User Manual

5. THE BASICS OF SUBTRACTIVE SYNTHESIS
Of all forms of sound synthesis, subtractive synthesis is one of the oldest and still certainly
one of the most employed today. It is this method that was developed toward the end of
the 60’s on analog synthesizers like the Bob Moog’s ones, ARP, Yamaha, Buchla, Oberheim,
Sequential Circuits (Prophet series), Roland, Korg (MS and PS series) and many others.
This concept of synthesis is still used on most current digital synthesizers, complementing
sample reading or wave tables, which progressively replaced the analog oscillators of the
first synthesizers in the 80’s. The 1971 Bob Moog’s monosynth, or even your own Mini V, is
among the best illustrations of the enormous possibilities of subtractive synthesis.
5.1. The three main elements
5.1.1. The oscillator, or VCO
The oscillator (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) is the starting module (with the noise module
which is often classed among the oscillators) for the creation of a sound on an analog
system.
It will generate the initial sound signal. We can think of the oscillator like a violin string that
once stroked or plucked, vibrates to create its sound.
The main oscillator settings are:
• The pitch, determined by the oscillation frequency. You can set the frequency of
the oscillator with 2 controllers: first, the “RANGE” selector which determines the
fundamental frequency – it is expressed in feet: Low, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2; the highest
number (32) brings the deepest tone, inversely, the smallest number (2) brings
the highest tone. Secondly, the detune setting (“FREQUENCY”) lets you tune the
oscillator more precisely.
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On the Mini V, the ”RANGE” and “FREQUENCY” buttons are placed in the “OSCILLATOR BANK” panel.
The oscillator settings
Arturia - User Manual Mini V - THE BASICS OF SUBTRACTIVE SYNTHESIS 58