![]() Oscillators![]() BLUE can use up to 6 oscillators to create sounds. The oscillators can be arranged in many different ways to create or combine different styles of synthesis, you can select this arrangement in the Algorithm, section of the LCD screen. Also you can select how oscillators combine together using the FM / Ring and Sync functions of oscillators A to F. Look for the Algorithm explanation at chapter "algorithm". A good example of the combination of several different type of synthesis is the preset "Fritz Groove". It can be found in bank "01_Diverse 02" . In this preset Osc A and B, in combination with Filter A, are used in a subtractive synthesis set-up. Osc D modulates Osc F using FM modulation and is fed directly into FX A (bypassing the filter). Below are defined the controls for oscillator A, these are the same for the other oscillators; any differences will be pointed out. On / OffPressing the buttons A to F turns on / off that oscillator. To cut down on CPU usage, if you are not using an oscillator, it's best to turn it off. TypePressing the button next to the on / off, brings up a menu which allows you to set the wave-type used by the oscillator. There are many different types, subdivided into Analogue, Additive and Spectral. You can scroll thru the waves by either clicking on the left or right hand of the wave selector button. The - and + symbol will pop up at each side if you move the mouse in this section of the button. InvThis button inverts the phase of the oscillator ouput. FreeWhen Free is turned off , the oscillator is reset to zero phase position each time you play a note. When Free is turned on, the oscillator is free-running , i.e. it is not reset when you play a note TrackingThis controls whether the pitch of the oscillator is altered by the note played. Modulation ModeFor oscillators B to F, you can set how the oscillator is modulated by an input oscillator(s), the various modes are:
Shaping ModeBLUE has two different waveform shaping modes, phase distortion (PD) and wave shaping (WS) In phase distortion, the phase of the oscillator is altered over time to create a different shaped waveform. In wave shaping the output of the oscillator is altered to create a differently shaped waveform. You alter the phase distortion / waveshaper amount in the LCD screen section PD / WS. The shaping mode button allows you to toggle between these two different modes. (PD for phase distortion and WS for waveshaping) Note: Note: phase distortion and waveshaping do not affect the waveforms "white noise" and "pink noise". RatioClicking on this button allows you to set the oscillator frequency ratio multiplier, so for instance selecting 2.00 in the ratio button means the oscillator's frequency is doubled. Ratio is used for setting up musically useful frequency modulation ratios between oscillators and so it is useful for frequency and ring modulation sounds. Coarse TuningSemi controls the coarse tuning of the oscillator in semitones from – 48 semitones (-4 octaves) to +48 semitones (+4 octaves) Tip: while making FM style sounds, the coarse tuning can be very handy if you use it in combination with the ratio parameter. Fine TuningFine controls the fine-tuning of the oscillator in cents, from -100 cent to 100 cents, with 0 cents meaning the tuning is as standard. ShapeThe amount of phase distortion or waveshaping applied to the oscillator. To hear the effect of phase distortion or waveshaping, you need to alter the phase / wave shaping display, in the LCD screen section PD/WS. FeedbackThe amount of self-feedback for the oscillator. For instance for sine waves it can change the wave from a sine wave to a saw wave. PWM Amount - For oscillator A & B onlyPulse width modulation controls the pulse width of the Square and other waveforms. You need to use this in tandem with the pulse width modulation LFO to set up pulse width modulation sounds. This is all explained in more detail in the LFO chapter. Note: in case you do not hear any changes you need to open the PWM amount and the LFO speed parameter. If either is zero this means that the LFO is shut down and that you need to open the speed and/or amount of the PWM A or PWM B LFO. Symmetry - For oscillator A & B onlyThis controls the symmetry of the oscillator waveform. This is most commonly used with the Square waveform where it alters the pulse width. Other waveforms except White Noise and Pink Noise have their sound changed as well by using symmetry. Vel > VolumeControls how much the oscillator volume is altered by the velocity of the note played. For traditional subtractive synthesizer you can keep this parameter at zero. If you are using frequency or ring modulation, this parameter is important because it changes the amount of modulation the input oscillator will cause. VolumeVolume of the oscillator in decibels. When the oscillator is used as the modulator for frequency or ring modulation, this controls the amounts of modulation. DestinationDestination of the oscillators. Only used for those oscillators which are output as sound, the setting is ignored if the oscillator is used as a modulator. The oscillators output depends on the chosen algorithm in the Algorithm section of the LCD screen. These are:
Note: The dry volume setting can be found in the Global section of the LCD screen. If you want to use the dry output, you need to set Dry Volume to a non-zero amount in the Global section. If you set the dry volume to "off" then it reduces CPU usage. |