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Partikl 3 User Guide

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Partikl Tone Generator Unit: Oscillator

Tone Generator Oscillator screenshot, small

Tip: You can use an audio junction unit to add together sounds from multiple tone generators to make even richer sounds!

Overview

This dialog lets you create a range of waveforms, which are driven by MIDI pitch (via the "Use Midi Pitch?" checkbox); in which case, they are flexible, efficient MIDI tone generators.

The main controls in this unit are:

Edit Envelope Button: Press this button to pop-up an envelope editor that allows you to specify your own specific envelope settings. Use in conjunction with the "Use Envelope?" checkbox.

Freq: This controls the frequency of the LFO, in Hertz (Hz, cycles per second).

Porta: This defines the amount of "pitch slide" (Portamento) from one note to the next; used when "Use Midi Pitch?" is selected. Basically a measure of the exponential approach to the pitch of the next note. Measured from 0 (minimum effect, an instantaneous change to the next note pitch) to 100 (maximum exponential approach to the target pitch).

Amp: This controls the amplitude of the generated LFO waveform.

LFO Type List: Includes Sine, Saw left, Saw right, Triangle, Square, STS (Saw, Triangle, Square) and Random.

Change the LFO Type to dramatically change the sound of your LFO! This combo-box lets you select from a number of waveform types that form the basis of the LFO waveform that is generated.

  • Sine produces a smooth waveform with no other harmonics.
  • Saw Left and Saw Right produce waves that look like a saw-tooth close up. The either slope to the left or to the right, but sound identical (they are both provided, as combining these with other waveforms provide interesting effects due to their different phasing!).
  • Triangle sounds not quite as harsh as the saw-tooth but has more harmonics than the sine.
  • Square produces a 'square' looking wave and sounds rougher than either the sine or saw-tooth waves. With the square wave you have the option of specifying the ratio of the up portion of the wave to the down portion. At either extreme, the square wave becomes more like a pulse wave, giving a 'pulsing' sound at lower pitches.
  • STS is the very exciting STS wave which stands for 'Saw, Triangle, Square' because it is a hybrid between these three wave types. By varying the three parameters associated with it, the wave shape can be 'morphed' between the above three extremes. In effect, this waves covers all the preceding wave shapes, with the exception of the sine wave.
  • Random produces white noise between Min and Max, also affected by the Amplitude. These values are produced irrespective of the pitch of the tone generator; and do not use the envelope of the tone generator. Random signals are particularly interesting when fed into filter effect units!

Min: This defines the minimum value that the generated LFO waveform can have.

Max: This defines the maximum value that the generated LFO waveform can have.

Phase: useful for slow oscillators (e.g. 0.2 Hz) - determines the start point of the oscillator.

Pitch: Select this checkbox if you want the MIDI pitch to determine the frequency of this tone generator. Use only for signal-rate units.

Ring:TBA.

Sync: Select this checkbox if you want the LFO to use the envelope to modulate the amplitude of the tone generator, or your own specific envelope settings that you can edit by pressing the "Edit Envelope" button. This only has any effect in Modular Synth networks, of course!

U/D: Only for the Square and STS wave types. Defines the ratio of "Up" to "Down" (or "On" to "Off") values (for STS waveforms, this is the ratio of u to d in the diagram below).

Sqr: Only for the STS wave type. Defines the "squareness" of the waveform (the ratio of s to u in the diagram below).

Slant: Only for the STS wave type. Defines the skew of the waveform (the ratio of a to a + b in the diagram below)

  • With the Up Down Ratio at 100.0%, the Squareness Ratio at 0.0% and the Slant Ratio at 50.0%, the shape is a triangle.
  • With the Up Down Ratio at 100.0%, the Squareness Ratio at 0.0% and the Slant Ratio at 0.0% or 100.0%, the shape is a Saw Right or Saw Left respectively.
  • Lastly, with the Up Down Ratio at 100.0%, the Squareness Ratio at 100.0% and the Slant Ratio at anything you please, the shape is a Square wave.

Ove: This allows you to specify the the octave offset from the voice's pitch.

Semi: This allows you to select the semitone offset from the voice's pitch (taking into account the octave offset above).

Micro: This allows you to specify the microtonal offset in order to 'detune' the tone. -100 is the equivalent to a semitone down, and +100 is a semitone up.

The STS Waveform and its ratios