Elektron Machinedrum Sine Wave LFO
In this example, 01-BD LFO will be used to modulate 02-SN LFO Triangle waveform to result in a Sine Waveform.
01-BD LFO Settings:
| TRACK | PARAM | SHP1 | SHP2 |
| 02-SN | LFOD | TRI | TRI |
| UPDTE | SPEED | DEPTH | SHMIX |
| TRIG | 16 | 32 | 127 |
02-SN LFO Settings:
| TRACK | PARAM | SHP1 | SHP2 |
| 02-SN | VOL | TRI | TRI |
| UPDTE | SPEED | DEPTH | SHMIX |
| TRIG | 8 | 64 | 0 |
Explaination
The 01-BD LFO SPEED (1/8 note) is set to double the frequency rate of 02-SN LFO SPEED (1/4 note), and is inverted. For every peak of the 02-SN waveform, 01-BD reduces 02-SN LFOD to produce a sine curve. The intensity of the curve can be adjusted with 01-BD DEPTH parameter.
To produce a tangent curve, invert the 01-BD waveform by setting 01-BD SHMIX to 0.
Elektron Machinedrum LFOs In-depth
I spend a lot of time playing around with the Elektron Machinedrum. There is much that isn’t written about the many ways that LFOs can be used. I present to you some things I have discovered about the Machinedrum’s LFOs.
The Machinedrum uses low frequency oscillators (LFOs) to modulate machine parameters over time. Any parameter from a machine’s SYNTHESIS, EFFECTS, or ROUTING pages can be affected by any LFO. This opens up a wide range of sound-design possibilities to give kits and patterns their unique character.
Target Track and Parameter
By default, the LFO will be set to modulate its associated track. By utilising the TRACK and PARAM parameters, an LFO can be set to modulate any track’s SYNTHESIS, EFFECTS, or ROUTING parameters.
LFO Waveform Shapes
Standard waveforms available from the SHP1 and SHP2 parameters can be used to modulate parameters. These can be combined in order to design more complex waveforms.
There are two main methods for designing complex LFO waveforms: by using SHMIX to combine SHP1 and SHP2 waveforms, and by using TRACK and PARAM settings to modulate the LFOS, LFOD, or LFOM parameter of another machine.
LFOs Modulating other LFOs
When choosing to modulate LFOS, LFOD, or LFOM parameters of another machine’s LFO, make sure the target track — determined by the TRACK parameter — is higher than the selected track.
Per cycle, the Machinedrum calculates LFO value updates in consecutive order (01-BD through to 16-M4) before applying the respective value changes to modulated parameters. For example, A value change from 02-SN’s LFO can be applied to one of 09-CH’s LFO parameters, but a value change from 09-CH’s LFO will not retroactively update any of 02-SN’s LFO parameters.
Syncronization Lookup
When constructing a pattern, beat-matching the various LFOs can often be a guessing game. You can isolate the sounds to determine the exact rhythm, but that is not always practical or easy to do.
The following tables provide a solid breakdown of each waveform, LFOS values, and what subdivision they match.
~ indicates approximation
Triangle and Square waveforms:
| LFOS Value | Sync |
| 1 | 4-bars |
| 2 | 2-bars |
| 4 | 1-bar |
| 8 | 1/2 note |
| 12 | 1/2 note triplet |
| 16 | 1/4 note |
| 24 | 1/4 note triplet |
| 32 | 1/8 note |
| 48 | 1/8 note triplet |
| 64 | 1/16 note |
| ~77 | 1/32 note |
| 92 | 1/64 note |
Linear and Exponential Decay Waveforms:
| LFOS Value | Sync |
| 4 | 4-bars |
| 8 | 2-bars |
| 16 | 1-bar |
| 32 | 1/2 note |
| ~65 | 1/4 note |
| ~72 | 1/8 note |
| ~80 | 1/16 note |
Saw Waveform:
| LFOS Value | Sync |
| 1 | 2-bars |
| 2 | 1-bar |
| 4 | 1/2 note |
| 8 | 1/2 note triplet |
| 12 | 1/4 note |
| 16 | 1/4 note triplet |
| 24 | 1/8 note |
| 32 | 1/8 note triplet |
| 48 | 1/16 note |
| 64 | 1/32 note |
| ~77 | 1/64 note |
Random S&H Waveform:
| LFOS Value | Sync |
| 1 | 1/2 note |
| 2 | 1/4 note |
| 3 | 1/4 note triplet |
| 4 | 1/8 note |
| 6 | 1/8 note triplet |
| 8 | 1/16 note |
| 12 | 1/16 note triplet |
| 16 | 1/32 note |
| 32 | 1/64 note |
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