- Oscillators: generators of raw electrical signals that are the foundation of sound design
- keyboards control the pitch of each note
Important
You can stack oscillators using different waveforms to get new tones – this layering is key in sound design!
Oscillators in modular synths
- e.g. VCV rack
- oscillator creates an electrical hum → you need a Voltage Control Amplifier (VCA) to make it audible → Audio-8 lets you assign a frequency (pitch)
Richer sounds
- several oscillators with the same waveform can have different intervals sound richer
- usually doubled by octave or fifth, but you perceive it as one note
- higher → cut through a mix; lower → give more weight (usually triangle/sine waveform)
- you can detune up and down slightly for a phasing effect → thickens sound, adds motion
- creates a 'waving' sound; ↑ detune = ↑ waving
- happens because of phase cancellation with two opposite oscillators (happens when detuned)
- you can reduce effect of beating by panning one left and one right → makes sound stereo-wide
- beating will re-appear on a mono system
- 🕹️ unison & detune & detune volume knobs in Serum
Monophonic vs polyphonic (in software)
- monophonic – allows portamento (gliding), cleaner sounds with no overlaps
- good for linked sequences of notes (e.g. in riffs)