UltraNova D Bank by Daniel Fisher (part 1 of 4)

A tremendous amount of time was spent making every available controller interact in interesting ways that reward exploration. Take your time with each Patch, read the suggestions, and learn to make that Patch your own. 

D000
"Jarrehead"
A tribute to a master.  Play a single chord, use a few notes for each hand. Notice how the "note order" that you play is reflected by the Arpegggiator. Use ModWheel to open up the Envelopes and engage upper consciousness. Press TOUCH. Now touch each of the 8 knobs, one at a time, then go crazy. Think of it as "Circuit Bending". Press TWEAK. Now look at the value under the first knob (-53). Try both directions until you find the coolest timbre (or put it back to -53). Move on to the next knob. Try both directions. Leave it where it's coolest. Etc., etc. Now try Aftertouch and PitchBend. Press SETTINGS (right above key Ab4). Change ClockBPM to taste.

D001
Slow./'Climax
For your first time, just press one note, hold it, and be patient. Without letting go of the note, explore Aftertouch. It will become more powerful as the filter climbs. ModWheel will slam the filter open (but save it for the right moments). PitchBend ends in perfect octaves in either direction. Use PBend slowly and artistically, knowing it will sound great when you get to all-the-way-up or all-the-way-down. Press the ARP ON button (above key A4) and throw down some keys. Let go of keys and use MWheel as primary instrument. Press TOUCH. Try each of the 8 knobs. Go crazy. Bend some Circuits! Press TWEAK. Rotate knobs to taste. Enjoy your trip.

D002
Am iDreaming?
Play an etherial chord but "roll into the notes" so that they all hit at a slightly different time. With practice you'll be able to create lots of effects on demand just by your order and speed of notes. Try fast rolls, slow rolls, random rolls, NO roll. See if using Sustain Pedal makes it easier for you. ModWheel raises the Sync. And Aftertouch makes a killer, screaming rip upward. Turn ARP ON. Hit a complex chord. Press TOUCH. Tickle knobs with right hand while using PB and MW with left hand. Press TWEAK. Turn knobs. Exit at next universe.

D003
UltraSync
Just a no excuses, ripping oscillator sync sound. Be fearless while wiggling Aftertouch. ModWheel sweep Sync. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 is an aggressive vibrato. Knobs 2-5 are various pitch jumps. Knob 6 re-triggers the Sync envelope.
(There is nothing on Knob 7 or 8). Turn ARP ON. Hit an intriguing chord. Press TOUCH. Touch weirdness. Press TWEAK. Grab knobs. Go beyond my original specifications. Try lots of OCTAVE "-" and OCTAVE "+".

D004
ChoopersAngel
I was just going for a Helicopter and somehow this angel's voice got created via Zen. To bring her forth, just use Aftertouch. Leave her alone for a little while and start flying this chopper like you know what you're doing. PitchBend, ModWheel, and note choice give you lots of control over this vehicle. TOUCH adds craziness. TWEAK gives you fine control of your engine. ARP ON warps you into a weirdly smooth place. ARP SETTINGS - Slow the ClockBPM down to a crawl. Turn ARP off.  Bring ClockBPM back to 127. Welcome back.

D005
Table24, Please
An exploration of the UltraNova's Wavetable 24. All three LFOs are animating the sound. ModWheel slows all three of the LFOs to a crawl. ARP ON shows off the fast Portamento. Press TOUCH. Discover the madness that lies there. Try TWEAK. Re-invent the sound. Now go wild with the OCTAVE buttons and keyboard.

D006
Alien;Lullabye
Try to imagine a gargantuanly huge, slimy parent sllarping a lullaby to a somewhat smaller version of itself. Use PitchBend, ModWheel, and Aftertouch to create convincing vocal expressions. Higher OCTAVEs let you play non-Earth scales. Lower Octaves dip you in guuuk. Press TOUCH and you have 8 ways to annoy the creature. Press ARP ON. Play some notes. Press TWEAK. Turn the 8 knobs and compose the next hit on its planet.

