The Analog Four mkII, with its 4 separate CV outputs, allows you to control a sidechain effect, as well as add a new LFO, in 5 directions on the A4 and in 4 directions on the AR.
This trick changed my use of the A4 and AR, opening up new avenues in sound design and pattern making. This subject has been discussed in several posts, but none offers the complete and detailed recipe that allows the whole thing to work perfectly. This trick is, for me, essential to the use of the A4 with the AR and deserves a post.
If you don’t have the AR, you can use this trick on the A4 alone.
1 - Cables connections
- A4 CV Out A connected to AR Control In 1
- A4 CV Out B connected to A4 Control In 1
- A4 CV Out C connected to AR Control In 2
- A4 CV Out D connected to A4 Control In 2
2 - A4 GLOBAL Settings
- CV CONFIG
- CV A CONFIG
TYPE : VALUE LIN
MIN : 0.00V
MAX : 5.00V - CV B CONFIG
TYPE : VALUE LIN
MIN : 0.00V
MAX : 5.00V - CV C CONFIG
TYPE : VALUE LIN
MIN : -5.00V
MAX : 5.00V - CV D CONFIG
TYPE : VALUE LIN
MIN : -5.00V
MAX : 5.00V
- CV A CONFIG
- CONTROL
- CONTROL INPUT 1
MODE : CV
CV ZERO LEVEL : 0
CV MAX LEVEL : 3200 - CONTROL INPUT 2
CV ZERO LEVEL : 0
CV MAX LEVEL : 5000
- CONTROL INPUT 1
3 - AR GLOBAL Settings
- CONTROL
- CONTROL INPUT 1
MODE : CV
CV ZERO LEVEL : 0
CV MAX LEVEL : 3200 - CONTROL INPUT 2
CV ZERO LEVEL : 0
CV MAX LEVEL : 5000
- CONTROL INPUT 1
4 - A4 CV Track
- OSC1 (CV A)
VAL : 0 - OSC2 (CV B)
VAL : 0 - FLTR (CV C)
VAL : 64 - AMP (CV D)
VAL : 64 - ENV
ATK : 0 / DEC : 32 / SUS : 0 / REL : 0 / SHP : 3
LEN : 0 / DST1 : CV A VALUE / DEP1 : MAX / DST2 : CV B VALUE / DEP2 : MAX - LFO 1
MOD : FREE
DST1 : CV C VALUE / DEP1 : 64 / DST2 : NONE
Adjust all other parameters as desired to control your new LFO in the AR. - LFO 2
MOD : FREE
DST1 : CV D VALUE / DEP1 : 64 / DST2 : NONE
Adjust all other parameters as desired to control your new LFO in the A4. - Add trigs to pattern for the sidechain, example : 1/5/9/13
5 - AR and A4 KIT
- CONTROL IN 1 MOD
Select how the sidechain effect is applied- Use AMP:Volume with a negative value on desired part to add the sidechain pumping effect
- If you use a HP filter on a sound you can use FILT:Frequency on AR and FILT2:Frequency on the A4 with a positive value to add more room for your BD bass and to have less of the sidechain pumping effect
- CONTROL IN 2 MOD
Select how the LFO 1 is applied, to add a new LFO to your sounds.
6 - Latency compensation for sidechain
Generating the envelope for the sidechain and then processing it creates latency. We need to give the sidechain trigs a little advance with microtiming, so that they are in phase with the BD. This latency time varies according to the song’s BPM.
To determine the correct microtiming value, the simplest method is to apply the sidechain to the BD. If your BD disappears, you’ve got the right microtiming value.
7 - About some parameters :
- Sidechain envelope shape
You can use the shape of your choice for the sidechain envelope. But you will have to adjust in AR and A4 GLOBAL Settings / CONTROL / CONTROL INPUT 1 / CV MAX LEVEL to have the best amplitude. Play the machines to help you to find the best value. - LFO parameters that cannot be used
- tuning fork Multiplier, the LFO cannot be sync to OSC1. You cannot use it for FM sound.
- you cannot use the FADE IN/OUT parameter.
- you cannot use parameters locks on LFOs due to interference with the sidechain