16
Parameter: Vibrato Rate
Displayed As: MVibRate
Default value: 65
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
This parameter sets the rate (or frequency) of the vibrato from very slow (value= 0) to very
fast (value=127).
Parameter: Oscillator Drift
Displayed As: OscDrift
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
When the three oscillators are set to the same tuning, their waveforms are perfectly
synchronised. Old analogue synthesizers were unable to stay perfectly in tune, and
Oscillator Drift ‘emulates’ this imperfection by applying a controlled amount of detuning so
that the oscillators are slightly out of tune with each other. This adds a “fuller” character to
the sound.
Parameter: Oscillator Phase
Displayed As: OscPhase
Default value: 0deg
Range of adjustment: Free, 0deg to 357deg
This adjusts the point in the waveform at which the oscillators start, and is adjustable in
3 degree increments over one whole waveform cycle (360º). The effect of this is to add a
slight “click” or “edge” to the start of the note, as the instantaneous output voltage when
the key is pressed is not zero. Setting the parameter to 90deg or 269deg produces the
most obvious effect. With the parameter set to 0deg, the oscillators always start precisely
in step. If Free is set, the phase relationship of the waveforms is unrelated to when a key is
pressed.
Parameter: Single Fixed Note
Displayed As: FixNote
Default value: Off
Range of adjustment: Off, C#-2 to G8
Some sounds need not be chromatically-dependent. Examples would be certain
percussion sounds (e.g., bass drums), and sound effects, such as a laser gun. It is possible
to assign a fixed note to a patch, such that playing any key on the keyboard generates the
same sound. The pitch on which the sound is based may be any semitone note in a range of
over ten octaves. With the parameter set Off, the keyboard behaves as normal. With it set
to any other value, every key plays the sound at the pitch corresponding to the value.
Parameter: Noise Source Type
Displayed As: N ois eTy p
Default value: White
Range of adjustment: White, High, Band, HiBand
In addition to the three main oscillators, the MiniNova also has a noise generator. White
noise is defined as a signal with “equal power at all frequencies”, and is a familiar “hissing”
sound. Restricting the bandwidth of the noise generator alters the characteristic of the
“hiss”, and the other three options for this parameter apply such filtering. Note that the
noise generator has its own input to the mixer, and in order to hear it in isolation, its input
will need to be turned up and the oscillator inputs turned down. (See “Parameter:
Noise Source Level” on page 16.)
Edit menu - Submenu 3: Mixer
The outputs of the three oscillators and the noise source are passed to a simple audio
mixer, where their individual contributions to the overall sound output can be adjusted.
Most of the factory Patches use either two, or all three oscillators, but with their outputs
summed in various combinations of levels. A total of 6 inputs and two FX sends are
available for adjustment.
As with any other audio mixer, don’t be tempted to turn all the inputs up. The mixer
should be used to balance sounds. If multiple sources are in use, then each input
setting should be about halfway – about 64 or so, and the more inputs you are
using, the more careful you need to be. If you get this wrong, you risk internal signal
clipping, which will sound extremely unpleasant.
Parameter: Oscillator 1 Level
Displayed As: O1Level
Default value: 127
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
This parameter sets the amount of Oscillator 1’s signal present in the overall sound.
Parameter: Oscillator 2 Level
Displayed As: O2Level
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
This parameter sets the initial amount of Oscillator 2’s signal present in the overall sound.
Parameter: Oscillator 3 Level
Displayed As: O3Level
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
This parameter sets the initial amount of Oscillator 3’s signal present in the overall sound.
Parameter: Ring Modulator Level (Oscs. 1 * 3)
Displayed As: RM1*3Lvl
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
In its simplest form, a Ring Modulator is a processing block with two inputs and one output,
which effectively “multiplies” the two input signals together. Depending on the relative
frequencies and harmonic content of the two inputs, the resulting output will contain a
series of sum and difference frequencies as well as the fundamentals. The MiniNova has
two Ring Modulators; both use Oscillator 3 as one input, one combines this with Oscillator
1, the other with Oscillator 2. The Ring Modulator outputs are available as two additional
inputs to the mixer, controlled by RM1*3Lvl and RM2*3Lvl. The parameter controlled by
RM1*3Lvl sets the amount of the Osc. 1 * 3 Ring Modulator output present in the overall
sound.
Try the following settings to get a good idea of what a Ring Modulator sounds like.
In the Mixer Menu, turn down the levels of Oscs 1, 2 & 3 and turn up RM1*3Lvl.
Then go to the Oscillator Menu. Set Osc3 to an interval of +5, +7 or +12
semitones above Osc1 and the sound will be harmonically pleasing.
Changing the pitch of Osc 1 to other semitone values creates discordant, but interesting
sounds. O1 Cents can be varied to introduce a ‘beating’ effect.
Parameter: Ring Modulator Level (Oscs. 2 * 3)
Displayed As: RM2*3Lvl
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
The parameter controlled by RM2*3Lvl sets the amount of the Osc. 2 * 3 Ring Modulator
output present in the overall sound.
Parameter: Noise Source Level
Displayed As: NoiseLvl
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
This parameter sets the amount of Noise present in the overall sound.
Parameter: Pre-FX level send
Displayed As: PreFXLvl
Default value: 0 dB
Range of adjustment: -12 dB to +18 dB
The summed mixer inputs are routed through the FX block (even if no effects are active)
at a level determined by PreFXLvl. This control should be adjusted with care to avoid
overloading the FX processing.
Parameter: Post-FX level send
Displayed As: PostFXLv
Default value: 0 dB
Range of adjustment: -12 dB to +18 dB
This parameter adjusts the level returned from the output of the FX processor. Thus both
PreFXLvl and PostFXLv will alter the signal level even when all FX slots in the FX block
are bypassed.
PreFXLvl and PostFXLvl are critical controls and incorrect adjustment can
produce clipping in the FX processing section and elsewhere. It is always a good
idea to set up the FX parameters you think you need first (see “What is Legato?”
on page 21), and then increase these two parameters carefully until you get the
amount of FX you’re after.
Edit menu - Submenu 4: Filter
With this submenu, it is first necessary to select the filter whose parameters are to be
adjusted.
Displayed As: Filt e r n (where n is 1 or 2)
Default value: Filter 1
Range of adjustment: Filter 1, Filter 2, FiltrCmn
The MiniNova has two identical filter sections, which modify the harmonic content of the
oscillators’ outputs. They can be thought of as elaborate tone controls, with the additional
ability of being dynamically controllable by other parts of the synth. A total of 8 parameters
per filter are available for adjustment. Note that some parameters are common to both
filters (found in the FiltrCmn submenu). It is possible to use the two filter blocks together,
placing them in various series/parallel configurations, by adjustment of the common
parameter FRouting.
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