The synthesizer oscillators are used to generate one or more waveforms. You set the basic tonal color with the chosen waveform or waveforms, adjust the pitch of the basic sound, and set the level relationships between oscillators. The signal of one or both oscillators is then sent to other parts of the synthesizer engine for shaping, processing, or manipulation. See Retro Synth filter controls, Retro Synth amp and effect controls, Use Retro Synth modulation, and Retro Synth global and controller settings.
Wavetable synthesis is useful for creating evolving textures and more clinical sounds. It is well-suited for pad creation, basses, and sound effects.
Retro Synth also allows you to create your own custom wavetables.
Table oscillator parameters
Shape 1 and Shape 2 knobs: Rotate to choose from 100 waveforms, known as Digiwaves. Digiwaves are very short samples of the attack transients of various sounds and instruments. You can also choose the waves in custom wavetables.
Waveset pop-up menu: Choose a custom waveset or the default waveset. You can also create, save, and delete custom wavetables, and can reverse the loaded wavetable order. See Use Waveset menu functions.
Shape/Formant button: Switch between shape and formant modes.
Shape mode: Choose waveforms from default or custom wavesets with the Shape knobs.
Formant mode: Use the Shape Modulation knob to stretch or compress the formant spectrum of the active wave (chosen with the Shape knobs). This is similar to grain compression in a granular synth.
Shape Modulation knob: Rotate to choose a waveform shape modulation source and to set the modulation intensity. The centered (off) position disables all waveform shape modulation with the LFO or filter envelope.
In formant mode, rotate to stretch or compress the formant spectrum of the active wave you chose with the Shape knobs. This parameter is also available as the Wave Variation (Formant) real-time modulation target. See Retro Synth global and controller settings.
Vibrato knob: Rotate to set the amount of vibrato (pitch modulation).
Semitones knob: Rotate to set the pitch of oscillator 2—in semitone steps, over a range of ±2 octaves.
Cents knob: Rotate to precisely adjust the frequency of oscillator 2 in cents (1 cent = 1/100th semitone).
Mix slider: Move to crossfade (set the level relationships) between the oscillators (Shape 1 and Shape 2).