Novation X-Station User Manual page 39

THE KS SYNTHESIZER
Obtaining A Classic Square / PWM Sound
The PWM sound is one of the classic analogue synthesizer sounds.
Select the factory initialisation sound (299 - 'Init Program'). This sound
use only use Oscillator 1 as the source waveform. For this oscillator
select a square waveform using the WAVEFORM knob in the
Oscillators section. Notice how the timbre changes to a more 'woody'
sound. Select POSITION using the PW SELECT button.
Rotate the PWM knob and notice how the sound changes to a very thin
nasal sound when the knob is towards the clockwise or anticlockwise
end stop positions. (If fact the sound will extinguish completely at maxi-
mum settings). Leave the knob at the 12 o'clock position.
Select LFO using the PW SELECT button. Slowly rotate the PWM
knob. Notice that there will now be some movement in the sound.
Select LFO 2 in the LFO Section using the LFO button. Rotate the
SPEED knob in this section and notice how the speed of the movement
will change. Experiment with the above controls until the desired sound
is achieved.
Obtaining A Double Saw 'Thick' Detuned Sound
A thick 'Double Saw' detuned sound using just a single Oscillator may
be created easily. If necessary, this sound can be stacked using addi-
tional Oscillators to product a 'huge' sound. Select the factory initialisa-
tion sound (299 - 'Init Program'). This sound use only use Oscillator 1
as the source waveform. For this oscillator select the sawtooth wave-
form using the WAVEFORM knob. Select POSITION using the PW
SELECT button.
Rotate the PWM knob fully clockwise. As the control is rotated, a dou-
ble sawtooth wave is generated. At this fully clockwise position the pitch
will appear to double. Return the PWM knob to the 12 O'clock position.
Select LFO using the PW SELECT button. Slowly rotate the PWM
knob. Notice that there will be some movement in the sound.
Press the LFO button to select LFO 2. Select a sawtooth LFO wave
using the WAVEFORM button in the LFOs section. Rotate the SPEED
knob in this section and notice how the speed of the movement will
change. Experiment with the above controls until the desired sound is
achieved.
PORTAMENTO Knob
This knob adjusts the Portamento effect. With this control set to zero,
when the keyboard is played, the pitches of notes change instantly from
one pitch to another as different keyboard notes are played. Turning the
knob clockwise introduces the Portamento effect. Notes will glide
smoothly from one pitch to the next. Increasing the amount will slow the
time taken for the pitch of the first note to reach that of the second note
played.
Note that this knob affects all three Oscillators simultaneously.
WAVEFORM Knob
This knob sets the currently selected
Oscillator's waveform. There are 16
waveforms available. The first 4 of
these are the traditional waveform
shapes found on classic analogue
synthesizers. The next 4 are special
noise types. The remaining 8 are digi-
tally sampled waveforms that provide
useful sources fro emulating more tra-
ditional instruments and percussion
sounds.
When this knob is at the fully anti-
clockwise position, the Sine waveform
is selected. As the knob is turned
clockwise, the other traditional wave-
forms are selected. After these, the
more complex harmonic waveforms
are available.
Oscillator Waveforms
Value Display
0 SINE
1 TRIANGLE
2 SAWTOOTH
3 SQR/PULSE
4 WHT NOISE
5 HP NOISE
6 BP NOISE
7 HBP NOISE
8 ORGAN
9 HARPSICRD
10 ELECPIANO
11 SLAP BASS
12 RHODPIANO
13 RHOD TINE
14 WHURLY EP
15 CLAVINET
16 ANA BASS
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The Oscillator / Mixer Section
SEMITONE Knob
Raises or lowers the selected Oscillator's pitch in semitone increments
up to a full octave. Setting the pitch of Oscillator 1 to zero and adjusting
the pitch of Oscillator 2 and 3 by differing amounts results in some
musically pleasing intervals. Settings 5 (a perfect 4th), 7 (a perfect 5th),
3 (minor 3rd), 4 (major 3rd), 8 (minor 6th) and 9 (major 6th) offer the
best results. Use other settings for intentionally discordant sounds.
DETUNE Knob
Sets the detune amount in Cents for the selected Oscillator 1,2 or 3. If it
is set fully clockwise, the Oscillator's pitch will be 50 cents sharper than
its basic pitch. Fully anticlockwise and it will be 50 cents flat.
Slight detuning between each Oscillator will enrich the sound by intro-
ducing a beating between the Oscillators (in the same way a 12-string
guitar sounds richer than a 6-string). Bass and lead sounds can be fat-
tened up using a small amount of detune. Large amounts of detuning
will lead to more extreme effects.
ENV DEPTH Knob
Controls the amount of pitch modulation to the currently selected
Oscillator from the Mod Envelope. In the centre position there is no
effect on the oscillator's pitch. Anticlockwise the effect is negative (i.e.
the pitch drops and then rises) and clockwise, positive (the pitch rises
and then falls).
See Envelopes Section, on Page 40 for the setting of the rise and fall
times.
LFO DEPTH Knob
Controls the amount of pitch modulation to an Oscillator from LFO 1. It
controls how much above and below the basic pitch the Oscillator regu-
larly rises and falls. If the LFO 1 is set to a Triangle wave and the LFO's
speed knob is above the centre of its range, this will produce a vibrato
effect. Other effects like a siren or sea gull cry are possible with more
extreme settings.
Note : If the Noise Generator or Ring Modulator have been select-
ed with the OSC SELECT Button, this control actually modulates
the Mixer LEVEL from LFO 1.
LEVEL Knob
Controls the signal level sent to the Mixer for the currently selected
Oscillator, Noise Generator or Ring Modulator.
UNISON Button
Unison allows more than one voice to be used for each note played on
the keyboard. This effect is useful when a very thick sound is required.
Up to eight voices may layered one on top of another when just a single
note is played.
To listen to the effect, repeatedly press the UNISON Button until the
display shows 2. Play a note and listen to the sound. It will become
thicker sounding. Increasing the number of notes to a maximum of 8
will result in very dense sounding textures.
Note: As more voices are assigned to Unison, the available polyphony
will reduce accordingly. For example, using 4 voices in Unison mode
will result in just two notes of polyphony being available!
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