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Chapter 8 Modulation 105
Ensemble
The Ensemble is like a pitch shifter on steroids—it consists of eight internal,
modulatable pitch shifters. Two standard LFOs and one random LFO enable you to
come up with fairly complex pitch modulations, which—much like a natural chorus
effect—conjure up the impression of an instrumental or vocal ensemble. The
Ensemble’s graphic visually represents the number of voices, and their modulations.
Use the Voices slider to determine how many voices (1 to 8) are generated, in addition
to the original. Please note that the plug-in’s appetite for computer resources increases
proportionally to the number of voices: When you activate eight voices, the Ensemble
requires roughly eight times the CPU power of a pitch shifter.
The two conventional LFOs and the random LFO (which generates random
modulations), each feature a Rate knob that controls frequency, and an Intensity slider
to determine the modulation width.
The Phase knob controls the phase relationship between the modulations of the
individual voices. The value that you select here depends on the number of voices,
which is why it is indicated in percentages rather than degrees. The value 100 (or −100)
is equal to the greatest possible distance between the modulation phase of all voices.
Here, the voices are distributed an equal distance apart over the full 360°.
The Stereo Base slider serves to distribute the voices across the stereo field. When you
set a value of 100%, the stereo base is expanded artificially. Please note that monaural
compatibility may suffer.
In addition to the familiar Mix slider that determines the balance of dry and wet signals,
the Ensemble also features an Effect Volume knob. This lets you determine the level of
the effects signal separately. This feature allows you to compensate for changes in
volume caused by manipulating the Voices parameter.