AMM 4M: Exercise #2

Experimenting With The Subtractor Synthesizer

The "Subtractor:" emulates an analog synthesizer. It is created digitally but it emulates sounds created using two oscillators to generate its sounds.

For this assignment you will hand in:

  • A written assignment which ;
    • Describes what the following setting do in Subtractor.
      • Waveform
      • Oct
      • Semi
      • LFO 1 and LFO 2
      • Mod, Filter and Amp envelopes
      • Filter 1 and Filter 2.
    • Describes sounds you create, and the settings you used, on Subtractor:
      • Variation 1 patch.
      • Variation 2 patch.
      • Original Patch.
  • Reason files which contain;
    • Variation 1 patch.
    • Variation 2 patch.
    • Original patch.

1Start with the"initial patch" on the subtractor. Change the following settings and describe what each does to the sound:

  • Waveform
  • Oct
  • Semi
  • Open Reason
  • Start with a "blank document."
  • Create a mixer
  • Create a Subtractor Analog Synthesizer
  • Play a consistent note from the keyboard
    • or create a note on the sequencer track for the synth

2) Experiment with the "rate" and "level" meters on the LFO1 and LFO2 filters and describe what they do to the sound.

3) Describe what these controls do to the sound.

  • Mod envelope.
  • Filter envelope.
  • Amp envelope.
  • Filter 1.
  • Filter 2.

4) Load an existing Subtractor Patch which you find interesting. Notice the settings for how this patch was created.

Create your own variation of this patch. Hand in your patch and include notes as to the settings you changed from the original, and how you think they affected the sound. What do you like about this sound?

5) Repeat step 4 for a second patch variation.

6) Create an original patch from scratch. Hand in your patch and include notes as to the settings you used to create this patch. What do you like about this sound?