Voice modulators have per-voice independent paths; scene modulators share one path across all voices

Surge XT labels modulators as either voice-level or scene-level (S-). A voice modulator (LFO 1–6) runs a separate instance per voice; if you hold three notes, each voice has its own LFO cycling independently, producing per-note pitch, filter, or timbre variation. A scene modulator (S-LFO 1–6) runs once for the whole scene — all active voices track the same modulation signal, creating the impression of a single shared LFO. Only scene-level sources can modulate scene-level parameters such as FX send levels or scene pitch. A voice LFO cannot modulate an S-LFO parameter. This distinction matters for how chorus-like thickening (voice LFO on pitch) versus unified filter sweeps (S-LFO on cutoff) are achieved.

Examples

Use LFO 1 (voice) on filter cutoff for staggered per-note filter motion. Use S-LFO 1 on filter cutoff for a single synchronized sweep across all held notes.

Assessment

A patch plays three simultaneous notes. LFO 1 is assigned to filter cutoff with a slow sine wave. Describe what you hear vs. what you would hear if S-LFO 1 were assigned instead.