Modulation Selection and Modifiers
The key to giving “life” to a sound is the subtle and sometime wild application of modulation.
In Ottava, all 21 modulation sources are available to any of the 25 destinations, but those
destinations need to be set and selected.
Modulation destinations into the voice are selected by pressing one of the 7 Source Select
buttons. (in light blue below)
Once the desired button is pressed (you don’t need to hold it down), the first line of the OLED
design will show which Destination is being address; such “Osc 1 Pitch Src” or “Osc 2 Shape
Src”… which reminds me, make sure you have selected the source or modulation desired first,
using the Selector button at the top of the Front panel.
The second line of the OLED display will show the presently, in-use, modulation for that
destination. To change the modulation used, rotate the Y/Right data knob… a list of
modulations sources will scroll through. You can ply the synth and hear the results of the
modulation on-the-fly. Just stop on the one you like… Note that you have a few seconds after
pressing the Modulation Section button to start selecting a new modulation.
Each Modulation destination has an Amount knob on the Front Panel that allows for +/- 1--%
modulation depth… they also have a nice detent in the center for easy 0% selection. For the
Filter and VCA, which have two sources of modulation, press the Modulation Selection button
first and then adjust the Amount knob. This tells the control card which modulation source you
want to control. The OLED always lets you know what is going on…
Modulation Section Buttons
Modulation Section Knob
