55
Chapter 11 Advanced Sound Shaping Controls
43
Mellow or metallic — FM Depth
Depending on the other settings, FM Depth can be very subtle, adding harmonics or changing the pitch —
almost imperceptibly at times. Keep in mind that it works interdependently with the other Modulator con-
trols, so you’ll need to factor these in as well. (By the way, did you notice the lines on the panel connecting
the MODULATOR [SELECT] button with the [HARMONIC], [FM DEPTH], and [DECAY] knobs? All these con-
trols are related.)
FM Depth can also create harsh, metallic, non-pitched sounds — perfect when you want to add some indus-
trial edge or noise percussion to your tracks.
1 Select a Pattern.
2 Press the MODULATOR [SELECT] button to select one of the Modulator
settings: “
3
”, “
2
”, “
1
”, or “
ALL
.”
You may want to select “
ALL
” for this, since tweaking all of the Modulators at once makes for more
dramtic sound changes.
3 Now, tweak the [FM DEPTH] knob.
Try setting the knob to around 3:00 or 4:00, and hear how the sound gets
brighter and more brittle. Turn the knob down towards 8:00 or 9:00, and
hear how the sound becomes softer and more pure in pitch. Also, try turn-
ing it very slowly as you play the keyboard and hear how the Voice changes.
Depending on the other settings, FM Depth changes can be very subtle —
or extreme and harsh.
If you can’t hear much of a change, try a different Modulator setting (in Step 2 above) and/or a different
Algorithm Type (Tip 41). These can set you on some very unusual sound-creation paths.
• Work with Harmonic
Harmonic (Tip 42 above) and FM Depth are two sides of the same sound-shaping coin. For
best results, you should tweak one then the other to hear the effect they have on each other.
• Work with Decay, too
Decay is also an important component in the FM Synthesis sound, and directly affects the FM
Depth. Try setting it to different values as you tweak the other two Modulator-related knobs,
then go on to Tip 44 below and learn more about the control.
• Take it slow
Since even the slightest knob move can send the sound wildly careening off into space, you
may want to slow things down by using the [DATA] knob. Just turn the [FM DEPTH] knob a bit
(to select the parameter), then slowly tweak the [DATA] knob.
FM Depth
Determines the level or volume of the
selected Modulators. First, select the desired
group of Modulators (in Modulator Select
above), then tweak the [FM DEPTH] knob.
Some settings can result in a metallic sound
with no discernable pitch; some settings
completely change the pitch.
Range
-64 — 63
