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224 Chapter 22 ES2
The ES2’s three Oscillator concept is reminiscent of the Minimoog and EMS VCS 3. The
oscillators can be synchronized and ring-modulated. Pulsewidth modulation is also
possible. Oscillator 1 can be modulated in frequency by Oscillator 2, and is capable of
producing FM synth sounds.
Further to the classic, standard waveforms, the ES2’s Oscillators also feature 155 single-
cycle waveforms, known as DigiWaves. Each has a totally different sonic color. The
DigiWave Parameter can be modulated, allowing dynamic cross-fades between the
waves. Intense use of such modulations will scroll through several waves, resulting in
sounds somewhat like those of wavetable synthesizers.
Two dynamic multi-mode filters, with a number of selectable slopes, guarantee the
fattest analog sounds. The filters can be mixed freely in parallel and series modes. The
filters can be overdriven by the Drive control.
Distortion, Chorus, Phaser, and Flanger effects are included. The unique Unison mode
delivers a density of sound normally only associated with big analog synthesizers,
including classic machines such as the Roland Jupiter 8, the SCI Prophet V and
Oberheim OB 8, amongst others. The great thing about the ES2’s Unison mode is that it
can be used in both monophonic and polyphonic modes. The unison voices are
intelligently spread across the entire stereo spectrum, but you can still modulate the
panorama position of the voices with any modulation source. This latter facility is
unprecedented.
As with the classic Yamaha CS Series analog synthesizers, a sine wave derived from
Oscillator 1 can be mixed directly into the dynamic stage to fatten up the sound. This
makes the penalties normally associated with the use of highpass, bandpass, and band
rejection filters much less of an issue.