I recently purchased Zebra 2.5 and am beginning to dive into it. There is one thing related to OSCillators and lanes in the Synthesis page that I can't seem to figure out from the manual and was hoping that someone could clue me in on:
What is the purpose of having two OSCillators (not FMOs) in series on a lane? I've seen patches that have two OSCillators in series in a lane and both of their "Inputs" are set to "Same". Specifically my questions are:
1) What is the intended output of this scenario? Will both OSCillators be heard on the output on the lane or does the first OSCillator somehow modify the second?
2) What is the purpose of an OSCillator taking "Input"? I understand how an FMO carrier would need input from an FMO modulator but I'm not sure who the "Input" relates to regular OSCillators in Zebra.
Thanks,
Bud
Noob Zebra 2 OSC/lane question
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Budbertzerofluff Budbertzerofluff https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=207675
- KVRer
- 7 posts since 19 May, 2009
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- KVRAF
- 1617 posts since 11 Dec, 2008 from Minneapolis
1) In series, the oscillator modules will simply sum their outputs the way two channels sum to the main output in a mixing environment. Assuming their input is set to same.
2) As an example, suppose you had OSC 1 feeding VCF 1, and OSC 2 feeding VCF 2 on a separate lane; then suppose you wanted VCF 2 to operate on OSC 1 and OSC 2; you could simply choose OSC 1's lane as the input to OSC 2. OSC 2 would then simply pass the sum of OSC 1 and itself (or even OSC 1 -> VCF 1, depending on the relative heights of the modules). Hope that makes sense - it's not actually all that likely a scenario.
I think the reason for oscillators having input is as much to maintain consistency with other modules in Zebra's semi-modular environment as anything. Most other modules are much more likely to use the capability of different input lanes.
2) As an example, suppose you had OSC 1 feeding VCF 1, and OSC 2 feeding VCF 2 on a separate lane; then suppose you wanted VCF 2 to operate on OSC 1 and OSC 2; you could simply choose OSC 1's lane as the input to OSC 2. OSC 2 would then simply pass the sum of OSC 1 and itself (or even OSC 1 -> VCF 1, depending on the relative heights of the modules). Hope that makes sense - it's not actually all that likely a scenario.
I think the reason for oscillators having input is as much to maintain consistency with other modules in Zebra's semi-modular environment as anything. Most other modules are much more likely to use the capability of different input lanes.
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- KVRAF
- 10815 posts since 26 Nov, 2004 from UK
if that last response confused you a bit,
its so you can simply send 2+ OSC in to the same filter,
the output of a OSC is unaffected by any OSC it feeds in to
Hmmmm, reading my post back i see there is no simple way to explain it
Subz
its so you can simply send 2+ OSC in to the same filter,
the output of a OSC is unaffected by any OSC it feeds in to
Hmmmm, reading my post back i see there is no simple way to explain it
Subz
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Budbertzerofluff Budbertzerofluff https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=207675
- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 19 May, 2009
Cool, thanks for the quick responses!
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- KVRAF
- 4141 posts since 11 Aug, 2006 from Texas
In short, Z2 any input an OSC receives is forwarded down the signal chain unaltered. This simplifies patching because you can do:
[ OSC1 ]
[ OSC2 ]
[ VCF1 ]
And both OSC1 and OSC2 will be in the signal path ready to be shaped by VCF1.
If oscillators did not foward the previous signal, you would have to do the more complex patch:
[ OSC1 ][OSC2]
[ MIX1 ]<--/
[ VCF1 ](MUTE)
I hope this makes sense. So to answer your questions:
1. Both oscillators will produce sound and send it on lane 1. They will not alter each other's sound. Of course, their sounds will be blended together, just like you'd expect to hear on any 2 oscillator synthesizer.
2. to simplify routing. Without it, placing an OSC anywhere would stop the signal flow of all previous modules in the chain.
[ OSC1 ]
[ OSC2 ]
[ VCF1 ]
And both OSC1 and OSC2 will be in the signal path ready to be shaped by VCF1.
If oscillators did not foward the previous signal, you would have to do the more complex patch:
[ OSC1 ][OSC2]
[ MIX1 ]<--/
[ VCF1 ](MUTE)
I hope this makes sense. So to answer your questions:
1. Both oscillators will produce sound and send it on lane 1. They will not alter each other's sound. Of course, their sounds will be blended together, just like you'd expect to hear on any 2 oscillator synthesizer.
2. to simplify routing. Without it, placing an OSC anywhere would stop the signal flow of all previous modules in the chain.