Unipolar Switch

The UNIPOLAR Switch is represented by a small (+) button in the LFO section on the Layer Pages or with a “UNIPOLAR” switch in the SHOW MODULATION sidebar on the left. When it is not selected, the LFO will be in BIPOLAR mode. In BIPOLAR mode, the LFO’s output will move above and below the mid-point. When UNIPOLAR is selected, the LFO will remain above the mid-point and the range of its amplitude is less.

In the example below, the Oscillator’s Pitch is being modulated with a Triangle wave from LFO1. If LFO1 is in BIPOLAR mode, the Pitch will go above, then below, the Pitch of the triggered note. In UNIPOLAR mode, the Pitch will only rise above the Pitch of the triggered note and the range of the Pitch change will be less.

For example, a uni-polar LFO applied to Oscillator Pitch is great for simulating guitar-string finger Vibrato, as guitarists can only bend strings UP with their fingers. Another use is for a uni-polar LFO to modulate the filter-cutoff. This will often create better filter sweeps than a bi-polar LFO, as a bi-polar LFO cycles below the mid-point, so no result is heard if the cutoff frequency is low.

*If you want the value to go negative instead of positive, simply select the INVERT button in the Modulation section.