Overdrive ES2 filters in MainStage
The filters are equipped with discrete overdrive modules. You can set the overdrive intensity by rotating the Drive parameter.
Drive affects each voice independently. When every voice is overdriven individually—like having six fuzz boxes for a guitar, one for each string—you can play extremely complex harmonies over the entire keyboard range. Each voice sounds clean, without unwanted intermodulation effects spoiling the overall sound.
Certain Drive settings can lead to a different tonal character. This is because analog filters can behave uniquely when overdriven, forming an essential part of the sonic character of a synthesizer. ES2 is very flexible in this area, allowing tonal colors that range from the most subtle fuzz to the hardest of distortions.
If the filters are connected in parallel, the overdrive circuit is placed before the filters.
If the filters are connected in series, the position of the overdrive circuits is dependent on the Filter Blend parameter. See Crossfade between ES2 filters.
Tip: Because Filter 2 can cut away the overtones introduced by the distortion, Drive can be used as another tool for deforming oscillator waveforms.
Polyphonic distortions in the real world
ES2 provides a dedicated distortion effect in the Effects section. Given this inclusion, you may wonder what benefit the filter Drive function offers.
The Distortion circuit in the Effects section affects the entire polyphonic output of the ES2. Every rock guitarist knows that more complex chords—other than major chords, parallel fifths, and octaves—sound “rough” when using distortion. Therefore, distorted guitar playing generally involves few voices or parallel fifths and octaves. Because the filter Drive parameter affects each voice individually, you can play complex chords without introducing the unpleasant intermodulations that the Distortion effect can add to your sound.