User Guide

14
WAVEFORMS (Continued)
PULSE WAVES (SQUARE & NARROW PULSE)
A pulse wave contains only odd-numbered harmonics. Think of it as a switch you can turn off and on
hundreds of times per second. Pulse width, or duty cycle, is the percentage of time that the wave is “on”.
Every pulse width has its own unique harmonic structure, making a variety of basic timbres possible.
SQUARE
A Square wave is simply a pulse wave with 50% duty cycle, meaning that in a
single cycle, it is on half the time and off half the time. If its frequency is 440Hz,
that means it goes on and off 440 times every second. Square waves sound
hollow and provide a rich starting point for oboe and bass sounds.
NARROW PULSE
As a pulse wave continues to get narrower, lower numbered harmonics—both
odd and even—are emphasized. The resulting timbre takes on a more reedy, or
nasal tone.
TIP: Varying the duty cycle of the Pulse wave can result in a wide variety of lush
or chorus-like sounds. With at least one Pulse wave selected, try experimenting
with the PULSE WIDTH AMT knob in the Modulation section and listen to how
modulating this waveform affects the sound.
MIXER
The Mixer is where all of the sound sources within Grandmother are blended
together before being passed on to the Filter. Patch points in the Mixer allow each
hardwired source (Oscillator 1, Oscillator 2, Noise) to be replaced with an external
audio signal.
NOTE: The MIXER is DC coupled, which means it can be used to sum multiple control
voltages. Combining audio signals and control signals will yield results that may or
may not be desirable.
OSCILLATOR 1
The OSCILLATOR 1 knob sets the level of Oscillator 1 as it enters the mixer.
Settings above 1 Oclock will begin to impart gentle distortion, while higher
settings will result in more overdriven tones.