LFO Modulation Simulator allows you to send low frequency oscillator to filter cutoff, volume or pitch. Connections can be made using your computer keyboard for speedier control, or patched with your mouse. As you go, you’ll hear what it sounds like and see the visualization of the modulation cycle on widget itself.
Pressing the right-hand side of the deck’s keys will produce a tone. Alternatively, pressing Z, X, C and V on your keyboard will play notes from the synth, D3, A3, D4 and A4 respectively. While the modulation travels, hold down one of these keys to keep it sounding out.
How to Use the LFO Simulator
By default, the tone is held steady but if you open the control voltage then you’ll hear the effect. Route the mod signal to destination jacks in the patchbay by clicking them. Use Filter for wah motion; Amplitude for tremolo and Pitch for vibrato. See which routes you have turned on by lighting up the visual cords. Combine as many destinations as you like to hear what each does independently within the same cycle.
The four buttons beneath the patchbay allow you to select type of waveform shape. Triangle, square and saw has differing contours; sine is smooth. To change shape quickly, press the relevant button from your keyboard (1, 2, 3 or 4). The monitor graph will instantly update with the new wave shape.
The rate slider controls the speed at which the LFO cycle through its range. To lock it to a specific beat, you have an option to switch to tempo-synced mode. The division dropdown allows you to choose different rhythmic values. You can select eighth notes, quarter notes, or any other rhythm. The excursion slider adjust the depth of the modulation effect.
For a guided tour through each modulation route just use the tour button. It highlights each path in sequence so you can focus on one effect at a time. That way you can see which effects respond in what ways to the same source (pitch/volume/filter etc). Clicking the button again pause the tour.
The mission briefs are good ways to work on patching for some particular scenario. The brief will set up a desired configuration for the LFO, including its destination and its function. Once that is done, wire the brief and it’ll load those configurations into the bay. Then verify whether or not you got the correct configuration by matching the four conditions.
For an instant guide to the control conventions and keyboard shortcuts, open the help panel. This will explain controlling parameters and toggling routes without the mouse; it will also describe the bipolar LFO range in terms of hertz, percentage, and cents.
If you have a small screen, go into fullscreen mode to get the most out of your workspace. Use slow sine waves for gentle vibrato and fast square waves for rhythmic chop. Fast rate and high excursion for extreme filter sweeps. Mute the control voltage to reset back to the steady state of the tone. Turn down the monitor level so the audio is comfortabley for you.
Whatever you do, the simulator reacts in real time. Want to tweak shape or rate? Just use that keyboard and iterate quickly. Need to save your settings? Remember where those sliders are, then switch to another mission. Ready to go again? Repatch the bay and begin anew with slow vibrato.
First, listen to effect of the LFO on the pitch route by starting with default route. Next switch to the amplitude route so that you can experience what it does to the volume level. Match the visual representation against what you expect to hear as you play a note. Tweak the settings to achieve a sound you prefer, you should of heard it by now.