Quick Start Guide Manual

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Programming with Cypher
Cypher requires a slightly different approach to a more conventional analogue-style synth.
Each osc is tuned using a Scale control in relation to a variable master pitch. Since any pitch-
related control in DCAM: Synth Squad features several snapping modes including Harmonic,
you can tune each osc with harmonic ratio multipliers instead of absolute frequencies.
This means you don’t have to calculate harmonic frequencies yourself, making musically useful
FM sounds much easier to achieve than with traditional analogue oscillators. You can change
the snapping mode using the parameter context menu (see page 23).
Oscillators
• Each osc features a waveshape that is continuously variable between Triangle, Saw, Square
and Pulse. Modulate the Wave control between the Square and Pulse positions for traditional
pulse width modulation effects.
• The waveshape of Osc3 can also be modulated at audio-rate by Osc2, with the WM from 2
control.
• The frequency of Osc2 can be modulated at audio rate by Osc3, with the FM from 3 control.
• Both Osc2 and Osc3 can sync to Osc1, using the Sync to 1 controls. Cypher features
variable-depth sync, which allows a wide variety of sync-based timbres.
• If you turn Osc1’s Blend control (labelled ‘S+H-Osc-Noise’ to the far-left position, you hear
Osc2 sampled and held by Osc1’s frequency, at audio-rate. The same is true of Osc2/Osc3
and Osc3/Osc1. This function creates gritty timbres, reminiscent of low-resolution sampling
and FM.
• The Beat control applies detuning while keeping the beating rate between oscillators constant.
• Each osc features a ring modulator function which multiplies it with one of the other oscs.
• Each oscillator can be used as an LFO by enabling the Low button. In LFO mode, the Beat
control sets the LFO rate. The oscillator must be used as a TransMod source in order to
modulate parameters.
• See section 3:2 and chapter 4 of the operation manual for more details on Cypher’s oscillator
section.
Waveshapers and Filters
• The waveshapers in Cypher can be placed before or after their corresponding filter using the
Post button. Waveshapers can be used for adding grit and distortion to the signal.
• The filter section contains a set of controls that are common to both filters:
• Cutoff frequency (adjusts the cutoff of both filters together)
• Envelope modulation depth from Mod Envelopes 1 and 2 (to modulate the Cutoff frequency)
• Routing and stereo spread controls
• It also contains individual controls for each of the two filters:
• Scale (cutoff frequency of the filter relative to the shared Cutoff control)
• Res (Resonance)
• KeyTrack depth
• Drive, Mode and Type
• FM from 3 (filter frequency modulation at audio-rate from Osc3)
• See sections 3:3 to 3:5 of the operation manual for more details on Cypher’s waveshapers and
filters.