Waves Audio Flow Motion FM Synth User Guide

Flow Motion FM Synthesizer

User Guide

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Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3

Quick Start .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Interface ...................................................................................................................................................... 9

Flow Screen .....................................................................................................................................................................9

Motion Screen ................................................................................................................................................................10

General Controls ............................................................................................................................................................11

Managing Presets ..................................................................................................................................... 12

Controls ..................................................................................................................................................... 14

Flow Screen ...................................................................................................................................................................14

Oscillator Controls ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Oscilloscope .............................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Arpeggiator/Note Sequencer ..................................................................................................................................................... 17

Motion Screen ................................................................................................................................................................19

Filter Section ............................................................................................................................................................................. 19

EQ Section ................................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Amplitude Section ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22

FX Section................................................................................................................................................................................. 23

Global Section ........................................................................................................................................................................... 24

Controls Common to Both Screens ................................................................................................................................26

Modulators ................................................................................................................................................................................ 27

Master Volume .......................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Snapshot Sequencer ................................................................................................................................................................. 29

MIDI Learn ................................................................................................................................................................................ 31

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Introduction

Frequency modulation synthesis has been a popular tool among sound designers and musicians for decades.

Although still widely used, frequency modulation (FM) synthesizers are most closely associated with music of the

1980s. The introduction of off-the-shelf synthesizers–most notably the Yamaha DX7–paved the way for many artists,

such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Phil Collins, to create the signature sound of the time.

FM synthesis combines at least two oscillators: a carrier and a modulator. The carrier frequency forms the

foundation of the sound, and it’s usually controlled by MIDI. The modulator alters the characteristics of the carrier by

manipulating its phase and pitch.

Despite their success in forging a new sound, FM synthesizer-based instruments were considered to be complicated

and unwieldy. Waves now offers Flow Motion as an alternative approach to the traditional process of FM synthesis.

It brings FM synthesis to a level far above the classic instruments of the 1980s, with a workflow that is logical and

easy to understand.

What is Flow Motion?

Flow Motion is an advanced FM-based synthesizer. Its unique matrix design, coupled with a built-in snapshot

sequencer, makes Flow Motion one of the most powerful and flexible digital instruments today. Among its features:

• An extended four-oscillator matrix with controllable interconnections.

• Four independent LFO/Envelope modulators. Each can be patched to inserts throughout the signal flow.

• Dedicated sections for filters, EQ, amplitude, FX and delay, voices, and pitch.

All Flow Motion controls are structured within a snapshot system. This allows you to store up to 16 different patches,

in sequencer steps that vary in musical intervals.

Even with this power and flexibility, Flow Motion is easy to learn, thanks to its intuitive design.

Flow Motion can be used as a plugin or as a standalone instrument.

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Quick Start

Flow Motion is flexible and modular. There are different types of synthesis that you can work with, and there are many

different ways to go about getting what you want. This Quick Start presents three different ways to use Flow Motion. This

ought to be enough to get you going. The rest is up to you.

FM Synthesis

FM synthesis, at its simplest, is modulating two or more oscillators—one modulating the others. At least one

oscillator must be in an audible range, otherwise there’s no point doing it. An oscillator can modulate the others

through phase or frequency. Traditionally, this is done via an integrated Attack-Decay-Sustain-Release (ADSR)

envelope that controls the level of the modulation over time. In Flow Motion, the envelopes can be set to either a

traditional ADSR envelope or an LFO. These modulators are “floating” and can be assigned to any of the oscillators

or to other parameter controls.

This Quick Start takes you through the steps of setting up basic frequency modulation.

1. Insert Flow Motion on an instrument track of your host application or
launch the standalone application.

2. Activate Oscillator (OSC 1). Set all Pitch controls and Ratio to their
default positions. The easiest way to do this is to go to the load menu in
the WaveSystem toolbar and select “Flow Motion Full Reset.” Increase
the oscillator gain until you see activity on the oscilloscope.

3. Select a waveform type.

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4. Activate Oscillator (OSC) 2. Set it so a different
waveform type. Slowly bring up the modulation path
level on OSC and listen to the results. Note that the
waveform on the oscilloscope is being distorted.

