![background image](http://html.mh-extra.com/html/e-mu/emax-ii/emax-ii_operation-manual_518559207.webp)
Emax II operation manual
196
tracking is for. By setting the tracking to zero (i.e. the filter frequency stays the same
regardless of where you play on the keyboard), or slightly higher, these high notes can
be tamed to the point where they sound acceptable.
Parametric Equalization
One of the problems with transposing a signal up or down is that it changes the
characteristic formant of an instrument. The formant is a frequency at which an
instrument tends to have some kind of resonant peak that gives the instrument it’s
distinctive character. For example, I recorded a classical guitar once that had a very
pronounced peak around 200 Hz. This gave a bassy, rich sound. However, if you
sampled that guitar and transposed it up an octave, then the resonant frequency would
transpose upward as well to 400 Hz, and the guitar wouldn’t sound so bassy anymore.
Conversely, transposing downwards an octave would lower the frequency to 100 Hz,
which would be very bassy.
Sometimes it’s possible to equalize the signal being sampled to minimize the formant
shift problem. Generally, the tool of choice for this task is the parametric equalizer, an
equalizer that can boost or cut a specific frequency (or group of frequencies) by a specific
amount, u/- 12 to 15 dB. Reducing the formant doesn’t affect the original sound
very much, but can make a big difference on the transposed sounds.
Parametric Equalization is very much a trial-and-error sort of process, which makes a
good argument for having samples originally recorded on tape so that you can
experiment with them as you record them into the sampler.
The Art of Sampling is an excerpt from a forthcoming book by Craig Anderton and is used by
permission.
THE ART OF SAMPLING
Parametric EQ
Summary of Contents for EMAX II
Page 1: ...EMAX II OPERATIONS MANUAL Copyright E mu Systems Inc ...
Page 3: ...Emax II operation manual ...
Page 11: ...Emax II operation manual ...
Page 21: ...Emax II operation manual 10 ...
Page 29: ...Emax II operation manual 18 ...
Page 31: ...Emax II operation manual 20 ...
Page 51: ...Emax II operation manual 40 ...
Page 53: ...Emax II operation manual 42 ...
Page 59: ...Emax II operation manual 48 ...
Page 63: ...Emax II operation manual 52 ...
Page 65: ...Emax II operation manual 54 ...
Page 81: ...Emax II operation manual 70 ...
Page 83: ...Emax II operation manual 72 ...
Page 89: ...Emax II operation manual 78 ...
Page 91: ...Emax II operation manual 80 ...
Page 115: ...Emax II operation manual 104 ...
Page 117: ...Emax II operation manual 106 ...
Page 125: ...Emax II operation manual 114 ...
Page 157: ...Emax II operation manual 146 ...
Page 159: ...Emax II operation manual 148 ...
Page 177: ...Emax II operation manual 166 ...
Page 191: ...Emax II operation manual 180 ...
Page 193: ...Emax II operation manual 182 ...
Page 239: ...Emax II operation manual 228 ...
Page 255: ...Emax II operation manual 244 ...