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VCO
(VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR)
The Oscillator is the primary sound generating component of an analog synthe-
sizer. Based on the same circuitry as the Minimoog Voyager and Little Phatty,
the Werkstatt oscillator produces a raw waveform that is rich in harmonics.
While the keyboard determines the note being played, the frequency knob
determines the pitch of that note.
FREQ (FREQUENCY KNOB)
The Frequency knob offers a wide pitch range, extending over nine octaves.
Keep in mind, the pitch is also controlled via the keyboard, and can be modi-
fied by other control signals. Depending on your monitoring system—and your
ears—the outer ranges of the FREQ knob may appear to be inaudible.
WAVE (WAVEFORM SWITCH)
Two waveform options are available on the Werkstatt. Each waveform, or wave-
shape, carries a distinct harmonic content, creating a different sonic signature,
known as timbre.
SAW:
Short for Sawtooth, the Saw wave looks similar to the cutting edge of
a saw blade. The Saw wave contains both even and odd numbered harmon-
ics, and creates a bright and buzzy sound before filtering. The strength—or
level—of each harmonic is the reciprocal of its number in the harmonic series.
PULSE:
This waveform is unique in that it only contains the odd numbered
harmonics. The ratio that controls the relative volume of these harmonics
is determined by the Pulse Width. The width of the pulse can be anything
from a wide rectangle to a square to a very narrow rectangle. The thinner
the wave, the more the upper harmonics are accentuated.
PWM (PULSE WIDTH MODULATION)
When the Pulse waveform is selected, the Pulse Width Modulation knob can be
used to determine the shape of the Pulse, thereby changing the timbre of the
wave. With the knob set just a little left of center, the wave will be square, with
a 50% duty cycle. The duty cycle is commonly thought of as the positive por-
tion of the wave. The range of this knob can create a narrow pulse wave with
a duty-cycle of almost zero, all the way up to a wide rectangular wave having
about a 95% duty-cycle.
NOTE: This knob will not function when the VCO MOD DEST switch is set to
PWM. In this case, the Pulse Width will be controlled by the VCO MOD SOURCE.
The keyboard determines the note
played based on the setting of the
Freq control - these two control inputs
are summed together.
