Synthesizer Basics; Editing Presets; Modulation - E-Mu ProteusX Operation Manual

9 - Synthesizer Basics

Editing Presets

9 - Synthesizer Basics
This chapter contains background information on the various programming aspects of
synthesizers.
If you are new to synthesizers and electronic music, you may need more background
information than this manual provides. There are many books dedicated to synthesizer
basics and MIDI available through your local music dealer. Magazines such as Keyboard
and Electronic Musician, available at most newsstands, contain current information on
the subject, as well as valuable programming tips. The internet is a also a rich source of
information on this subject. Seek and you shall find.
Your initial involvement with the Proteus X will most likely consist of using the existing
banks and presets. While our factory banks and presets are very good, there are probably
some things you would like to change, perhaps the LFO speed, the filter setting, or the
attack time. Eventually, you'll want to make your own custom presets using complex
modulation routings.
Editing Presets
It's easy to create new presets by modifying existing presets. This is really the best way of
getting acquainted with the Proteus X. If you don't like the results, simply reload the
preset or bank and you'll be back to the original sound. Changes are not made
permanent until you SAVE a bank. Therefore, you can experiment all you want with
presets, voices and samples without worrying about losing a sound.
We encourage you to actually try out the different functions as you read about them.
Hearing what a control actually does will remove a lot of the mystery associated with it.
The Proteus X contains an extensive modulation implementation using two multi-wave
LFO's (Low Frequency Oscillators), three envelope generators, and the ability to
respond to multiple MIDI performance controllers. You can simultaneously route any
combination of these control sources to multiple destinations.

Modulation

Modulation means to dynamically change a parameter, whether it be the volume
(amplitude modulation), the pitch (frequency modulation), or whatever. Turning the
volume control on your home stereo rapidly back and forth would be an example of
amplitude modulation. To modulate something we need a modulation source and a
modulation destination. The source is your hand turning the knob, and the destination
is the volume control. If we had a device that would automatically turn the volume
control, we would also call that device a modulation source.
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