3.5

55MainStage Instruments
• Wave pop-up menu and field: Choose an oscillator waveform. Basic saw, sine, square,
and triangle and many specialized waveforms are provided. You can also step through
the available waveforms with the Previous and Next buttons (the arrows).
• (Oscillator) Vol knob: Set the output level of the oscillator. When multiple elements are
used in a source, use this control to set the relative level of the oscillator component.
• Sym knob: Alter the symmetry, or shape, of the oscillator waveform. When a square
wave is active, Symmetry acts as a pulsewidth control. The effective range is between
5% and 95% because extreme values may cause sonic artifacts.
• Phase knob: Set the oscillator start point (phase). Values from 0% to 99.9% set a fixed
start point for the oscillator. A value of 100% causes random variations of the waveform
start point each time the oscillator is triggered.
• Sync knob: Enable oscillator sync and set the pitch that the main oscillator is
synchronized with.
• Num(ber) knob: Set the number of unison voices.
• Detune knob: Set the amount of detuning and stereo width variance between unison
voices.
• Noise on/off button: Enable or disable the noise oscillator.
• Noise pop-up menu and field: Choose a noise waveform. These have different spectral
characteristics that can be further refined with filters. You can step through the
available waveforms with the Previous and Next buttons (the arrows).
• (Noise) Vol knob: Set the output level of the noise oscillator. When multiple elements
are used in a source, use this control to set the relative level of the noise component.
• Tune knob: Set the tuning of the noise signal.
• Low Cut knob: Set a low cutoff frequency for the noise oscillator. All frequencies above
this value are allowed to pass. All frequencies below are attenuated.
• High Cut knob: Set a high cutoff frequency for the noise oscillator. All frequencies
below this value are allowed to pass. All frequencies above are attenuated.
The Low Cut and High Cut parameters work in conjunction with each other to act as a
bandpass filter, where the noise signal that falls within the two cutoff ranges is allowed
to pass.
MainStage Alchemy source modulations
Source components are shown only in advanced view. Click the Advanced button to switch
to advanced view.
Most Alchemy source parameters, such as Pan, Tune, and Position, can be modulated
by modulation sources such as AHDSRs or LFOs. Parameters that have a modulation
assignment are indicated by an orange arc around the control. See MainStage Alchemy
modulation overview.
Note: Parameters that are morphed and have a modulation assignment show both an
orange and green arc around the control.
This section focuses on Position, which is a modulation target. The principles discussed
apply equally to other source parameter targets.