AL-1 Programming Analog Sounds Tutorial by Dan Phillips

Get more out of the AL-1 engine

This is a tutorial Dan made for everyone to get more out of the AL-1 engine.

Here’s the start of a tutorial. For now, it focuses only on sawtooth wave sounds, building to a simple pad and a few bass sounds. Many of these methods are already in the Parameter Guide, though there is at least one new one. Let me know what you think.

AL-1_Screen

 

 

 

 

 

Download the accompanying file here:
http://www.danphillips.com/kronos/AL-1_Tutorial_1.zip

  • Start with an initialized EXi Program (this contains a single initialized AL-1 by default)
    Go to the EXi1 4–1: OSC Basic page
    Set both Osc 1 and Osc 2 waveforms to Saw
    Set the initial phase for both Osc 1 and Osc 2 to Random
    Set Osc 2 tune to +0008
    Set Osc 2 frequency offset to +00.1Hz
    Go to the 4–1: Program Basic page
    Under Scale, set Random to 2

 

  • At this point, you have a rudimentary approximation of the sound from “Jump.”

You can also experiment with the oscillator Edge parameter (which controls the brightness of the oscillator waveform – not a filter!), Drive, and Low Boost (which is designed to interact with Drive).

Next:
Go to the EXi1 5–1: Filter Basic page
Set Filter A frequency to 25
Go to the EXi1 5–3: Filter Modulation page
In the Filter EG section, set Filter A Velocity Int. to +75
Go to the 7–1: EG 1 (Filter) page
Set EG one attack time to 32
Now, you have a simple brass sound. Save it.

Go to the EXi1 5–1: Filter Basic page
Set Filter A resonance at 35
This produces a slightly thinner, buzzier brass sound

Go to the 7–1: EG 1 (Filter) page
Set the release time to 60
Go to the 6–3: Amp EG page
Set the release time to 60
Now, you have a brass/pad sound. Save it.

Experiment again with drive and low boost (Bypass off, drive 35, low boost 20; Reduce Amp Level to 055 to compensate for volume increase)

After experimenting, to back to the brass/pad sound from above.
Go to the EXi1 5–1: Filter Basic page
Set Filter routing 24db (four – pole)
Go to the 7–1: EG 1 (Filter) page
Set: Attack time to 75, Decay time to 80, Break and Sustain levels to +40
Go to the 6–3: Amp EG page
Set the Attack time to 50
Now, you have a basic version of the classic soundtrack pad. Save it.

Go to the 7–1: EG 1 (Filter) page
Make the following settings: Attack time 03, Decay time 40, Break and Sustain levels +40, Release time 40
Go to the 6–3: Amp EG page
Set Attack time back to 00 and Release time to 40
Set Osc 1 octave to -1[16′] Go to the 4–1: Program Basic page
Select Mono and enable Mono Legato
Now, you have a simple, classic bass sound.

Go to the EXi1 9–1: AMS Mixer page
We’ll be setting up AMS Mixer 1.
Set the Mixer Type to Gate
Set the Gate Control source EG1 (filter), and the Threshold to +70
Under Gate Output, set Below Threshold to AMS A and EG1 (filter)
Set At and Above Thresh. to Fixed Value +70
This models the shape of the mini moog envelope.
Go to the EXi1 5–3: Filter Modulation page
In the Filter EG section, set Filter A Velocity Int. to +00
Under Filter A modulation, set AMS 1 to AMS Mixer 1, but leave the Intensity at +00
Set the Intensity Mod AMS to velocity, and in turn set its Intensity to +99
Now, the filter is modulated by the altered envelope shape, with the amount controlled by velocity.
Go to the 6–1: Amp/Driver page.
Set Drive to 30, Low Boost to 20 (remember, this is designed to interact with Drive), and Amp Level to 90
Now, you have a minimoog-ish base. Save it.

Set EG1 (Filter) Break and Sustain levels to +30, and Filter Frequency to 20; save this as “Darker.”

Experiment with setting Resonance to 00. This is a subtle change; it makes the sound a little more full, but also makes the character slightly less distinct.

For EG (filter): experiment with Decay times between 20 and 50.

After experimenting, to back to the “Darker” sound from above.
Set EG1 Break and Sustain levels to +50
Set Filter A Frequency 16
Set Resonance to 26
This produces a different, thicker-sounding bass.

 

Here’s another AL-1 video tutorial  by Qui Robinez: