45
Now let’s try a Step LFO with more than 8 steps.
1. Press [EXIT] and use Control knob 1 to select
a different number of Steps
2. Enter the Step Edit page via Control button 4
3. Use the Page up/down buttons to access
steps 5-8, 9-12, etc.
4. Select semitone values for each step as
needed.
To dive even deeper, press [EXIT] and try different
settings for Smooth, Rate, BPM = On, etc. With 64
steps available and a synced LFO rate of 1/16, for
example, an LFO can play a 4-bar melody!
Remember, in order for the Step LFO semitone
values to quantize to the chromatic scale, be sure
to do the following:
• Set the LFO output level to 128.
• In the Mod Matrix, route the LFO to the pitch
of an oscillator with a depth of 128.
With those conditions met, the Step LFO semitone
values will always match the 12 pitches in the
chromatic scale.
Keyboard entry
You can select semitone values inside the Step
Edit page with the keyboard. Simply hold the
Control button for the desired step, then press a
key inside the two lowest octaves to set the value.
You might hear the wrong pitch at first if you hold Control button 1 and play a note to set the
semitone value for step 1. The reason: LFO1 starts as step 1 is entered, and it restarts with every
new note (unless TrigSync = Off). The result: double-transposition of the first note. The right
pitch will play when the LFO loops.
More Step LFO ideas
Here are more ways to use the Step LFO:
• The maximum Step values are +/- 64.0, so
the total range is a little wider than an octave
above and below the root pitch.
• Try using one or more oscillators with a Step
LFO and BPM set to ON. Different Rate values
provide interesting rhythms.
• Osc 1 and 2 could play step sequences while
Osc 3 drones on the root pitch, for example.
• Use different values of the Steps parameter to
create odd time signatures like 5/4, 6/8, 7/8, etc.
• To hold a pitch for one or more steps, use the
same value as the previous step or the next one.
• For longer step sequences, use LFO Delay so
LFO 2 comes in for the 2nd bar (set LFO 1 to
One-Shot = On).
• Try the Copy feature described below: Copy
one LFO to another and make slight changes
to create counterpoint or to harmonize. Be sure
to copy
• You can invert a melody with mod route level
of -128.
• Remember, if you run out of LFOs, you can use
a looping envelope as an LFO.
lfO Shortcuts
These are described in greater detail in other chapters, but they’re so easy and useful we’ve included
them here too.
Copy LFO A to LFO B
1. Hold [SAVE]
2. Press and release the source (LFO A)
3. Press and release the destination (LFO B)
4. Release [SAVE].
Create a direct Mod route
To set up a mod route to a specific parameter from
inside a module:
1. Hold [LFO X] to select the source
2. Press the Control button for the desired
destination parameter, then release both
buttons
3. Those items appear in the first open Mod
Matrix slot as the source and destination,
respectively
4. Set the modulation amount with the lower
Control knob.
Summary of Contents for Polytouch HYDRASYNTH EXPLORER
Page 2: ...OCTAVE MAX MIN ...
