Oscillators 1&2 Modulation Section - Novation Bass Station Owner's Manual

How The Controls Work
Oscillator 1&2 Modulation Section
This section allows you to setup modulations
(automatic changes) to the pitch timbre of the
oscillators whilst they are playing back. This gives the
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sound more "life", by making it more interesting to the
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ear. Pitch changes include the amount of vibrato
ENVELOPE LFO PULSE WIDTH
OSC 1-2 MODULATION
and auto bends or slides. Timbral changes are
achieved by varying the pulse width and thereby the
1 2 ENV 2 MAN LFO
harmonic content.
OSCILLATOR PWM SOURCE
Oscillator 1 2 - Switch
This switch selects the oscillator whose modulation you are currently setting. Any changes to the
three knobs and the other switch in this section you make will be applied to whichever oscillator is
currently selected. When you switch to the other oscillator, you will need to alter the positions of
the knobs and switches in this section to make their current positions apply to the new oscillator,
otherwise the previous settings will still apply.
Envelope - Rotary
This knob controls the amount of pitch modulation to the currently selected oscillator (see above)
from envelope 2. In the centre position there is no effect on the oscillator's pitch, to the left the
effect is negative (ie. the pitch drops and then rises) and to the right positive (the pitch rises and
then falls). The further you set the knob from the central position the further the pitch rises and falls.
See the "Envelope Section" later for the exact programming of the rise and fall times.
LFO - Rotary
This knob controls the amount of pitch modulation to the oscillator, ie. how much above and
below the set pitch the oscillator regularly rises and falls. If the LFO is set to Triangle wave and it's
speed is above the centre of its range, then this will normally produce a vibrato effect, but other
effects like a siren or seagull cries are possible with more extreme settings. See the LFO section
later for more detail on adjusting the LFO parameters to create these effects.
Pulse Width - Rotary
This knob has a direct effect on the Pulse Width when the waveform of the selected oscillator is set
to Pulse (Square). When the Mod Source switch is set to Manual, the position of this knob controls
the actual width of the Pulse. At the far left, the Width is 50% (ie. minimum and maximum values
are of equal length) giving a special case which we refer to as a square wave, which contains all
the odd-numbered harmonics giving a 'hollow' sound reminiscent of a clarinet. As you move the
knob to the right the Pulse Width gets narrower and more and more high harmonics are added at
the expense of the fundamental pitch giving the sound a thin, trebly quality. At the far right the
fundamental has almost disappeared and the sound becomes very thin indeed. When the Mod
Source switch is set to Env 2 or LFO, this knob governs the amount of variation in the pulse width in
a negative or positive direction about a central 'off' position. As the knob is moved to the left, the
variation in the Pulse Width will increase progressively in a negative manner whilst moving it to the
right will vary the Pulse Width in a positive manner.
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