Alchemy is a tremendously versatile synth, but its VA engine is the real star of the show. Mark Cousins explores some classic subtractive sounds… With Granular, Additive and Formant-based synthesis modes, Alchemy is a complex and vast synthesizer that can take years to truly master.
At its heart, however, Alchemy has a surprisingly easy-to-use virtual […]. Mark Cousins explores some classic subtractive sounds…. With Granular, Additive and Formant-based synthesis modes, Alchemy is a complex and vast synthesizer that can take years to truly master. VA Basics Thanks to a clear and intuitive interface, the basic principles of VA synthesis on Alchemy are easy to understand.
In VA mode, the four sources can each be assigned a variety of starting waveshapes, including the classic Sawtooth, Pulse and Square as well as a variety of more esoteric, harmonically-complex waveshapes. The output of the oscillators is then passed on to two multimode filters, which can work in either parallel or serial configuration, before being passed to the alchemy logic pro x review free. What seems an initially straightforward set of synthesis controls reveals additional depths and sonic powers as you move deeper into the architecture.
One of these expanded controls — found alchemy logic pro x review free the far right-hand side — are the Unison controls that double-up the oscillators with up to 16 additional voices. Add copious amounts of detune, and from just a single oscillator you can produce a sound of eight or more analogue synthesizers stacked on top of one another.
Like the ES2, Alchemy has two filters that can either be used one after another so that the output of the first filter feeds into the nextor in parallel where the two filters run concurrently. You can also route the four oscillators so that they address either Filter 1 or 2, making it possible to create some unique hybrid effects. Modulation, of course, is the point at which any synthesizer starts to get interesting — mapping a variety of modulation sources like envelopes and LFOs through to any number of controls within the synthesizer.
What makes Alchemy an exciting proposition is both the wealth of modulation sources available — including a Multi-stage Envelope Generator MSEG and Step Sequencer among all the usual Envelopes and LFOs — and the fact that they can be routed to any parameter within the synth.
Simply click on the drop-down menu and you can select a modulation source from the comprehensive list. Reduce the depth control, for example, and the band shrinks, having less of an impact on the destination parameter.
As evident on many of the presets, the Step Sequencer is a great way of adding movement and animation into your Alchemy patches, especially when you combine multiple track lanes and clever parameter routing. In keeping with the flexibility across the rest of the synth, Alchemy provides a total of five effect buses A, B, C, D and Main each of which can be assigned its own chain of effects.
In theory, you can route individual oscillators directly to the effects section bypassing the filters or in the same way, route individual filter outs directly to their own effect bus. Combined with the flexibility filter routing, it means that you really exploit hybrid sounds, layering different filters and effects as part of the same patch.
Understanding the architecture of Alchemy via the familiarity of VA synthesis is alchemy logic pro x review free great first step in a more comprehensive understanding of the synth.
In truth, the more esoteric and unusual Source modules tap alchemy logic pro x review free this same architecture, so that what once seemed like an oscillator has miraculously alchemy logic pro x review free a granular synth engine. Although the source module changes, the route through the synth — including the filters, FX routing and modulation routing — remains the same. Look out for more in a future tutorial. Sync creates a form of pitch-based distortion, whereby the wavecycles of two oscillators are locked together.
As well as a Unison option, you can also activate a noise source, which is great for synth percussion effects, or adding a touch of grit into fast-moving sequencer lines. This tutorial is endorsed by Point Blank. You can study sound to picture on their Music Production Diploma courses, with pro industry tutors. Apple Logic Pro Soft Synths. Soundcore Motion Boom Plus review: Getting alchemy logic pro x review free party started just got a whole lot easier.