ES2 oscillator parameters overview in MainStage
ES2 oscillators are used to generate one or more waveforms. This signal is then sent to other portions of the synthesizer engine for shaping, processing, or manipulation.
Oscillators 2 and 3 are almost identical to each other, but they differ from oscillator 1.
Oscillator 1 can be frequency modulated by oscillator 2, for FM synthesis sounds.
Oscillators 2 and 3 can be synchronized to, or ring modulated with, oscillator 1. They also have rectangular waves with either user-defined fixed pulse widths or pulse width modulation (PWM) features.
You can use the modulation router to simultaneously change the pulse widths of rectangular waves generated by oscillator 1 and the synchronized and ring-modulated rectangular waves of oscillators 2 and 3.
Oscillator parameters
Oscillator on/off buttons: Click the number to the right of each oscillator to independently turn each on or off. A green numeric button indicates an active oscillator. A gray numeric button denotes an inactive oscillator. Deactivating an oscillator saves computer processing power.
Wave knobs: Choose the waveform that an oscillator generates. The waveform is responsible for the basic tonal color. See ES2 basic oscillator waveforms.
Coarse Frequency knobs: Set the oscillator pitch, in semitone steps, over a range of ±3 octaves. Because an octave consists of 12 semitones, the ±12, 24, and 36 settings represent octaves.
Fine Frequency value fields: Fine-tune the oscillator frequency (pitch). The left numbers show the semitone s setting, and the right numbers show the cent c setting (1 cent = 1/100 semitone). For example, an oscillator with the value 12 s 30 c sounds an octave (12 semitones) and 30 cents higher than an oscillator with the value 0 s 0 c. Drag vertically to adjust each value.
Oscillator Mix (Triangle): Move the pointer in the Triangle to crossfade (set the level relationships) among the three oscillators. See Balance ES2 oscillator levels.