4.2 Front Panel
4.2.1 The oscillator and its signal mixer
The oscillator delivers three basic waveforms: sawtooth,
pulse, and triangle wave. These waveforms are
accessible through the signal mixer and their respective
levels can be adjusted with the slider potentiometers. A
sub-oscillator is available to create sub-bass sounds. The
mixer also controls the level of noise and of external
audio (if an external source is plugged in the rear panel’s
audio in jack). The mixed signals then feed the filter. The
waveforms can also be modified using signal enhancers
(Ultrasaw, Pulse Width Modulation and Metalizer).
4.2.1.1 The waveforms
Saw and Ultrasaw
The level of the plain Saw (sawtooth) and Ultrasaw signals is
controlled with the slider potentiometer labeled with the saw icon.
Pulling it down completely mutes the signals, while moving it up
increases their level. When the
Ultrasaw Amount
knob is fully counter-
clockwise, only the saw signal is audible. Turning this knob clockwise
mixes more Ultrasaw sound in with the plain saw signal. The Ultrasaw
consists of two copies of the plain saw that are independently phase-shifted using
their own LFO. The phase shift of one copy is modulated at a constant rate (1Hz),
while the second copy’s phase shift modulation rate can be controlled with the
Ultrasaw Rate
knob from a rate of 0.1Hz (tick 0) for slow beating frequency effects,
to 1Hz (tick 13) for chorus-like effects, to 3Hz (tick 15) for house-like supersaw
effects, and up to 10Hz (tick 18) for “trembling” sounds.
Square and Modulated Pulse
The level of the plain Square wave and Pulse width modulated
signals is controlled with the slider potentiometer labeled with the
square symbol. Pulling it down completely mutes the signals and
moving it up increases their level. When the
ENV Amt
(envelope
amount) knob is set to 12 o'clock (0 mark) and the
Pulse Width
knob
is fully counter-clockwise (50% tick), the square wave is audible.
Turning the
Pulse Width
knob clockwise transforms the square wave into an
asymmetrical pulse whose width can be increased up to 90%, giving a very “acid”
sound (like a oboe). The pulse width is also under the control of two modulators:
the
Filter Envelope
[4.2.2.7], the polarity and amount of which can be adjusted
with the
ENV Amt
knob; and the
LFO
[4.2.6], the polarity and amount of which can
Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual
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4 General description
