Using LFOs in Native Instruments Absynth

Every synth in the world is a little different from the next. Unless you’re talking about Absynth, because it is completely different! Check out how to use LFOs in Absynth for some great results.

There are a lot of options for modulating a sound within Absynth, but routing a filter through an LFO for a killer wobble effect is something that has become more and more popular since dubstep has grown to be so popular over the last few years. In this NI Absynth video tutorial, we get to see the quick and easy approach to designing a simple wobble patch in just a few minutes. It’s quite easy really, and if you are already familiar with the process using other synths, like NI Massive or FM8, then this will be a good navigation tutorial for you! Where things live in Absynth and how you interact with them may seem a little daunting at first, but as with any new program once you begin to move around in it and see how other people get things done, it all starts to come together quickly.

This lesson begins with a sawtooth wave loaded into the first oscillator module. A bypass filter is added to the chain and this is then routed through an LFO. The rate is set and then a waveshaper is inserted into the module. On top of that, another waveshaper is added to the master strip. After this, a second oscillator module is added. This new oscillator is set up with a Organ 2 wave raised one octave, the first oscillator module is changed to use a Tri_Pointy waveform and the pitch is dropped one octave. This makes for a better match. Also on the second module, there is a Allpass 4 filter inserted as well as a waveshaper. At this point there is also a bypass filter added to the master strip.

After some much needed tweaking, there is a third oscillator module is added to the mix and is basically kept as some sub bass support. Using a Sine wave and dropped one octave, it does fatten up the bottom end of the sound quite a bit. After some experimenting with wave types in the LFOs, as well as various other parameters on that page, he settles on some fairly basic settings and decides it sounds like a good place to stop. This is often a tough thing for a lot of people to do. For those who are unused to stopping as soon as something sounds good, it may seem abrupt. But often times it is best to save it and come back to listen and critique later after you have some time away from it. Otherwise you can spend all day making changes and never have the perspective needed to finish it off.

If you have a tutorial request or would like to share one of your ideas with the rest of the community, please let us know by sending us a message through the website or our Facebook page. Thanks for checking us out!

Cheers,
OhmLab