How do you set up a gating effect with hardware synths?

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-- How do you set up a gating effect with hardware synths?

Posted by Limit on Jan-15-2005 06:08:

How do you set up a gating effect with hardware synths?

Now I know this can be done but I'm not sure if you need an external unit to do this or not? I want to creat an effect like the Trancegate on Vanguard VST...I've tried routing an LFO(or two) to the volume on some of my synths but it still doesnt give me the same effect. I've always wanted to know how to do this...so how?

Posted by ONION on Jan-15-2005 06:38:

I dont own any hardware synths... however Ive achieved a gating effect in Albino 2 using an LFO on a Cutoff...

Posted by FrancoR on Jan-15-2005 06:54:

what synth you have?
i think thats impossible

Posted by Limit on Jan-15-2005 07:07:

well I have about seven synths(but most notably the Waldorf Q and Microwave Xt, that are a programmers dream...real indepth programming...the Xt has one of the craziest mod matrix's I've ever come a cross)....an no its not imposible...I just figured it out...it can be done through midi.

Thanks for the replys...stupid idiot I am..i already knew the answer and totally forgot how to do it.

Posted by luizmenezesjr on Jan-15-2005 09:46:

Try to assign an LFO to the volume, using an square shape (on/off).

Posted by Limit on Jan-15-2005 19:03:

exactly what I did in the first place..but it sucks. anyway thanks for the replys.

Posted by RiCo on Jan-15-2005 19:26:

Hey man, just record it and use a gate plugin. =o)

Posted by Limit on Jan-16-2005 05:48:

not the same feeling...a sound will totally sound different when played witha gate and without.

Posted by RiCo on Jan-16-2005 14:51:

Yeah, you're right but it was just a suggestion. I barely have time to even look at my gear, so I haven't messed with gating a lot.

Posted by fr0st on Jan-16-2005 15:04:

quote:
Originally posted by Limit
well I have about seven synths(but most notably the Waldorf Q and Microwave Xt, that are a programmers dream...real indepth programming...the Xt has one of the craziest mod matrix's I've ever come a cross)....an no its not imposible...I just figured it out...it can be done through midi.

Thanks for the replys...stupid idiot I am..i already knew the answer and totally forgot how to do it.

why dont you share with us how you achieved it?

Posted by Limit on Jan-16-2005 17:36:

well its pretty easy...set up a midi track, record the notes u want to play(or not0 double click teh midi track to open it. Then in the controller display(on the bottom in sx) choose volume(u might have to add it yourself from the menu)...now set where u want the volume to go in and out in the controller lane with the pencil tool.

Now you have your custom made fully functioning gate..and you can play it live too.

Posted by DickieThijssen on Jan-16-2005 19:16:

there are also some vst fx plugins which duplicate the vanguard gate... Just draw some blocks and it works perfectly

Posted by Limit on Jan-16-2005 19:47:

yes but those plugs are post not pre..so you have to record teh audio first then gate them..this is exactly what I don't want since it takes away from the sound design process...but when able to do this live it helps to atain the right sound and is much better in my opinon....but yes teh vst fx are good if your just looking for that effect as an addon and not part of your programming.

Posted by luizmenezesjr on Jan-16-2005 23:55:

If you want to play live, without sequencing the gated channel, another option is an effect box...

I have a Boss VF-1 and it have a SLICER effect, with works like an gate.

Posted by Limit on Jan-17-2005 00:16:

yes but can you input the slice points..so it doesn'r sound like a wah wah effect...I'm gonna research that unit now..if you can set slice points I'll be sure to pick one up.

Posted by luizmenezesjr on Jan-17-2005 00:30:

I have to look more on this effect, but what I remember is you can't enter your slice pattern, but you can choose from various preseted patterns.

The Boss GT-6 has this effect too.. And the new synths with COSM fx processor may have it too...

I have a Roland Rs-5 and it has one.

Posted by TXHARP on Jan-17-2005 16:00:

quote:
Originally posted by luizmenezesjr
I have a Boss VF-1 and it have a SLICER effect, with works like an gate.

The Motif ES has a Slicer insert effect as well. It's wonderful!

Posted by fr0st on Jan-17-2005 16:09:

quote:
Originally posted by Limit
well its pretty easy...set up a midi track, record the notes u want to play(or not0 double click teh midi track to open it. Then in the controller display(on the bottom in sx) choose volume(u might have to add it yourself from the menu)...now set where u want the volume to go in and out in the controller lane with the pencil tool.

Now you have your custom made fully functioning gate..and you can play it live too.

would that be the same a applying a square wave LFO to modulate the volume?

Posted by Limit on Jan-17-2005 17:05:

well no...since the square wave pulses in one legnth per pulse...it is possible to route the squre lfo to lets say a envelop but you would still not get teh same effect. See what you can do with the midi implementation is set any, I guess you could call it gate points, instead of just having fixed points with the LFO. So all in all you get a more interesting gating function.