When using a filter with an LFO, when does the LFO start?

hduncan · 21st November 2008

Say I assign the LFO to modulate panning starting 100% left and going 100% right and so that it repeats every 4 beats.

When does that LFO activate?

Does it start based on the beginning of the song's marker? or does it start based on whenever you press play?

The concern is consistency- sometimes I've found that I loop something, add in a cyclical effect, probably modulation, and I get it sounding great- but then I play it from a different spot and the rhythmic element is all off because its not modulating the same as it was when I played it at a different place...

TEMAS · 21st November 2008

It depends what features the Filter and LFO has. If there's no 'reset' or 'sync' setting then you probably don't have the option to decide when it should begin its course, or where in cycle the start point is.

The Nord Modular, for example has an LFO module which has an input for reseting the LFO cycle and a phase control to determine where in the cycle the LFO begins its course from.

hduncan · 21st November 2008

So it depends on the unit...

For instance- the LFO cycle could start as soon as the DAW loads, as soon as its instantiated, or as soon as you press play, not necessarily sync/snapping to the bars/beats (Which is what i'd want it to do).

So if it has a sync button, theres a good chance that its snapping to the bars/beats and will be consistent no matter where I press play?

dlmorley · 21st November 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkEcho

So it depends on the unit...

For instance- the LFO cycle could start as soon as the DAW loads, as soon as its instantiated, or as soon as you press play, not necessarily sync/snapping to the bars/beats (Which is what i'd want it to do).

So if it has a sync button, theres a good chance that its snapping to the bars/beats and will be consistent no matter where I press play?

A free running LFO would start when it loads (assuming software) and basically start at a random point.
One with reset or Sync will start on key down. Some you can also choose where it starts in the LFO waveform.

21st November 2008	#1
hduncan Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Fresno, California Posts: 2,013 Thread Starter	When using a filter with an LFO, when does the LFO start? Say I assign the LFO to modulate panning starting 100% left and going 100% right and so that it repeats every 4 beats. When does that LFO activate? Does it start based on the beginning of the song's marker? or does it start based on whenever you press play? The concern is consistency- sometimes I've found that I loop something, add in a cyclical effect, probably modulation, and I get it sounding great- but then I play it from a different spot and the rhythmic element is all off because its not modulating the same as it was when I played it at a different place... __________________ //Hawk Duncan [2.66Ghz i7 MacBook Pro, 8GB, Logic 9, ProFire2626]

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21st November 2008	#2
TEMAS Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2006 Location: London Posts: 1,434	It depends what features the Filter and LFO has. If there's no 'reset' or 'sync' setting then you probably don't have the option to decide when it should begin its course, or where in cycle the start point is. The Nord Modular, for example has an LFO module which has an input for reseting the LFO cycle and a phase control to determine where in the cycle the LFO begins its course from.