Chapter 11 Advanced Sound Shaping Controls
54
42 Shifting Harmonics

Now that you’ve tried out a few different Algorithms (in Tip 41 above), tweak the FM sound some more with

the Modulator controls. These give you enormous control over the sound of the DX200 Voices — letting

you add a rich spectrum of harmonics to the sound, and/or radically change the basic pitch.

1 Select a Pattern and enable the keyboard for playing

the Voice.

2 Press the MODULATOR [SELECT] button to select one

of the Modulator settings: “3”, “ 2”, “ 1”, or “ALL.”

3 Now, tweak the [HARMONIC] knob.

Hear how the sound changes? Notice the change in pitch and the added

harmonics you get when you twist the knob.

If the sound doesn’t seem to change much, try a different Modulator setting

(in Step 2 above). Also try selecting a different Algorithm Type (Tip 41),

and see what wild sounds you can generate with just these controls.

• Work with FM Depth
FM Depth has a huge impact on how the Harmonic control works. For best results, you’ll want
to tweak both these knobs in turn. Check out Tip 43 and discover the broad spectrum of
sound-shaping possibilities they give you.
• Fine tuning
Since the sound and pitch can radically shift with even the slightest knob tweak, you may want
to use the [DATA] knob instead. This lets you control Harmonic much more slowly. Make
sure you turn [HARMONIC] knob first, so that Harmonic is called up for the [DATA] knob.
• Bring in the highs
When using Modulator and the FM-related knobs to craft a Voice, make sure to adjust the VCF
controls to appropriate settings, so that you can hear all of the high harmonics being gener-
ated. Remember, you can always back off on the knobs later if the sound is too “edgy.”

Modulator Select

Determines which group of Modulators in the
Algorithm is selected for control by the [HAR-
MONIC], [FM DEPTH], and [DECAY] knobs.
The actual effect of this and which Modula-
tors are actually selected depends on the
Algorithm setting (page 53). (For more about
Modulators and FM Synthesis, also see page
116.)
To select, press the MODULATOR [SELECT]
button. There are three groups of Modula-
tors, to which one or more Modulators are
arbitrarily assigned. Selecting “ALL” gives
you control over all three of the Modulator
groups, for the greatest amount of harmonic
change.
Settings
3
Selects the third group of Modulators.
2
Selects the second group of Modulators.
1
Selects the first group of Modulators.
ALL
Selects all Modulators.
For a chart showing all 32 algorithms and
the Modulator groups, see page 123.

Harmonic

Determines the frequency of the selected
Modulators. First, select the desired group of
Modulators (in Modulator Select above), then
tweak the [HARMONIC] knob.
Range
-64 — 63