

Then by all means, invest in a Beginning book or two on how synthesizers work and how to program them.
Start here:

Amazon.com: Secrets Of Analog And Digital Synthesis (Ferro Music Technology Series) (9780881885163): Steve DeFuria, Joe Scacciaferro: Books

Amazon.com: Synthesizer Basics (Keyboard Synthesizer Library) (Original Edition) (9780881882896): Steve Porcaro, Keyboard Magazine: Books


Both these books can be bought used from Amazon's 3rd party sellers for under $10 each. Buy them now.

 

[diggy_dude]

I didn't know you could set an LFO to speed up like that without moving a knob!!!

It's possible if the LFO itself can be modulated by another unit generator. Depends on the synth.

Then by all means, invest in a Beginning book or two on how synthesizers work and how to program them.

A generic book on synths probably wouldn't tell you how a specific synth can be patched unless the book uses that synth as an example. It still wouldn't hurt to brush up on basic synth concepts though.

 

[nate_dennis]

Am I hearing something wrong in the example video then? There is a vibrato type effect that starts slower and gets faster on each note. I will look into getting those books. My point was that I'm not trying to copy this dudes sounds (though he gets some really cool ones) I just wanted to know about that one effect on that one sound.

 

[diggy_dude]

Am I hearing something wrong in the example video then? There is a vibrato type effect that starts slower and gets faster on each note. I will look into getting those books. My point was that I'm not trying to copy this dudes sounds (though he gets some really cool ones) I just wanted to know about that one effect on that one sound.

You're probably hearing correctly. I don't know enough about the Micron to tell you. From what I heard on the video it's a pretty amazing synth, so it's quite possible he's modulating the LFO with another waveform or envelope.

 

[nate_dennis]

You're probably hearing correctly.

Cool so at least I'm not a total idiot! Thanks man.

 

[diggy_dude]

Cool so at least I'm not a total idiot! Thanks man.

No, you're not an idiot. A proper grounding in synthesis theory will help you visualize what a patch will sound like, or make an educated guess as to what patch created a sound you heard.

 

[altitude909]

Sounds like like some creative FM (frequency modulation) to me (ahem, the title)

 

[HenryFarnsworth]

Wow. Did anyone read the guys description in the video? He explains exactly what he did. It's frequency modulation linked to an envelope. That may not make sense or be obvious to the new guy who asked the original question, but to those of you who answered it... why guess? The video poster removed all question about how he achieved that sound.