29 SYNTH TIPS!

OSCILLATORS

DETUNING EQUILIBRIUM

Detuning two or more oscillators in the same octave range is a great way to fatten up a sound. Here’s the correct way to do it. Detune each oscillator by equal amounts in opposite directions, say +/-5 cents. This keeps things from sounding too sharp or flat in the mix.

ADDING LOWS WITHOUT USING EQ

If you want to add some body or low end to a patch, add a sine (or triangle) wave oscillator. Tune the sine wave to the same octave or one octave lower than your main oscillator and adjust the volume of the sine wave to taste. This technique can be much more precise than EQ would be, and uses less CPU.

TWO-FINGER JAZZ CHORDS

Tune two sawtooth oscillators so that they’re seven semitones (or a fifth) apart, then lower the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter to taste. Now play simple two- or three-note chords. If