Logic Tutorial: VA Synthesis in Alchemy – Step-by-Step 2

Mark Cousins concludes his latest Logic tutorial, looking at the intricacies of Alchemy…

13: Make sure the F1/F2 control is at 12 o’clock on Oscillator A. Activate the second filter and select the BP4 MG mode. Move the cutoff control and hear its sweep in addition to the low-pass filter. The two filters are working in parallel.

14: Now add some modulation of Filter 2 Cutoff using LFO2 (as LFO1 is currently being used to modulate waveform symmetry). Set the depth to a relatively shallow amount, and adjust the speed so that the movement is a slow undulation.

15: By default, AHDSR1 is automatically routed through to the amplifier. Select the AHDSR tab, therefore, and increase the attack and release to create a more pad-like volume envelope. You might also want to lower sustain slightly and increase the decay.

16: There’s a wealth of modulation potential in Alchemy, including a fantastic step sequencer. Setup a new modulation routing for Filter 2 Cutoff (in addition to the existing KeyFollow routing) using Sequencer1 as the source.

17: Open the Sequencer tab and adjust each of the 16 preset steps. Create a different value for each step so that you create a repeating sample-and-hold type pattern. This can have a subtle or extreme effect on the filter by varying the depth.

18: Alchemy has its own four-bus effects engine, which can be individual addressed by the two filters. Change the filter output setting from FX Main to FX A and B respectively. Effects are instantiated at the bottom of the interface.