What parameter of AMP envelope does LFO control?

Discussion in 'Mixing and Mastering' started by retenu, Dec 7, 2011.

  1. retenu

    retenu Newbie

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    Sincere apologies for this newb-style question. I have a question regarding basic analog synthesis. For example, let's take Reason's Subtractor.

    If I were to use LFO2 to modulate "AMP", what part of the Amplifier ADSR am I actually controlling?

    It's easy for me to understand when an LFO controls a parameter like filter cutoff because that is very specific, but when the LFO controls AMP, it's not as clear to me what exact parameter of the amplifier the LFO is actually affecting.

    Thank you for very much for any help/advice.
     
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  3. subGENRE

    subGENRE Audiosexual

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    not familiar with Subtractor or Reason, but google found me this....

    http://www.reasonstation.net/tutorials/subtractor/
     
  4. retenu

    retenu Newbie

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    Thanks. I meant in general. I was just using subtractor as an example. I am just trying to figure out what "knob" the LFO is actually affecting when LFO is set to amp on any analog synth in general. I hope that makes sense.
    I know a lot of you on here seem to be really pros with this stuff, so I was hoping someone knew in general how this works.
    Thanks again for taking the time to help.
     
  5. subGENRE

    subGENRE Audiosexual

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    usually amp is short for amplitude, but.....
     
  6. retenu

    retenu Newbie

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    Thanks. I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that AMP on an analog synth will always be referring to the amplifier section of the given synthesizer.
     
  7. Taper

    Taper Noisemaker

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    In general the LFO affects the whole envelope, see it as an additional modulation to what the envelope does.
    Imagine the envelope as a mountain and the sound you have has to climb the mountain from left to right, the lfo adds ascents and valleys.
    Depending on the LFO amount that affects the envelope you can get a gate effect to tremolo effects.

    I hope its clear now.
     
  8. panicoad

    panicoad Newbie

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    Taper is quite right, assigning an LFO to amp makes the amplitude envelope (or filter if you assign it to flt env) repeat over and over according to the desired frequency rate (i.e. repeating speed) and waveform (which affects lfo behaviour while driving the envelope).
    LFO on Amp env may add various kinds of effects to synth or sampled sounds according to the different settings of rate, depth and wave...if you use a sine wave you add kind of a tremolo, if you set square wave you'll get kind of stutter effect,and so on...
    hope this may be helpful.
    cheers
    Angelo
     
  9. psyfactor

    psyfactor Newbie

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    Well in reason, the "amp" parameter is the overall volume of a module being sent thru its outputs.
    You can automate it , or use an lfo on it.

    In the case you mentioned exactly, On subtractor, choosing "amp" as a modulation destination for lfo2 will control the instruments overall volume at its outputs, and the knob for setting the static value of this is on the left in the same divided section as the name of the patch, under the polyphony display.

    Hope that helps
     
  10. retenu

    retenu Newbie

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    You guys are the best. That all makes sense. THANK YOU!
     
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