Using the ES M Oscillator

The synthesizer oscillator is used to generate a waveform, which is then sent to other portions of the synthesizer engine for processing or manipulation.

Figure. Oscillator parameters.
  • Mix knob: Sets the waveform of the oscillator, which is responsible for the basic color of the tone.
    • Setting the Wave parameter all the way to the left causes the oscillators to output sawtooth signals.

    • Setting the Wave parameter all the way to the right outputs a 50% rectangular wave—which is heard one octave below the sawtooth.

    • For any Wave setting between these extreme positions, the oscillator outputs a crossfaded mix of the two waveforms.

  • 8, 16, 32 buttons: Allow you to switch the pitch in octaves (transpose it up or down). The lowest setting is 32 feet, and the highest is 8 feet. The use of the term feet to determine octaves comes from the measurements of organ pipe lengths. The longer (and wider) the pipe, the deeper the tone.
  • Glide knob: Determines the speed of the glide (the time it takes to slide between note pitches). At a value of 0, no glide effect occurs.

    Note: The ES M always works in a fingered portamento mode, with notes played in a legato style resulting in a glide (portamento) from pitch to pitch.