Access Virus Rack XL User Manual page 29

You are already familiar with Oscillator 1's
SHAPE and WAVE SEL/PW parameters. These
functions are identical for Oscillator 2, so we
won't go into detail on them again.
Locate the encoder labeled DETUNE and slow-
ly rotate it to the right from the far left position
(which is preset in the sound program). You can
hear the tone start to waver and as you turn the
encoder further to the right, how this vibrato ef-
fect increases until Oscillator 2 sounds distinct-
ly out of tune with Oscillator 1. This wavering or
vibrato-type effect has a popular traditional in
synthesizers. It is used to achieve chorus ef-
fects, create sounds reminiscent of stringed in-
struments/ string sections or simply beef up the
sound.
The SEMITONE encoder enables you to trans-
pose Oscillator 2 by plus/minus four octaves in
semitone steps while Oscillator 1 maintains the
pitch. This feature is especially interesting when
used in conjunction with two other oscillator
functions: synchronization and frequency mod-
ulation.
Locate and activate the SYNC parameter in the
OSCILLATOR 2 menu (Sync On). The synchro-
nization function forces Oscillator 2 to restart its
wave cycle at the same time as Oscillator 1
waveshape starts its cycle. The initial effect of
this measure is that the wavering tone that re-
sulted from detuning and mixing the oscillator
signals disappears.
The SYNC effect really becomes interesting
when you transpose Oscillator 2 upwards in
comparison to Oscillator 1 via the SEMITONE
encoder. What happens is that the wave cycle
of Oscillator 2 is interrupted as soon as Oscilla-
tor 1 starts its cycle. The pitch of the second
oscillator no longer has the expected effect, in-
stead it generates special tones, in some cases
for lack of a better description "screaming" type
effects.
The other effect that benefits from manipulating
the interval between the oscillators is frequency
modulation (FM). It generates new tonal spectra
in which the signal of the first oscillator controls
the frequency of the second oscillator similar to
the manner in which filters can be controlled via
envelopes. And here too you have a encoder
which allows you to control the intensity of: FM
AMOUNT. Basically, this effect is similar to a vi-
brato, although here you're dealing with an ex-
tremely fast vibrato featuring a frequency within
the range of human hearing. This signal is not
actually audible as a vibrato effect. Instead,
you'll hear a sound modulation, in some cases,
a very drastic one at that. Choose the pure sine
waveshape for Oscillator 2. In conjunction with
the sine wave, the frequency modulation gener-
ates very clear, in some cases bell-like, spectra.
In the Virus you have the option of combining
the two functions called oscillator synchroniza-
tion (SYNC) and frequency modulation (FM
AMOUNT, to generate new harmonic spectra.
Switch SYNC on and experiment with the FM
AMOUNT. Also try out different SEMITONE set-
tings and the diverse waveshapes of Oscillator.
The Virus is equipped with a third master oscil-
lator that lets you create further oscillations and
spectra. You can access the parameters of this
oscillator, which are described in a later chap-
ter, via the OSCILLATOR EDIT menu.
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ACCESS VIRUS RACK XL OS5
The Second Oscillator
29