Kyra Sound Programming
117
Waldorf Kyra
Modulation Matrix
Overview
As mentioned earlier, Kyra has a comprehensive set of
hardwired modulation routes that take care of the bulk of
routine modulation programming needs. However, there
are a lot of possible modulation routes in the system and to
address each one with a dedicated route would require
hundreds, if not thousands, of options.
To simplify this Kyra offers the Modulation Matrix (Mod
Matrix), a concept from vintage synthesizers where physi-
cal pins were inserted into arrays (the matrix) to wire
modules together. On Kyra, these pins become menu opti-
ons, but the concept is similar.
Use the Mod Matrix
Select
button to navigate the Mod
Matrix features. Each press on the Mod Matrix
Select
but-
ton will display each of the six Mod Matrix channel pages
in turn. There’s two pages for each channel, one for the
sources and another for the levels applied to each destina-
tion.
When looking at the Mod Matrix options, don't think that
the hardwired modulators (also known as ‘fixed mods’)
can be forgotten about as everything they can do Mod
Matrix can do better. There are two problems with that.
The first is that using Mod Matrix to do what the hard-
wired modulators can do simply wastes Mod Matrix slots.
There are six slots, but you can run out if you use slots on
routings that can be had 'for free' using the hardwired
mods.
The second, more interesting reason is that many of the
hardwired modulators are themselves destinations for the
Mod Matrix. For example, you could configure channel
pressure (aftertouch) to adjust the amount of LFO1 routed
to the oscillator pitch. You wouldn't be able to do that in
the Mod Matrix alone as either the number of options
would become overwhelming or the concept of feeding
back into the Mod Matrix would be necessary and that
makes life complicated. So, take the time to learn the fixed
mods so you can use them for the basic tasks and learn
how to use them as Mod Matrix Destinations. The sky
really is the limit in terms of the modulation possibilities
available with the Mod Matrix.
g
Understanding that hardwired modulators can be
Mod Matrix destinations is key to mastering the
Mod Matrix (and modulation in general) on Kyra.
