Panda-Audio Future Impact v3 User Manual page 50

Note: ​ W e wanted to show you the above method so that you fully understand the processes
and signal paths involved in setting up a synth sound from scratch. Now that you have, you
may be happy to learn that there is a shortcut to setting up a basic starting sound - simply
press the ​ I NIT​ button in the ​ P ROGRAM ​ p anel to get an initialized patch of a single sawtooth
oscillator (along with some dry input instrument signal in the Main Mixer).
Now let's look at creating a sound using the ​ D istortion ​ b lock. Use the block adjust function
to zero out all the blocks again.
To hear a sound using the Distortion block you will need to raise the following sliders:
1. At least one slider in the Harmonizer Mixer section - e.g. HARM MIX INSTR;
2. The distortion block signal going into the filter - VCF INPUT DIST;
3. The VCF outputs of the Main Mixer - MAIN MIXER VCF LIN ​ a nd ​ . ..
4. MAIN MIXER VCF LOG.
Again, if not bypassed, the filter will need to be set with a sufficiently high cutoff to allow
sound through. Let's bypass the filter this time so set the VCF TYPE slider to OFF.
At this point you should hear sound but it might be very faint. This is because the sound is
being made using your instrument as opposed to the synth; the synth has a much hotter
output than the instrument signal. If you recall, unity gain of the instrument input is achieved
when its sliders are at 127. Turn the VCF DIST and HARM MIX INSTR sliders to 127. Now
also raise the DISTORTION TONE slider to 127 and you should notice a marked increase in
volume. If it's still not enough, try raising the VCF LIN and VCF LOG sliders.
Now experiment with the positions of the DISTORTION GRADE and TONE sliders. You may
need to back off some of the volume sliders at high GRADE settings.
Now raise the HARM MIXER VOICE2 VAR slider until you hear distortion at a 5th above the
original sound. Adjust the HARMONIZER TRANSPOSE VOICE2 slider to hear the different
intervals.
If desired, repeat the process with VOICE 3 and finally add in the VOICE1 slider. Experiment
with different combinations, paying attention to the volumes, until you find a setting you like.
You could also mix in some of your dry instrument signal using the INSTR slider in the Main
Mixer. (If you wanted to, you could also switch the filter back on and adjust its settings and
the VCF envelope settings as described above to further shape your sound.) When you are
satisfied with the result, click ​ S AVE​ to archive the sound to your computer.
Hopefully you now have a better idea of how to go about creating your own sounds.
Remember that you can create a sound using a mixture of the synth and the distortion
blocks. If necessary, go back over the explanations given in the parameter block
descriptions to reacquaint yourself with what the various VCO, LFO and effects sliders do
and begin experimenting; again stick to using a single VCO until you are comfortable with
the controls. Don't be afraid to try things out - let your ears be your guide. We hope that your
Future Impact v3 brings you many years of joyful music-making!
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