5. This is an effective way to create complex and
harmonically rich waveforms. This modulation is,
however, static over time. Let’s make it more
dynamic.

6. Bring the modulation knob back to zero and assign a
floating modulation (Mod A) to one of the two
modulation slots on the path between OSC1 and
OSC2.

7. Assign the modulator by dragging it onto the desired modulation slot.

8. Drag over the modulation slot to adjust modulation depth.

9. Set Mod A as an ADSR envelope. For this example, lets increase only the Decay
value. Now the modulation happens only when playing a new note and it fades out
based on the ADSR Decay time that we have just set.

10. Experiment with different Envelope values: switch the Envelope to an LFO, patch
additional modulations and connections between the oscillators. But be careful, it’s very
easy to reach unpleasant sounds when overdoing FM modulation. Back off until the
effect is what you are seeking.

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Analog Oscillators

The four Flow oscillators can also be used in a more traditional,

subtractive, “analog” manner. They can be summed together to create

harmonically rich, stereophonic waveforms. When this signal is passed

through a resonant filter, you can create particularly rich, fat sounds.

1. Begin by turning on all four oscillators. Adjust their pitch, panning and gain

controls to create the initial sound that you’re looking for.

2. Use the floating modulators to enhance the movement and dynamics of the

sound. Modulator slots are spread throughout the interface. Click on a slot and

select a modulator from the drop-down menu or drag a modulator handle directly

onto a slot

3. Once you’re happy with the oscillator sound, move to the “Motion” screen. Here,

the filter is a main player.

4. Adjust the filter’s Cutoff

frequency to determine

the color and timbre of

your sound.

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5. Use the integrated ADSR envelope to create dynamic filter movements

per note.

6. Change the value of the ENV control to engage these ADSR envelope

settings. Increase the ENV level and the filter cutoff frequency will increase

based on the envelope. Lower the ENV value and the filter cutoff frequency

will decrease. Raise the value and it will be lower.

Snapshot Sequencer

The Snapshot Sequencer is one of Flow Motion’s most powerful features. It enables you to capture different states
of the synth and switch between them in musical rates, in real-time. There are 16 steps, each of which can
accommodate one snapshot. To get familiar with the Snapshot sequencer let’s begin by switching between four
snapshots.

Creating the Snapshots

1. Create a sound that you’re happy with. By default, this will be written to snapshot number one. Select the next
step and set up Flow Motion as you like. These parameters will be copied to that snapshot. Continue until you
have four snapshots in the sequence.

2. Drag the vertical cursor left or right to limit the number of steps that will be played in the sequence.

3. Click and drag vertically on frames to change the sequence in which snapshots are triggered. A snapshot can
be repeated or skipped altogether.

4. Select the “dice” icon. This will randomly play one of the 16 snapshots when that frame is triggered.

5. Click once on a snapshot to load it into the synth.

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Play the Sequence

There are three ways to trigger the sequencer and to set its rate.

1. In “Host” mode, the sequencer is locked to your DAW. Flow Motion and the host move in tandem.

2. In “BPM” mode, the sequencer runs freely regardless of whether the host plays or not.

3. In the “Key” mode, the sequencer is retriggered whenever a new note is played.

Note: The sequencer Play button must be engaged to enable transport activity. Once the Snapshot Sequencer is in

Play mode, it will wait for a trigger from the Host transport or a Key. It will play immediately when set to BPM.

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The four oscillators are controlled in the Flow Screen. Paths between the oscillators vary in

brightness based on signal level. Envelope and LFO modulators (right) can be inserted in a

number of places in the signal flow.

Arpeggiator / Note Sequencer

Oscillator section

Interface

Flow Screen

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The Motion screen features additional sound design sections that enable further tweaking and

adjustments to compliment the patch. It consists of five main sections: Filter, EQ, Amplitude, FX

and Global.

Effects Section

Global Section

Filter Section

EQ Section

Amplitude Section

Interface

Motion Screen

Flow Motion / User Guide