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Unwanted "LFO" in an FM-X Part

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Antony
Posts: 745
Prominent Member
Topic starter
 

To Seasoned FM Veterans this is very old news.

So this is for Complete Beginners 😉

You are likely to come across an FM-X Part that seems to have a Pitch LFO in Play.

However even after turning off all LFOs, Effects and all other Modulation Sources (Motion Sequences etc), the apparent LFO seems to be still "playing".

The source of the Modulation is the FM-X Part itself, and related to Frequency "Beats" which occur when two similar, but slightly out-of-tune frequencies play together. After all, this is Frequency Modulation, time to kick yourself

Examine each Operator in the Form/Freq screen and take note of the Algorithm "Stack" arrangement, and then compare the relative Tunings for Operators confined to a particular Stack.

The culprit is likely to be the "Detune" parameter, but may also be the Coarse or Fine Parameters.

Usually if you set all Detune and all Fine parameters to 0 (zero) the unwanted "LFO" will disappear.

However, you can also adjust the Detune values to change the "speed" of the "LFO" to your liking. Smaller Detune values are slower, higher detune values are faster.

The same applies to Coarse and Fine, which have a more dramatic effect. The Coarse parameter (sets the FM Ratio) will also effect the Timbre.

Anyway... if this is of interest, you may experiment.

Choose the Preset "Chillomatik".

Solo Part 1 (FM-X)
Edit Part 1
Turn OFF Insert Effects
Turn SuperKnob up high (Opens the Filter) - Important!!
Mute Operators 1 through 6 (only 7 and 8 unmuted).
Play the keyboard... you will hear a distinct Pitch Mod that sounds like an LFO.
Check out the Algorithm... you are left with a basic two op Stack, 7 = Modulator, 8 = Carrier
Touch Op8 - Note Detune = -4.
Change Op8 Detune = 0.... the LFO has disappeared.
Change Op8 Detune = -8.... the LFO has re-appeared but is twice as fast.
Change Op8 Detune = -4 (original value)
Go to Op7
Note Op7 Coarse = 3, Fine = 0.
Change Fine = 1. Play the Keys. LFO is very Fast.
Change Fine = 0, Change Coarse = 2
Play the Keys, LFO is slower, but also general Timbre is darker (fewer high harmonics)
Vary the Strength with which you play the keys (hard/soft velocity)... The "LFO" will sound different again.
This is because Op7 Level/Vel = 5... changing Modulator Volume, and thus Timbre (Harmonic Content).

 
Posted : 29/01/2022 4:31 am
Posts: 1715
Noble Member
 

*low values are often used to approximate the warmth and drift of analogue synth sounds. If it's warbling or beating it's too much for this character and, as Antony describes, acts more like an unwanted LFO "effect".

 
Posted : 29/01/2022 8:51 am
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