D007
Synthphony
If you're old enough, you remember the first time you played a String Synthesizer in the 70's. It put a sheen on everything back then. ModWheel gently morphs between different octave blends. Aftertouch gives a dramatic swell. Press TOUCH. Each knob adds a different harmony interval. Touch one or two and see how they change your orchestration. Press TWEAK. The knobs let you fine tune your string sound. Knob 8 is Release Time. Press ARP ON. Play an epic chord and TWEEK away.

D008
NovaCello
An emulation of an analog synth emulating a cello. Velocity sensitive and responsive to legato and staccato playing. ModWheel and Aftertouch deepen and speed up the vibrato. Press TOUCH. Knobs get very un-cello-like! Press TWEAK. Knobs let you tweak brilliance and shimmer. Knob 7 is Portamento Time. Try all the OCTAVES. {Hold a really low note and then play OCTAVES higher melody or chords.}

B009
SawSync Redemption
A rejoicing on how luxurious it is to have Oscillator Sync on any of the three Oscillators. Velocity changes the spread of the Attack. ModWheel stretches the Sync upwards. Aftertouch adds vibrato. TOUCH knobs let you goose the pitch and Sync. Knob 8 kicks in the GATOR. TWEEK lets you change Att and Dec of Sync  and serious detuning. Press ARP ON. Use TWEAK Knob 8 to change Arp Gate Time.

B010
B3 WarmBurn
If I could only have one instrument sound at a gig, it would be the B3 organ. The powerful modulation possibilities in the UltraNova make it possible to recreate these B3 timbres as well as the rotating Leslie speaker. Slowly move the ModWheel to simulate the ramp up and down between Slow and Fast. Aftertouch adds a dramatic volume swell. PitchBend adds some more drawbar settings. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 = Percussion. Knob 2 = More Drawbars. Knob 3 = Overdrive. Press TWEAK. Knob 1 = Vibrato. Knobs 2-7 = More drawbars. Knob 8 = Reverb.

B011
B3 MidSmolder
Slowly move the ModWheel to simulate the ramp up and down between Slow and Fast. Aftertouch reduces the mid drawbars  dramatically. PitchBend adds some more drawbar settings. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 = Distortion. Press TWEAK. Knob 1 = Vibrato. Knobs 2-7 = drawbar changes. Knob 8 = Reverb.

B012
B3 Pop
A livelier B3 setting with 3rd Harmonic Percussion and a little Vibrato. ModWheel = Leslie. Aftertouch = Soft Perc. PitchBend = more drawbar setttings. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 = Full Vibrato. Knob 2 = Up a 3rd. Knob 3 = Up 2 Octaves. Knob 4 = Ray Gun. Press TWEAK. Knob 1 = Big Vibrato. Knob 2-7 = Timbre Variations. Knob 8 = Reverb. Press ARP ON. Get really good at doing detached bass lines in time with the Arp.  Then stab cords with right hand, but never long enough for them to get mushy.

B013
B3 JazzPerc
A smokey B3 with 2nd Percussion. Aftertouch adds drama. PitchBend apes Ring Modulation. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 = Kill Perc. Knob 2 = Perc Pitch Up. Press TWEAK. Knob 1 = Vibrato. Knobs 2-7 = drawbar changes. Knob 8 = Reverb. Press ARP ON. Lay down some notes. TWEAK away!

B014
At Your Service
It's your service. Some people are crying. Some people are not. Then the organ gets weird. Press TOUCH. Knobs 1, 2, and 3 violently transpose. Press TWEAK.  Knob 1 = Vibrato. Knobs 2-7 = Drawbar changes. Knob 8 = Reverb. Press ARP ON and play the fastest church song you know. TWEAK it until it's purple.

B015
Churchy LePew
A more classical organ. Until you SLOWLY move the ModWheel just the tiniest bit. It sounds spacey while you're moving the ModWheel, but there are a lot of legitimate organ timbers in the first 1/4 of the ModWheel. Things get really un-churcy when the ModWheel is all the way up. Now grab the PitchBend and reality gets liquidy. Press TOUCH. Knobs 1-7 bend the pipes. Knob 8 kicks in the GATOR. Press TWEAK and create new registrations. Knob 8 = GATOR. Press ARP ON and TWEAK Knob 7 for staccato arps.

B016
Chiffy Pipes
Think, Alan Parsons' "Don't Let It Show".  ModWheel intensifies and lengthens the Chiff. Aftertouch adds mechanical vibrato. Press TOUCH. Knobs 1-6 radically change the pipe's timbre. Knob 7 = Stereo Panning. Knob 8 = Extreme Reverb Tails. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-6 add Sync and Detuning. Knob 7 = Attack Time. Knob 8 = Release Time. Press ARP ON and TWEAK the timbre. ARP SETTINGS lets you change the ClockBPM.

B017
Daddy's Tbird
In their day, electronic organs brought hipness to many parts of the world. ModWheel and Aftertouch work together to increase both depth and speed of Vibrato. PitchBend creates gritty, ring-moddy swoops. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 adds Sub Octave. Knobs 2-8 add Insanity (especially in combinations). TOUCH knobs let you create new organ registrations.

B018
ProgRockStrings
From an age when Phase Shifters were new. ModWheel adds Vibrato Depth and Speed. Aftertouch deepens the timbre. PitchBend stacks new intervals. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 adds Octave. Knobs 2-7 add weirdness. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-3 change Phaser. Knobs 4-6 change thickness. Knob 7 spreads pitch. Knob 8 = Portamento Time. Press ARP ON. TWEAK Knob 8 Portamento Time.

B019
SilkyStrings
Aftertouch adds Vibrato. Velocity increases volume. ModWheel descends into the pits of Hell. Press TOUCH. Knobs 1-4 create orchestral intervals, mix and match. Knobs 5-7 create different timbres in different combinations. Knob 8 = Dissonant trill. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-6 offer endless string variations. Knob 7 = Release Time. Knob 8 = Portamento. Press ARP ON and experiment with TWEAK knobs.

B020
Chick fm EP
Another tribute to a master who made this sound Elektric. It's extremely responsive to Velocity. ModWheel increases Panning. Aftertouch increases Panning Rate (especially when MW is up). Press TOUCH. Knobs 1-6 create many FM EP variations. Knob 7 = Trippy modulation. Knob 8 adds a noise component. Press TWEAK. Knob 1-2 = Tine adjustment. Knobs 3- 5 change EP quality. Knob 6 decreases EQ. Knob 7 increases Chorus. Knob 8 warps Panning into Ring Mod speeds.

B021
Wurlitzer EP
A different beast than the "other" EP, with a woodier sound. ModWheel increases Panning. Aftertouch increases Panning Rate (especially when MW is up). Press TOUCH. Knob 1 adds Octave timbre. Knobs 2-8 create zany Echo and Reverb effects. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-6 affect Wurly timbre. Knob 7 = Chorus. Knob 8 = Ping Pong Delay. Press ARP ON. Notice that arp is sensitive to both note order and velocity.

B022
"Groovy" Clav
Not like any instrument made before it… or after it. A living, breathing mechanical beast. And funky for days. Velociity is only mildly sensitive, to allow you to concentrate on rhythm.  ModWheel = Phaser Speed. Aftertouch adds bursts of Phaser Speed. Use it occasionally to make the Phaser talk to you. Press TOUCH. Go crazy rhythmically with all 5 fingers of your left hand. Press ARP ON. Play a bass note and chord. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-3 change timbres. Knobs 4+5 adjust the Click. Knob 7 reduces Phaser. Knob 8 = Arp Gate Time (fun!). Press ARP SETTINGS. Mess up every knob. I dare you. Press TWEAK and adjust some more. Press TOUCH and go to town.

B023
New Orleans Style
Yes, it's made from a synth. But it doesn't get ugly like samples can. The nice smooth decay allows you to play slow. But the quick release time lets you play fast. ModWheel closes the lid and darkens the timbres. PitchBend lets you jump Octaves. Notice that the notes don't completely die for a long time when you hold them. This lets you keep a pad going for a while. Aftertouch will give the pad a slight boost. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 = Octave. Knob 2 = Bright. Knobs 3-5 create new timbres. Knobs 6-8 craze the delays. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-2 alter the Filter. Knobs 3-8 change the timbre and detuning. ARP ON offers bouncy swing chords.

B024
Dream On
A rock keyboard classic made from an electronic piano and Melotron strings. Play it in Fm (Left hand low F. Right hand, from bottom to to top, C-F-Ab, then C-Eb-G, then C-D-Ab, then C-Db-G. With right hand, alternate between top two notes and the C. ModWheel adds vibrato. TOUCH takes the sound to entirely new places. TWEAK lets you change the piano and string sounds. ARP ON randomizes your notes with a pausing rhythm. TWEAK the PortTime, then mess with ARP SETTINGS.

B025
DigiLounge EP
A much used sounds from the days of the DX-7. Have a Martini at the hotel bar. Have two, you'll be playing all night. Velocity brightens all the tones and increases volume.  PitchBend jumps an Octave. ModWheel adds Tremolo. Aftertouch speeds up Chorus, Phaser, and Tremolo. Press TOUCH. Knobs 1-5 mess with the timbre. Knobs 6-8 mess with the Delay.Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-7 adjust the EP. Knob 8 = Arp Gate Time. Press AROP ON. Notice thhow sensitive the Arp is to velocity. Tweak the 8 Knobs. Press ARP SETTINGS. Mess with all 8 parameters. It's last call,; you're almost done with last set of the night. (You'll be there all week.)

B026
Hard Plucking
This patch really shows off the potential of the UltraNova. The syncronicity is ubiquitous. Hold some notes, but be patient. It takes two measures before it goes to the next note of the arpeggiation. PitchBend creates chordal intervals; see how many different chords you can find. ModWheel lets you glide a melody note. Aftertouch plummets the pitch downward. Press TOUCH and twinkle away. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-3 = Timbre. Knob 4 = Rez. Knob 5 = Portamento. (Remember, you'll only hear it every two measures.) Knobs 6-8 Trip out the Delay. Turn ARP OFF. Play staccato. 

B027
Saloon Doors
Another abused piano with attitude. Velocity response is mild so you can focus on playing. ModWheel morphs into cheesy electronic piano. PitchBend jumps Octaves. Press TOUCH. Lots of variety to try here. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-2 = Filter. Knobs 3-8 change piano tuning. APR ON = rapid scramble. Try all knobs and wheels with it. Press ARP SETTINGS and explore.

B028
CaCaPhony
A study of the UltraNova's ability to create a Feedback Loop in its Effects section. DO NOT TWEAK THE KNOBS WEARING HEADPHONES until you learn what can happen. (You have been warned.) Velocity changes the solidity of the notes. ModWheel = Cacophony Enhancer. PitchBend = Weirdness. Aftertouch = Pitch plunge. Press TOUCH. Have fun! (But watch your ears/speakers.) Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-6 adjust timbre. Knob 6 = Portamento. Knobs 7-8 unleash the Feedback (Watch out!). ARP ON. Go nuts with TWEAK and ARP SETTINGS. Don't forget Aftertouch.

B029
Voxy Bass
A testament to the musicality of UltraNova's Oscillator Sync. Velocity pushes Osc Sync higher. ModWheel adds crazed vibrato (like losing at PacMan). Aftertouch jumps two Octaves up! PitchBend creates Perfect Fifths. Press TOUCH. Knob 1 retriggers Sync Envelope. Knobs 2-7 are subtle by themselves but very articulate when used in combinations. Knob 8 = Gator. Press TWEAK. Knobs 1-6 adjust timbre. Knob 7 = Gator. Knob 8 = Decay Time. Press ARP ON. Use Velocity to accent certain notes in Arp. Change Decay Time in TWEAK. Play with ARP SETTINGS. Now go back to TOUCH!