Bias

Bias is a modulation source that applies a linear boost or cut based on a user-defined key (the “Bias Point”). On one side of the Bias Point, the modulation is inactive, and as you move past that key, the modulation becomes active and is scaled dynamically as you move away from it. You can think of Bias as a more sophisticated and flexible form of Key Tracking.

Whereas Key Tracking applies uniform modulation across the entire keyboard, Bias offers more flexibility: In addition to defining the Bias Point, you can adjust the direction (whether modulation is active above or below the Bias Point), make the slope more pronounced, and even use multiple Bias sources for complex effects.

Each Part in Omnisphere has eight Bias sources.

USING BIAS

Bias can be used in a variety of ways, such as:

• Perhaps you have dragged one of your custom Soundsources into Omnisphere, and although you find that it sounds great at Middle C, you can hear aliasing (or it is too piercing) in the range above C6. To compensate for this, you can use Bias to modulate Amplitude. Set the Bias Point to C6, then set the Direction to “Right” and INVERT the range. The higher you play above C6, the lower the level will be. You can use the 4X RANGE for a steep falloff.

• You can use Bias to control the Rate and Depth of a Polyphonic LFO. For example, when creating classic PWM synth sounds, it may sound better to have the LFO Rate decrease below C3, and the LFO Depth decrease above C5.

BIAS PARAMETERS

When using Flex Mod, Bias parameters are displayed in the Modulation Zoom on the left.

NOTE: You can display these parameters at any time by right-clicking on a Target that is modulated by Bias and selecting it from within the “Show Modulation” menu.

DIRECTION

Sets the direction in which the modulation is applied. It can be set above or below the Bias Point (Left or Right).

*If you want to use Bias in both directions (both above and below the Bias Point) at once, you can apply two Bias sources and select a different direction in each. You can also assign more than one Bias modulation to the same area of the keyboard for a more pronounced effect.

BIAS POINT

Select the Bias Point from the pull-down menu. This note becomes the “zero point” from which the modulation rises or falls.

RANGE

Click on the 4X button to multiply the effect of the modulation by 4. This can be used in conjunction with the SOURCE and TARGET amount sliders to fine-tune the effect.

INVERT

You can use the INVERT button in the mod slot to reduce the Bias effect (e.g., instead of increasing amplitude, you can decrease it) as you play further away from the Bias Point.

AMOUNT

Controls the amount of the Bias Source applied to the Target.

*Give it a try! You will certainly find many creative ways to customize your Patches and performance setup.