PROGRAM > AMS Mixer/Common KeyTrack 6–1: OSC 1 AMS Mix
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AMS Mixer Shape examples
Bipolar and Unipolar AMS sources
To understand Shape, it helps to understand the difference
between bipolar and unipolar AMS sources.
Bipolar sources can swing all the way from –99 to +99, with
0 in the middle. Most LFOs are bipolar, for instance; so is
Pitch Bend.
Generally, bipolar AMS sources will work better with the
Asymmetric mode, but Symmetric may also produce
interesting results.
Unipolar sources only go from 0 to 99, with 50 in the
middle. MIDI controllers, such as JS+Y (CC#1), are all
unipolar. In practice, EGs are usually programmed to be
unipolar, even though the Filter and Pitch EGs do allow both
positive and negative levels.
With unipolar sources, it’s almost always better to use the
Symmetric mode. The Asymmetric mode can cause offsets
and other strange results.
Quantize
This Mixer Type changes the input from a continuous signal
into a series of discrete steps. Instead of moving smoothly
between values, it will snap immediately from one value to
another.
You can use this to change the shape of LFOs or EGs, or to
force a controller to land on a few specific values.
AMS Mixer Quantize examples
AMS A [List of AMS Sources]
This selects the AMS input source to be quantized.
For a list of AMS sources, see “Alternate Modulation Source
(AMS) List” on page 901.
AMS A # Of Steps [2…32]
This controls the severity of the effect. The lower the
number of steps, the more “steppy” the output will be.
For instance, when this is set to 2, there will be “steps” at 0,
50, and 99. With a bipolar AMS input, there will also be
steps at –50 and –99.
As another example, when it is set to 5, there will be steps at
0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 99 (as well as –20, –40, –60, –80, and
–99 for bipolar inputs).
Gate
AMS Mixer, Type = Gate
This Mixer Type lets you set up two different AMS sources
(or fixed AMS amounts), and then switch between the two
using a third AMS source.
It’s similar to an audio gate with a side-chain, but with even
more flexibility–since you get to choose what happens when
the gate is closed (below the threshold), as well as when it’s
open (above the threshold).
99
0
99
99
0
99
99
0
99
Symmetric
Asymmetric
99
0
99
Symmetric
Asymmetric
SymmetricAsymmetric
Bipolar Sawtooth Wave
Shape = 0 (original waveform)
Shape = +99
Shape = –99
Asymmetric
(not recommended)
Unipolar Triangle Wave
Symmetric
+99
0
–99
+99
0
–99
+99
0
–99
Unipolar (e.g., JS+Y) Bipolar (e.g., LFO)
Original
AMS A
Quantize
Steps = 8
Quantize
teps = 16
Control
Below
At & Above
Fixed Value
AMS
Fixed Value
AMS