7

Table Of Contents
232 Chapter 22 ES2
During a Fourier transformation, complex oscillations can be divided into their basic
sine components. In additive synthesis, complex oscillation forms can be re-
synthesized. The most simple additive synthesizer is the drawbar organ (the Hammond
organ, for example). With such an organ, you can mix nine sine choirs with drawbars.
Try selecting sine waves for all three oscillators and the following semitone
settings: 12 (16'), 0 (8') and +7 (5 1/3'), and set all oscillators to the same level. Select
an organ envelope, and voila—a classic organ sound!
Screenshot of the ES2’s triangular wave, created and shown as above. The triangular
wave only contains odd harmonics (no octaves), the amplitudes of which decrease
square-proportionately to their number. This means that its sound has few overtones.
This corresponds with its appearance, which is reminiscent of a sine wave.
Classic synthesizer literature encourages the use of the triangular wave for the creation
of flute-like sounds. In the age of sampling, however, its pretty hard to sell a triangular
wave as a flute sound to anyone.
Screenshot of the ES2’s sawtooth wave. The sawtooth wave contains all harmonics, the
amplitudes of which decrease proportionately with their number.