5. Basic functions: Modulation
NORD MODULAR G2 V1.1
Page 34
F
F
F
F
R
R
R
RE
E
E
EQ
Q
Q
QU
U
U
UE
E
E
EN
N
N
NC
C
C
CY
Y
Y
Y
M
M
M
MO
O
O
OD
D
D
DU
U
U
UL
L
L
LA
A
A
AT
T
T
TIIIIO
O
O
ON
N
N
N
(FM)
(FM)
(FM)
(FM)
A signal routed to an FM input on a module affects the pitch by
modulating it linearly in the frequency scale (see figure to the right
below).
The figure shows an A4 note being
pitch modulated by a symmetric bi-
polar signal.
As you can see, FM modulation re-
sults in equal pitch shifting, in Herz,
on either side of the basic pitch,
whereas Pitch shifting results in equal
shifting in the note scale.
S
S
S
S
Y
Y
Y
YN
N
N
NC
C
C
C
A waveform of an oscillator with a Sync input can be synchronized
with a signal of another oscillator. The synchronization forces the
wave to restart each time the modulating signal raises above 0.
This results in a complex waveform
that depends both on its own pitch
and on the modulator pitch. When
sync is used, the oscillator pitch is
locked to the modulator pitch. If you
change the modulator pitch, you will
affect the overall pitch, and if you
change the oscillator pitch, this will
create changes in timbre rather than
in pitch.
If you let the synchronized oscillator
pitch vary continuously, from an
LFO or other modulator, you will
change the timbre of the wave in a
very interesting and characteristic
way.
M
M
M
M
A
A
A
AX
X
X
XIIIIM
M
M
MU
U
U
UM
M
M
M
M
M
M
MO
O
O
OD
D
D
DU
U
U
UL
L
L
LA
A
A
AT
T
T
TIIIIO
O
O
ON
N
N
N
The maximum amount of modulation that a module (with one exception) can accept is +/–64 units from
the initial setting of the parameter. The exception to this are the Filter Freq modulation inputs. These
mod-inputs can /–128 units of modulation.
The modulation amount is the sum of all modulation appearing at the modulation inputs.
Let us use the OscA module as an example: there are two pitch modulation inputs and the KBT (Key-
Board Tracking) function. The total modulation amount of these three inputs can not be greater than +/
–64 semitones. If you turn the coarse tuning down to e.g. E0, add a transpose value of +64 with a Con-
amplitude
pitch
A4, 440Hz
740 Hz
140 Hz
amplitude
time
amplitude
time
Modulator wave
Synchronized
oscillator wave
