Algorithmic Synth

General information

This Machine features 2 identical oscillators with 16 different algorithms to choose from. Each oscillator can be tuned, transposed and have its own algorithm (model).

The oscillators go into a Filter section, then a Drive section and finally an Amp section before going to the Mixer.

Main screen of the algorithmic synth

When opening the Algorithmic Synth Machine you will land on page 1 of tab 1. Use the first 2 tabs to configure oscillator 1 and 2 respectively. Use Tab 3 to configure the Filter section and Tab 4 to configure the Amp section.

The oscillator tabs (Tab 1 and Tab 2) will have a number of pages containing different controls depending on the selected model. When a Tab header displays small bar icons, click its corresponding button underneath to jump between its pages.

When you adjust a parameter on one the pages, a wave display is briefly shown to reflect the changes on the output wave. Click Button 4 while the wave display is shown to lock it on. Click Button 4 again to unlock the display.

The first page of an oscillator tab is always the same:

Model	Frequency	Transpose	Volume
Select the synthesis type used in the oscillator	Fine-tune the oscillator. This can be used to achieve beating-effects by having th two oscillators slightly out of tune with each other	Tune the oscillator by one semitone increments. This can be used to have the Machine play a paraphonic interval, or use one oscillator as a sub	Adjust the volume at which the oscillator is sent down the signal path (to the Filter section, or directly the the Amp section if all filters are turned off). 100% is unity gain, but it can go up to 200% if you can to overdrive the Filters, Amps or even the final DAC.

Saw model

A saw wave with Virtual sync capabilities.
The oscillator tabs have 2 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

Page 2:

Sync	PhaseMod
Above 0%, the saw wave is synced to a master oscillator. This adjusts the frequency of the slave oscillator you're hearing. Modulate for classic sync sounds	Above 0%, the saw wave's phase is modulated by another oscillator tuned at 0.75 times the frequency of the Saw. Increasing the parameter augments the modulation depth

SuperSaw model

A swarm of detuned saw waves.
The oscillator tabs have 2 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

Page 2:

Density	Spread	Fade
Choose the number of saw waves in the swarm, up to 12	Adjust the amount of detuning between the waves	Apply a volume fade on the most detuned saw waves to make the output less chaotic

Square model

A Square wave with PWM capabilities.
The oscillator tabs have 2 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

Page 2:

Simple<>Dual	PW	-	-
Add harmonics by dividing the positive part of the pulse in three pulse segments	Adjust the pulse-width of the output wave. Modulate for classic PWM sounds	-	-

Fold1 model

A sine wave is folded using the Chebyshev method
The oscillator tabs have 2 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

Page 2:

Fold	Decimator
Increase the number of folds in the wave to add harmonics.	Reduces the bit rate to add harmonics

Fold2 model

Two different out-of-phase waves are folded using the sinusoidal fold method
The oscillator tabs have 2 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

Page 2:

Fold	Sine<>Triangle	Transform	Decimator
Increase the number of folds in the wave to add harmonics.	Crossfade between a sine and a triangle wave, which are out-of-phase with each other	Adjust the phase of the sine and skew the triangle	Reduces the bit rate to add harmonics

FM1 to FM8 model

4-Ops FM algorithms (TZFM, Linear & Exponential modes)

You will find a diagram of the different FM algorithms at the end of this section.

Each algorithm has its own configuration, but it shares some common features :

• There is always 2 outputs from different operators (A/B), you can mix these 2 outputs
• All operators are sine oscillators, but the operator 1 has a phase distortion to twist the sine, this allows you to add more harmonics / harshness to the sound
• Each algorithm has 4 different modulation mode : TZFM Linear 1, TZFM Linear 2, Linear, Exponential.
• You can adjust the ratio / depth of each operator
• There is no integrated enveloppes on operators, but you can modulate every parameters with internal or external enveloppes (or other modulations)
  

The oscillator tabs have 4 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

Page 2:

OP4: Ratio	OP3: Ratio	OP2: Ratio	OP1: Ratio
Adjust Operator 4 frequency, in multiples of the Carrier frequency	Adjust Operator 3 frequency, in multiples of the Carrier frequency	Adjust Operator 2 frequency, in multiples of the Carrier frequency	Adjust Operator 1 frequency, in multiples of the Carrier frequency

Ratio parameters are stepped by 0.25 by default for more ease of use, but this can be free'd : Hold the button below the ratio parameter of the desired operator, then go to "SETTINGS" tab, then put "Stepped" parameter to off.

Page 3:

OP4 : Depth	OP3 : Depth	OP2 : Depth	OP1 : Ph.Dis
Amount at which Operator 4 modulates the target operator(s)	Amount at which Operator 3 modulates the target operator(s)	Amount at which Operator 2 modulates the target operator(s)	Amount of Phase distortion applied on the Sine.

Page 4:

Mix B<>A	OP3 : Mode	OP2 : Mode	OP1 : Mode
Mix between the outputs from 2 different operators, by default, it's 50% / 50%	It's how this operator is modulated, TZFM Linear 1, TZFM Linear 2, Linear or Exponential	It's how this operator is modulated, TZFM Linear 1, TZFM Linear 2, Linear or Exponential	It's how this operator is modulated, TZFM Linear 1, TZFM Linear 2, Linear or Exponential

FM1 diagram

FM2 diagram

FM3 diagram

FM4 diagram

FM5 diagram

FM6 diagram

FM7 diagram

FM8 diagram

Ringmod model

Two Ring Modulation algorithms where one oscillator's frequency is a multiple of the other one.
Algorithm A is a Saturated Ring Modulation and algorithm B is more like a Diode-Based Ring Modulation.
The oscillator tabs have 2 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

Page 2:

Ratio	Strength	Twist	Timbre
Select the modulator frequency, being a multiple of the carrier frequency.	Non-linear gain of both the carrier and modulator signals	Distort the phase of the modulator oscillator	Morph from algorithm A to algorithm B

CZ model

A phase modulation and wave windowing algorithm inspired by the Casio CZ series.
The oscillator tabs have 2 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

8 waveforms are availables, and can be combined (Saw, Square, Pulse, Double Sin, Saw Pulse, Reso1, Reso2, Reso3)

Page 2:

Wave	DCW	Wave	DCW
Select a target wave. If the second Wave parameter is not OFF, then this one will select a target wave for every odd cycle of the main sine.	Simulates a filter sweep by using a different phase modulation on each wave (combined with windowing on the Reso1, 2 and3 waves). At 0% only the main sine is heard, and at 100% only the target wave is heard.	Select a target wave for every even cycle of the main sine.	Simulates a filter sweep by using a different phase modulation on each wave (combined with windowing on the Reso1, 2 and3 waves). At 0% only the main sine is heard, and at 100% only the target wave is heard.

Noise model

A filtered noise with sample & hold.

The oscillator tabs have 2 pages. Page 1 is the same as mentioned earlier.

Page 2:

S&H	Color
The amout of time to hold the current sample.	To the left : cutoff from 0 to 100% Low pass filter. To the right : cutoff from 0 to 100% High pass filter