Using automation to trigger LFOs in a synth?

Is there a way to start/stop LFOs in a synth using automation somehow? Say I have a clip that I patched with a synth VST (i.e. Z3TA), and I want the LFO to start and stop at specific parts of the song, several different times, while the rest of the synth's settings remain the same and conitues playing normally for the other parts of the song.

For example, say I have a synth line that plays continuously from verse 1, to chorus, then to verse 2. And I want like a filter sweep as it transitions from verse 1 to chorus, then again from chorus to verse 2. Then the LFO would need to start at the end of verse 1, stop right before the chorus begins, start at the end of the chorus, then end right before verse 2 begins.

I hope that isn't too confusing. Is there a way to achieve this using automation? Thanks in advance

garrigus


It depends on the synth, but yes that can be done. You can either record the automation, or create it by hand using an envelope.

After adding the synth to a project, click the Edit Filter control in the track, choose the automation parameter. Then edit the envelope that appears in the track.

Take a look at this video for some info about automation in SONAR...
http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/video.asp?ID=6

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
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Let's focus on Z3TA+ 1.5, since it comes with X1 Producer and I don't know that I'll be upgrading to Z3TA+2 (not anytime soon at least). I am in fact familiar with using automation for use with volume/pan envelopes and such, but not with LFO within a synth. In fact, I did know you can trigger the VST itself with automation envelopes, but not specific things WITHIN the VST. You can actually specifically choose the LFO of a synth (not the entire synth itself) to be controlled with an automation envelope?


I did watch the video by the way, and it did a good job explaining automation in general, but didn't really explain to me about routing specific settings within a synth (i.e. LFO) to an automation envelope.

garrigus


Yes, even though the video only talks about volume, the procedure is exactly the same for creating synth automation envelopes.

After you add Z3TA+ to a project, click the Edit Filter control on the synth track and choose Automation > Z3TA+ and you'll see an entire list of parameters for which you can create automation envelopes.

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview

Awesome! I'm glad there are options for that.


Another question. If I set a parameter for the LFO, is there a way to make the LFO actually BEGIN/STOP at a particular time? Or will the LFO be going on continuously from the beginning, but will only be heard when the envlope is lifted at the particular time? Does that question make sense?

vaultwit

Another question. If I set a parameter for the LFO, is there a way to make the LFO actually BEGIN/STOP at a particular time? Or will the LFO be going on continuously from the beginning, but will only be heard when the envlope is lifted at the particular time? Does that question make sense?

Yes, after you add the envelope, drag it up or down to whatever value will turn off the LFO. Then use the selection method shown in the video to set the value to on during certain times of the project.

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview