What does lfo mean? The full name of Lfo is Low Frequency oscillator (low frequency oscillator), which can emit oscillating sound waveforms like an oscillator. How to use LFO in FL Studio? The following will use the envelope module that comes with FL Studio to give you a detailed explanation.
1. What does lfo mean?
It was mentioned at the beginning that lfo is a low-frequency oscillator, which belongs to the category of oscillators. Like oscillators, it can also generate classic sine waves, triangle waves, sawtooth waves, square waves and other waveforms. But the uniqueness of lfo is that the frequency of the waveform it generates is below 20hz, which is already lower than the range of human ear pickup, so our human ears cannot hear the sound from lfo. So since you can't hear it, what's the use of lfo?
Figure 1: LFO Tools
Let's not underestimate lfo, it is very versatile in the composition process. We can use the waveform of lfo to control any parameter we want. For example, by controlling the volume, we can achieve the effect of the music sound oscillating according to the lfo frequency. The future chord tone in the famous future bass style music is the oscillation effect made by using lfo. In addition to volume, he can also control more complex parameters, making the sound more varied.
2. How to use LFO in FL Studio
The envelope in FL Studio 21 version has its own LFO mode. When we need to use LFO, we can double-click the envelope we selected to enter the following interface.
FL Studio 2023 Win version: https://souurl.cn/Y0Szqi
FL Studio 2023 Mac version: https://souurl.cn/rAOSEt
Figure 2: Envelope window
Then we need to enable the LFO mode button boxed in the above figure, and then our envelope will change to the LFO state as shown in the figure below.
Figure 3: LFO modulation interface
The LFO waveform shown at this time is a triangle wave, that is, the LFO will use the triangle wave waveform to modulate our corresponding parameter knob. Note the boxed part in the image above, this is the main knob we use to modulate the LFO waveform. Let me explain to you one by one.
Figure 4: LFO modulation knob
SPD is the abbreviation of speed, which can be understood as changing the oscillation rate of the LFO (note that it is not the frequency). When the SPD knob is turned up, the LFO will be denser.
Figure 5: Modulating the LFO Speed
The TNS knob is the curvature of the LFO, we can change the triangle wave into a sine wave by changing the TNS knob.
Figure 6: Modulating LFO curvature
The SKEW button will change the left and right phases of the upper and lower peak points of the LFO waveform. You can use this knob to make a sawtooth-like pattern.
Figure 7: Adjusting the LFO phase
FW can adjust the holding time of the LFO at the peak position of the upper and lower peaks, and we can create more variable waveform shapes by using it.
Figure 8: Adjusting Peak Hold Time
The last AMNT knob is used to change the amplitude of the LFO waveform. We can increase its amplitude, or decrease the amplitude to a level, or even reverse the waveform completely.
Figure 9: Adjusting the LFO Amplitude
From the above content, we can see that the use of LFO is mainly to set the waveform shape to achieve the effect we want. This requires us to master the sound waveform knowledge in tone design. On the basis of mastering several basic waveforms, we can use LFO to create very varied and complex waveforms to enrich our music.
The above is what is the meaning of lfo and how to use LFO in FL Studio. If you want to learn more about arrangement and sound design, you can follow me and bookmark it.