Skip to content

oscillator

Interface

  1. pitch/speed frequency
  2. fine/FM mode switch
  3. fine tune in fine mode, FM amount in FM mode
  4. hard sync input/LFO reset
  5. FM input (works only in FM mode)
  6. V/oct pitch input
  7. signal shape modulation (affects only on square and triangle output)
  8. signal outputs: saw, triangle, square
  9. output mode: bipolar (-5 to +5 V), unipolar (0 to +5 V)
  10. shape control (affects only on square and triangle output): for square controls pulse width
  11. V/oct tune trim
  12. VCO/LFO mode switch

An oscillator is the primary sound source in a synthesizer. It generates a periodic waveform at a specific frequency — this is what you hear as pitch. By changing the frequency and shape of the waveform, you create different tones that can then be processed by filters, amplifiers, and effects.

VCO / LFO modes

The oscillator can operate in two modes:

VCO mode — audio-rate oscillator ranging from 3 Hz to 3.5 kHz. Use this for generating audible tones.

LFO mode — low-frequency oscillator with a period from 0.02 to 30 seconds. Use this for modulating other parameters like filter cutoff, amplitude, or another oscillator's pitch.

Pitch control

The pitch knob sets the base frequency of the oscillator.

The V/Oct input accepts 1 volt-per-octave control voltage for precise pitch tracking from keyboards or sequencers. A trimmer on the module allows calibration to achieve accurate 1V/Oct tracking.

Waveforms

Three simultaneous outputs provide different waveforms:

  • Saw — all harmonics, bright and buzzy sound
  • Triangle — odd harmonics only, softer and more mellow
  • Square — odd harmonics, hollow and woody character

Shape control

The shape knob and shape CV input modify the waveform character:

  • For square wave — controls pulse width, from thin narrow pulses to wide rectangular waves
  • For triangle wave — offsets the two halves of the waveform relative to each other, skewing the triangle shape
  • Saw wave is not affected by shape control

Output modes

A switch selects between:

  • Bipolar — output swings from −5V to +5V (typical for audio signals)
  • Unipolar — output ranges from 0V to +5V (useful for modulation, especially envelopes and triggers)

Fine tune / FM

A switch selects between two modes:

Fine mode — the fine/FM knob provides precise pitch adjustment for tuning. The FM input is disabled.

FM mode — the fine/FM knob controls the depth of frequency modulation from the FM input. FM (frequency modulation) creates complex, often metallic or bell-like timbres by modulating the oscillator's frequency with another signal.

Hard sync

The sync input resets the oscillator's waveform cycle when it receives a trigger. When synced to another oscillator, this creates the classic hard sync sound — as you change the synced oscillator's pitch, the waveform is repeatedly cut short and restarted, producing distinctive harmonically-rich timbres that track the master oscillator's pitch while adding aggressive overtones. In LFO mode, this input resets the LFO cycle.

Power consumption

732 mW