ICM P3 SUP1: Ultrabeat
Ultrabeat
Ultrabeat is the drum machine supplied with Logic. It is an advanced drum
machine since it includes a drum synthesiser as well as allowing samples to
be played. It also includes a step sequencer, allowing the input of drum
patterns.
Import button
MIDI Controller
Assignments
Assignment
section
Synthesiser
section
Step
sequencer
Figure 1. The Ultrabeat Drum Machine
The Assignment Section
Ultrabeat contains three sections: the Assignment section, the Synthesiser
section and the Step Sequencer.
The Assignment section displays all the drum sounds of a drum kit. There are
many pre-configured drum kits available in Logic; these are known as
settings. This Assignment section allows drums to be selected, organised,
and their volumes, pan positions and output assignments changed.
To import a drum sound from another setting: select the position in the kit for
the drum to be imported to, and use the import button (see Figure 1).
Pan knob
Volume slider
A blue key
indicates that a
note is being
played
Output
assignment
Keyboard
display
Figure 2. The Assignment Section.
ICM P3 SUP1: Ultrabeat
Drum kits can be loaded that contain 25 sounds
(including the synth parameters that make up
those sounds) as well as up to 24 drum patterns.
To load a drum kit, use the settings menu as
shown in Figure 3.
Sounds can also be imported from the EXS24
sampler (as well as other EXS instruments).
Ultrabeat is a multi-output instrument, which
means that it can have several outputs at once.
This allows, for example, different effects to be
applied to different drum sounds in one kit.
To change the output of a drum
Figure 3 (above). The Settings menu.
Section.
sound1:
1. click on the output assignment part (see Figure 2) of the required drum
in the Assignment section and select the output routing
2. click on the little plus sign at the bottom right of the relevant
channel in the mixer to create an extra aux channel2
The Synthesiser Section
The Synthesiser section allows a selected drum sound to be created or
manipulated as required. The Ultrabeat plug-in window only shows one drum
sound at once: the one selected in the Assignment section.
LFOs
Oscillator 1 (in
phase oscillator
mode)
Filter Section
EQ
Noise
Generator
Amplitude
Modulation
Signal Flow
Buttons
Oscillator 2 (in
sample mode)
Envelopes
Distortion
Unit
Pitch
Modulation
Figure 4 (above). The Synthesiser Section (optically brightened).
1
If the user intends to use Ultrabeat as a multi-output instrument it is necessary select that option when
the instrument first loaded up.
2
Channel strip settings can then be saved if required, allowing the quick addition of new multi-output
instrument configurations or the movement of routing /effect configurations between projects. Channel
strip settings can also be switched between by sending MIDI programme change messages.
ICM P3 SUP1: Ultrabeat
An overview:

oscillators 1& 2, and the noise generator are the sound sources
o oscillator 1 modes:



phase oscillator - a standard oscillator whose wave
is shaped using the asym and saturation
parameters
FM (frequency modulation) - Osc 1 becomes a
sine wave that is frequency modulated by Osc 2
side chain - receives input from anywhere else in
Logic Pro (e.g. an audio track, another virtual
instrument, live input)
o oscillator 2 modes




phase oscillator
sample - allows a sample to be loaded
model - provides physical model of a string3
there are several modulation targets:
o oscillators 1 & 2 can be pitch modulated as well as amplitude
modulated
o the noise generator can be amplitude modulated, and its cut-off
and dirt functions can also be modulated
o the phase oscillators (wave shape), the filters (cut-off and
resonance), and pan can also be modulated

modulation sources (set by the Mod parameter) include the LFOs and
envelopes, as well as velocity and one of four MIDI controllers
o the “Max” setting allows modulation by velocity or MIDI
controllers (with the MIDI controllers being assigned at the top
right of the Ultrabeat window (see Figure 1)
o when the “Max”4 setting is set, the desired modulation source is
selected in the Via menu
3

setting modulation intensities requires moving the sliders that appear
around the relevant target parameters5

the EQ and filter sections are used to attenuate or boost certain
frequency components, with the signal flow buttons being used to
See Logic Studio Instruments & Effects manual p570 for details.
The “Max” setting sets modulation to a maximum level that can then be reduced by the source that
has been selected in the Via menu.
5
See Logic Studio Instruments and Effects manual p582-3 for examples.
4
ICM P3 SUP1: Ultrabeat
control whether the sound sources are fed through or bypass the filter
section

gate/trigger and group all control how quickly a sound cuts out
o gate cuts off the sound when the MIDI note is released (e.g.
when a Note Off message is sent)
o when the trigger mode is single a new MIDI note cuts out the old
one; when the trigger mode is multi it doesn’t
o group allows drums to be assigned to groups that cut each other
out (e.g. an open hi-hat and a closed hi-hat)
The Step Sequencer
The Step sequencer allows the user to create drum patterns. A sequence
triggers a single drum sound and can consist of up to 32 steps. A pattern
contains the total sequence of all the drum sounds.
edit mode switch
accent slider
selected drum hits
sequenced controller values
export pattern
pattern select
length of pattern
step size
view whole
pattern
Figure 5 (above). The Step Sequencer.
A brief overview:

selected drum hits (on the Trigger row) are shown for the selected
drum in the Assignment section

there are two edit modes that are switched between using the edit
mode switch
o in voice mode the sequenced controller values area shows the
velocity/gate row (allowing alteration of drum loudness and
length)
o step mode allows the offsetting of sound parameter settings step
by step, here the sequenced controller values become
parameter offsets

6
the accent slider allows particular steps (selected by switching the blue
LEDs on above steps) to be emphasised6
The accent setting is switched on/off individually per drum sound by selecting the blue LED to the
right of the slider.
ICM P3 SUP1: Ultrabeat
Exporting a Pattern as a MIDI Region
To export a pattern from the step sequencer as MIDI region:
1. select the desired pattern from the menu
2. click-hold the area (to the left of the pattern menu) marked export
pattern in figure 5
3. drag the pattern to the desired position on the correct track in the
arrange window
Patterns can also be switched via MIDI commands.7
Setting Tempo and Time Signature
Before starting to create a drum pattern set the time signature and the tempo.
The time signature can be set in the Transport bar. The user can change the
time signature as many times as he/she wishes during a track8, but more
often than not the time signature will remain constant throughout.
The time signature of most music is 4/4. The first 4 means that there are four
beats in a bar and the second 4 means that each beat gets a quarter of a
note. 4/4 is known as common time, because it’s used a lot.
time signature
tempo
Tempo is displayed and can be edited in the Transport bar. Tempo is
generally given in beats per minute (often shortened to BPM). The user can
change the tempo of a track as many times as he/she wishes during a track;
however, again the tempo of a track often remains constant throughout. To
view the tempo track select View > Global Tracks.
Tempo generally varies between genres. Some examples of typical tempos
for genres are given in the table below.
Genres and typical tempos:
Hip-Hop
House
Techno
Dub Step
Drum & Bass
Gabba
7
8
See Logic Studio Instruments manual p601.
See Logic Pro. manual p724.
60-120
120-135
130-155
138-142
160-190
180+