This oscillator 2 mode employs a method of synthesis known as component modeling. This tone generation technique mimics the physical properties of an object, such as a guitar string. Further objects are used to stimulate the string, emulating the way that it is played: plucked, bowed, and so on. Although the term string is used, model mode enables you to create sounds that don’t sound like traditional stringed instruments.
The string is the element that is responsible for the basic tone. Ultrabeat offers parameters that enable you to adjust its material—what it’s made of, in other words.
The exciters make the string vibrate (move) in different ways. The string itself doesn’t make a sound unless it is stimulated, or excited.
The signal of the vibrating string is sent to the filter, amplifier, and so on, in the Synthesizer section.
Exciter buttons: Select one of the two contrasting exciters. Each offers different sound characteristics.
Note: In this context, an exciter is the agent or triggering device used to initiate the vibration of the string. Don’t confuse it with the effect plug-in of the same name.
Material Pad: Determines the basic tone of the string with the string Stiffness and damping (Inner Loss) parameters.
Inner Loss: Emulates damping of the string, as caused by the string material—steel, glass, nylon, or wood. These are frequency-dependent losses that cause the sound to become more mellow during the decay phase.
Stiffness: Sets the rigidity of the string. In reality, this is determined by the string material and diameter—or, to be more precise, by its geometrical moment of inertia. Stiffer strings exhibit an inharmonic vibration, where overtones are not integer multiples of the base frequency. Rather, they have higher frequencies, which can make upper or lower notes sound somewhat out of tune with each other.
Resolution slider: Determine the precision of the calculation. High values produce extra harmonics. Low values produce fewer harmonics, or inharmonic spectra.
The combination of the Inner Loss and Stiffness parameter positions determines the string material and, therefore, the general timbre of your sound. In general synthesizer terms, use of these parameters could be viewed as being similar to the waveform selector/generator in the oscillator section. The default pitch of the string is C3 (middle C).
To simultaneously adjust the Inner Loss and Stiffness parameter positions, drag the ball (which correlates to the x and y coordinates) in the Material Pad.
Low Stiffness values, combined with low Inner Loss values, lead to metallic sounds.
Increase the Stiffness to make the sound more bell-like, or glass-like. Extreme Stiffness values turn the string into a solid metal rod.
Increase the Inner Loss value while maintaining a low Stiffness level to emulate nylon or catgut strings.
High Stiffness values, combined with high Inner Loss values, simulate wood-like materials.
Note: Option-click the ball to reset all string parameters to their default values.