Oscillators

Oscillators are simple tone generators that sit at the very beginning of the SubTractor's virtual circuitry. Think of them as on/off switches that trigger a tone. This may seem a crude metaphorand it isbut it'll work for now.

The SubTractor can generate two tones simultaneously (Osc 1 and Osc 2). Let's hear what the oscillators sound like through your test patch.

To adjust an oscillator

1.	With your loop playing, go to the Osc 1 section (Figure 5.11) in the top center of the SubTractor. Figure 5.11. Sound begins in the SubTractor synth's oscillator section, where tones are generated.
2.	Click the arrow buttons next to the Waveform display until you find one you like (there are 32). Make sure you listen to the sawtooth, sine, square, and triangle waveforms (Figure 5.12). These are all "pure" analog tones and will soon become very familiar to you. Figure 5.12. Basic analog waveforms Sawtooth is the most complex: all harmonics (bright sound, good for acid bass and leads; filters have a strong effect). Square is less bright, with odd harmonics (good for hollow-sounding leads and bass; filters have a strong effect). Triangle has very few harmonics, with a dark sound (good for flutes and other "hollow" sounds; filters have little effect). Sine is the simplest, with no harmonics (dark sound, good for bass and kick drums; filters have no effect).
3.	Click the Oct arrow buttons to move up and down through the SubTractor's range (Figure 5.13). Figure 5.13. The oscillator's Octave arrow buttons change the octave of the generated tone.
4.	Now click the Osc 2 On/Off button to activate the SubTractor's second tone generator (Figure 5.14). Figure 5.14. Activate Osc 2. By default, both oscillators start at the same settings. So when they're first activated, they're making the same tone.
5.	Find an Osc 2 tone you like by clicking the arrow buttons next to the Waveform display. You should now be able to hear two discrete voices playing.

Now let's try adjusting the balance between the oscillators.

To mix two oscillators

1.

With your loop playing and both oscillators active, turn the Osc Mix knob back and forth (Figure 5.15). Figure 5.15. The Mix knob adjusts the balance between Osc 1 and Osc 2. When you move the Mix knob all the way to the right (clockwise), you're hearing just oscillator 2 (with one exception, as you'll learn shortly in "The Noise Generator"). When you move the Mix knob all the way to the left (counterclockwise), you're hearing only oscillator 1.

2.

To beef up the sound, move the Mix knob back to the middle (both oscillators at equal volume), and try raising and lowering the octave of one of the oscillators using the Oct arrow buttons.

Tip

• Pressing Shift while adjusting a knob moves it in one-unit increments.