User Manual

39
Usage Tips
Although we’ve already mentioned this
a few times, it bears repeating that to
obtain the most interesting results from
ARTICULATOR Evo, it’s most important to
select appropriate Control and Audio Signals.
Control Signals
•
First and foremost, the Control Signal
should be dynamic, both in formant
information and volume (as would be
case with speaking or singing).
•
Since the actual pitch of the output is provided
by the Audio Signal, if you are singing the
lyrics to a song, it’s not necessary to sing the
actual notes of the melody for the Control
Signal. It’s only necessary to enunciate the
words clearly and distinctly, with whatever
expressive gestures are appropriate for
the track. Even a monotone will work.
•
Don’t limit yourself just to words. All manner
of vocalizations and vocal effects can be used
to provide a dynamic Control Signal. Try vocal
beat box sounds or the kinds of vocal wah
wahs that simulate a resonant synth filter.
•
Interesting effects can result from using
the amplitude envelope of an intricately
rhythmic Control Signal like congas,
tablas, or even an entire drum track.
Audio Signals
•
The most important characteristic of a good
Audio Signal is that it has rich harmonic
content. The formant information from
the Control Signal essentially accentuates
certain frequencies while attenuating
others. But you can only hear this effect if
the Audio Signal actually contains harmonic
information at those frequencies.
Using a sine wave, for instance, which
contains only a fundamental frequency with
no harmonics, would provide almost no raw
material for the Control Signal to act on. Most
solo instruments (e.g., trumpet, flute, violin,
etc.), as well as solo voice, are not much better.
Again, better candidates are rich synth pads,
distortion-rich guitar sounds, thick chords (from
any combination of instruments), and even
whole mixes.
•
An exception to the point above is that if you
are only interested in using the Control Signal
to provide amplitude modulation, the harmonic
content of the Audio Signal will not be an issue.
•
If you do want the Control Signal to provide the
rhythmic articulation, the Envelope Amount
control should be set at 100 and the Audio
Signal should be sustained in nature.
•
If the Audio Signal itself is rhythmic and you
want to preserve that rhythm, set the Envelope
Amount control to 0, in which case the Control
Signal will affect only the harmonic articulation.