Creating your first MPE patch with Equator 2
Although an increasing array of plugins and DAWs now come stocked with MPE presets you can use right out the box, synths such as Roli’s new Equator 2 make it easy to design your own custom patches for use with an MPE controller. Let’s build a simple virtual analogue poly sound, and tailor it for MPE expression
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Starting from an Init patch, we’re using two vintage synth wavetables from the Analog library, spaced an octave apart. We’ve set up LFOs 1 and 2 to slowly modulate each wavetable’s position. Next we engage Filter 1 in LPF 12 mode, roll the cutoff down to around 12 o’clock and add slight resonance.
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We use Env 2 to add some cutoff modulation, then head to Env 1 – routed to the amp – and increase attack and release a little. To finish our basic patch we add a touch of reverb. Combined the result is a pretty straightforward analogue poly sound. Now let’s make this work with MPE.
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In the centre of Equator’s Mod Panels are the five transfer curve editors. These can be set in either MPE or standard mode. In MPE mode, these offer Strike, Slide, Glide, Pressure and Lift inputs. Clicking any of these selects it as a modulation source. Drag on a control to route it.
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Strike (ie velocity) is automatically routed to the amp level, and Glide automatically controls pitch. We can edit the response of these to taste by adjusting the transfer curves – either shape a custom curve in the box, or load a preset using the folder icon.
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Now we route Pressure (aftertouch) to filter cutoff. We add a noise source as a third oscillator, and use Slide to control its level. Finally we route Lift (release velocity) to negatively modulate the Amp Env release, so our sound becomes more abrupt depending on how quickly we ‘lift’ from the controller.
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With the MPE expression signals routed to logical places, play your patch and tweak the transfer curves and modulation depth in the Mod Matrix window. Adjusting these parameters is key to getting the right ‘feel’ from your sound.