Ultrabeat Mod and via modulation in MainStage

You can modulate a sound parameter using an adjustable value—the modulation depth or intensity—with the mod parameter. You can choose between two LFOs, four envelope generators, and Max as sources for this modulation.

Via influences the modulation effect as follows. The depth of the first modulation (mod) can be modulated by a separate, independent source. The intensity of this secondary modulation is set with the via parameter. The sources for via modulations include velocity and four user-definable MIDI controllers.

A typical via modulation usage would be to increase a pitch sweep as you play at higher velocities. The harder a key is played, the higher in pitch it sounds—which is ideal for synthesized tom-tom sounds, for example. To create this routing, you would use an envelope (Env) as the mod source for oscillator pitch, and Velocity (Vel) as the via source.

Consider the following example:

The default Cut (Cutoff) parameter value is 0.50. No modulation source has been chosen in either the (blue) mod or (green) via pop-up menu. Both are Off in the image below.

When a modulation source is chosen from the mod pop-up menu (Env 1 in the image below), the ring around the knob is turned on. Drag in the ring to set a value (0.70 in the example) for the Cut parameter—when affected by the mod source.

Note: Exact values are shown in the help tags when adjusting parameters.

Figure. Cutoff knob, showing adjustment to Mod menu parameter value.

As soon as a modulation source is chosen from the via pop-up menu (Ctrl A in the image below), a movable slider appears on the mod ring. Drag this slider to set the maximum modulation value that can be reached through use of the via source (0.90 in this example).

Figure. Cutoff knob, showing adjustment to via menu parameter value.

The mod and via controls indicate the minimum and maximum values that the modulated parameter can attain, in comparison to the default value.

In the example, the Cut(off) frequency of the filter is set to a default value of 0.50. The mod source (Env 1) drives the Cut value up from 0.50 to 0.70 during the sound attack phase and back down to 0.50 during the decay phase.

When the via source (Ctrl A) is introduced, the following occurs: when Ctrl A is at its minimum value, nothing changes; Cutoff continues to be modulated between values of 0.50 and 0.70 by the envelope (Env 1). A maximum value for Ctrl A causes the envelope generator to vary the parameter between the values of 0.50 (the default Cut value) and 0.90 (the via amount).

You can see the degree of maximum influence on basic parameters by the mod and via modulation sources—the area between the mod and via points shows the amount that the modulation depth can be further altered by the via modulation source. In the example, the Cutoff can reach values between 0.70 and 0.90, depending on the value being sent by Ctrl A.

Another example:

Figure. Cutoff knob, showing three different values for the via range.

Cutoff is again set to 0.50, Env 1 now drives the value down to 0.25, and a maximum Ctrl A value reduces the Cutoff frequency down to 0.

The example below illustrates the simplicity and speed of Ultrabeat modulation options:

Figure. Cutoff knob modulation settings example.

In this example, the modulation intensity of Env 1, which affects Cutoff, is controlled with the dynamics of the performance (Vel). The secondary via modulation also controls its direction. Try this setting in Ultrabeat to create some interesting sounds.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: Apple Books | PDF

MainStage Instruments: Apple Books | PDF

MainStage Effects: Apple Books | PDF

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