Synth Section - Basics; Paraphonic Voicing - Novation Circuit Mono Station User Manual

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Synth section - basics

The two synth oscillators – Osc 1 and Osc 2 - have distinctive RGB colour coding for the
pads, which is reflected in other Views and in LEDs elsewhere on the control panel, so you
always know which oscillator is being adjusted. Osc 1 uses purple and Osc 2 uses green. On
the playing pads, the high and low C notes in each octave show a different shade than the
intermediate keys.

Paraphonic voicing

A fundamental feature of Circuit Mono Station's operation is its paraphonic voicing. This means
that the two Oscillators share the synth's VCA, envelope generator and filter, and can play at
different pitches, but can only be heard together when the envelope is "open".
In normal (default) operation only Oscillator 1 triggers the VCA. We call this mode Paraphonic
Mode 1, and it is the mode you will use when playing Circuit Mono Station in live performance
or for recording. This mode is confirmed by the Scales button
Shift
is pressed. In Paraphonic Mode 1, every note played on the keys triggers both
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Oscillators, but the VCA is triggered only by Oscillator 1. The contribution that each oscillator
makes to the overall sound can be heard provided the Osc 1 and Osc 2 level controls (
) are turned up in the Mixer Section, and the pitch and waveform of each oscillator can be
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adjusted independently.
The important point about Paraphonic Mode 1 is that because it is Oscillator 1 that triggers the
VCA, Oscillator 2 will only be heard when a note in Oscillator 1's Pattern is of sufficient duration
to trigger the VCA. This point is illustrated below:
Osc 1
Osc 2
This note will be heard fully
because Osc 1 has triggered
the VCA
SIMPLIFIED BLOCK DIAGRAM
SHOWING PARAPHONIC MODE SWITCH.
Osc 1
Pitch
Mixer
Trig
Osc 2
Pitch
Trig
This note will not be heard as the
VCA is not being triggered
PARAPHONIC MODE 1
Pre-Filter
VCF
Distortion
Mode 1
Mode 2
PARAPHONIC MODE SWITCH
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Only the start of this note will be
heard because the release phase
of Osc 1's note will close the envelope
before Osc 2's note has completed
Post-Filter
Distortion
VCA
Trig
being lit dimly white when
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TIME
and
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