Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

> > > What defines how the Evolver responds to sound?

You can have the envelopes be triggered in response to the input's
amplitude (loudness).
(I'm at work right now so don't have evolver or manual in front of me.)
It's a trigger mode thing, and you can set the input level to
appropriately respond.

> > > What makes a sound more viable as a effect as opposed to just a synth.

If you only want efx, turn down the OSC levels to zero. The envelopes
can still sweep filter, etc if you want...
Or you can turn the ENV levels all down and set the filter to whatever
frequency you want.
Modulate away with LFO or whatever, add delay, feedback, EFX type stuff.

> > > Is there a way to alter a sound so its gates the way the sounds in bank 2 do?

Not sure what the sounds in your bank 2 are doing (there are a few
versions w/ different banks)
but gating can be done w/ LFO, or note midi note input, or sequencer steps...
I think the definitive guide has a pretty good section on building
patches for use as EFX processing, as well as on gating input signals.
Hope this was more help than my initial 'RTFM' response, good luck!

-josh