User Manual

CHAPTER 23. LIVE INSTRUMENT REFERENCE 398
Interpolation and Antialias modes in the global display can also be turned off to conserve
CPU resources.
Note that turning off the oscillators will not save CPU power.
23.8.9 Finally...
Operator is the result of an intense preoccupation with FM synthesis and a love and dedi-
cation to the old hardware FM synthesizers, such as the Yamaha SY77, the Yamaha TX81Z
and the NED Synclavier II. FM synthesis was rst explored musically by the composer and
computer music pioneer John Chowning in the mid-1960s. In 1973, he and Stanford Uni-
versity began a relationship with Yamaha that lead to one of the most successful commercial
musical instruments ever, the DX7.
John Chowning realized some very amazing and beautiful musical pieces based on a syn-
thesis concept that you can now explore yourself simply by playing with Operator in Live.
We wish you loads of fun with it!
23.8.10 The Complete Parameter List
The function of each Operator parameter is explained in the forthcoming sections. Remem-
ber that you can also access explanations of controls in Live (including those belonging to
Operator) directly from the software by placing the mouse over the control and reading the
text that appears in the Info View. Parameters in this list are grouped into sections based
on where they appear in Operator.
Global Shell and Display
Time  This is a global control for all envelope rates.
Tone  Operator is capable of producing timbres with very high frequencies, which can
sometimes lead to aliasing artifacts. The Tone setting controls the high frequency content
of sounds. Higher settings are typically brighter but also more likely to produce aliasing.
Volume  This sets the overall volume of the instrument.