X

Chapter 3 ES2 36
ES2 sound sources
ES2 oscillator parameters overview
ES2 oscillators are used to generate one or more waveforms. This signal is then sent to other
portions of the synthesizer engine for shaping, processing, or manipulation.
•
Oscillators 2 and 3 are almost identical to each other, but they dier from oscillator 1.
•
Oscillator 1 can be frequency modulated by oscillator 2, for FM synthesis sounds.
•
Oscillators 2 and 3 can be synchronized to, or ring modulated with, oscillator 1. They also have
rectangular waves with either user-dened xed pulse widths or pulse width modulation
(PWM) features.
•
You can use the modulation router to simultaneously change the pulse widths of rectangular
waves generated by oscillator 1 and the synchronized and ring-modulated rectangular waves
of oscillators 2 and 3.
(Fine) Frequency
value field
Wave knob
Oscillator Mix (Triangle)
Oscillator on/off button
(Coarse) Frequency knob
Oscillator parameters
•
Oscillator on/o buttons: The number to the right of each oscillator activates or deactivates
each oscillator independently. A green numeric button indicates an active oscillator. A gray
numeric button denotes an inactive oscillator. Deactivating an oscillator saves computer
processing power.
•
Wave knobs: Rotate to choose the waveform that an oscillator generates. The waveform is
responsible for the basic tonal color. See ES2 basic oscillator waveforms on page 37.
•
(Coarse) Frequency knobs: Rotate to set the oscillator’s pitch, in semitone steps, over a range
of ±3 octaves. Because an octave consists of 12 semitones, the ±12, 24, and 36 settings
represent octaves.
•
(Fine) Frequency value elds: Fine-tune the oscillator frequency (pitch). The left numbers show
the semitone s setting, and the right numbers show the cent c setting (1 cent = 1/100th
semitone). For example, an oscillator with the value 12 s 30 c sounds an octave (12 semitones)
and 30 cents higher than an oscillator with the value 0 s 0 c. Drag vertically to adjust
each value.
•
Oscillator Mix (Triangle): Move the pointer in the Triangle to cross-fade (set the level
relationships) between the three oscillators. See Balance ES2 oscillator levels on page 44.