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4. Exploring synth modulation with Phonec CM

1

Phonec CM features plenty of modulation sources with which to bring movement to your patches. All of them apart from the Amp and Filter Envelopes, and Sequencer, are activated and edited in the Modulation section: click the name of a source to edit it, and the power button below to turn it on and off; and select the parameter to be modulated from the Target menu. 2

While the Amp and Filter Envelopes are hardwired to their stated destinations, two further envelopes are available for free assignment. All four envelopes are ADSRs, and all but the Amp Envelope can be inverted for ‘downward’ modulation. The envelope’s T slider stretches or compresses the Attack, Decay and Release stage lengths when dragged above or below the centre point. 3

The envelope’s V slider determines the amount by which velocity modulates the envelope or target parameter. For the Amp Envelope, set V to 0 to make every note play at full velocity, regardless of actual input velocity. For the Filter Envelope, V sets the depth of filter cutoff modulation by velocity. For the assignable envelopes, V adjusts velocity modulation of envelope depth.

4

The two monophonic LFOs are identical, offering a wide range of waveforms, up to ten seconds of fade-in, retriggering and phase adjustment. They can run Free from 0.02-20Hz or Synced to host from 16 bars to 1/16 of a beat; and while the Depth knob sets the modulation amount, lighting up the Subtle button pulls it back for instant taming.

5

Phonec CM’s unique High Frequency Oscillator ( HFO) enables audio-rate modulation of oscillator pitch, frequency and amplitude, as well as filter cutoff and pulse width, for all manner of crazy metallic and bell-like sounds. Tune the effect with the Octave, Semi and Tune controls, and shape its movement over time with the dedicated envelope.