User manual

Oscillator
Set 0-COAST to the “Default Sound” (Figure 8, Page 8). To hear how the OSCILLATOR works, it is helpful to either hold a key
down on your controller, or to set the 0-COAST to Drone, as shown in Figure 9.
The voice of the 0-COAST begins at this circuit: a Triangle core,
voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that generates two
waveforms: Triangle and Square, as illustrated in Figure 39. The
OSCILLATOR is the primary sound source of the 0-COAST. Set
BALANCE to Full CCW so that it is passing the internally-routed
Triangle waveform signal.
Within the BALANCE circuit, we refer to this as the FUNDamental.
The Triangle waveform has so few audible Overtones, it is nearly a
pure representation of our single Fundamental frequency, which is
determined by the PITCH Panel controls, MIDI, and CV patched to
1V/ Octave Input. The sound of the Triangle is smooth and pure.
The Triangle waveform is often used as the starting point for West
Coast synthesis techniques.
Now, grab a patch cable and patch the Square OUT from the
OSCILLATOR circuit to the BALANCE Ext. IN, Figure 38.
Be sure the BALANCE Panel Control is still set to Full CCW. You should now be hearing the Square waveform, which has many
audible Odd Overtones, making it more rough and complex. This gives it a hollow aggressive sound. The Square waveform is
often used as the starting point for East Coast synthesis techniques. These two waveforms: Triangle and Square, are
wonderful sounds. You may manually control the pitch using the PITCH Panel Controls Coarse and Fine for immediate
physical control of Pitch, just like on a modular synthesizer. You may also control the OSCILLATOR PITCH using the MIDI INput
or patching a CV signal to the 1V/Octave CV IN. Try controlling the pitch of the OSCILLATOR in these ways and comparing
how the Square and Triangle waveforms sound at dierent pitches, high and low frequency.
21
What is an oscillator?
An oscillator outputs repeating voltage in the
range of -5v to +5v. The core of the 0-Coast
generates voltage that ramps up in a straight line
and then back down, creating a triangle shape.
The other waveform outputs are created by using
circuitry to mold the Triangle into other shapes,
each of which has a unique sound. The frequency
of oscillation determines the pitch: the higher the
frequency, the higher the pitch.
An oscillator is ALWAYS oscillating: the only
thing that stops it is powering down the
system.
+5V
-5V
Figure 39:
0-Coast: Simultaneous Waveform Outputs
+5V
-5V
Time Time
Figure 38:
Patch Instruction: SQUARE OUT to BALANCE Ext. IN