Analogue Solutions Cranial Saw - Manual (Page 2)

Controls In More Detail and Setup Ideas
TUNE slider
This is the master tune control to change the pitch of both VCOs.
DETUNE slider
This slider allows you to detune VCO2 relative to VCO1. This allows a richer sound to be
created, setting up beats, or full de-tunings. When Sync is enabled, the range of this control
becomes much wider, allowing more extreme Sync effects when manually moving this slider.
GLIDE rotary control
This applies portamento to both VCOs. When applied it causes the oscillators to move
smoothly through frequencies between the last note and new note played.
GLIDE toggle switch
It is possible to disconnect VCO1 from the Glide circuit, so that only VCO2 will be affects.
The reason to disconnect VCO1 from Glide is for extreme and unusual effects when using
either Sync, or setting up a patch to do cross-modulation (see later) between the VCOs. By
applying Glide to just one VCO when using cross-mod or Sync, as the master Pitch is
changed you will get a difference sound each time (a new harmonic content).
FREERUN toggle switch
When this switch is down (Freerun enabled) VCO1 is disconnected from the master PITCH
CV input sockets. So the VCO is just free-running and will not track incoming pitch. Only
VCO2 will continue to track. This again, like the GLIDE disconnect switch outlined above,
would be used for creating extreme cross-mod and Sync effects by only applying pitch
changes to one VCO.
PITCH CV input socket
This is the master pitch control input. It is calibrated to 1V/octave. Range is approx 5 octaves,
and the VCO performs its best at low to middle ranges.
Note that when VCO1 is set to bypass the Glide circuit, calibration is put a little out. This is
because literally a whole circuit is removed from the pitch CV patch to VCO1. In normal use,
always leave the GLIDE switch set to both VCOs (the down position).
BOTH slider and top MOD CV socket.
MOD CV is a pitch modulation CV input. This is used to change the pitch of both VCOs using
an external CV, such as a LFO triangle wave (to create vibrato) or an EG (to create
percussion sounds). The BOTH slider sets the depth of modulation.
bottom MOD CV socket
This is a 2nd pitch CV input that will also modulate both VCOs. This one does not have a
depth slider.
VCO2 slider and VCO2 CV socket
This is similar to the MOD CV sockets outlined above, but this socket is used to modulate just
VCO2. The slide sets the depth of modulation. The reason to just modulate VCO2 is for
extreme effects, particularly when a cross-mod patch is set up, or when using Sync.
SYNC toggle switch
When this switch is down oscillator Sync is enabled. It forces VCO2 to start a new
cycle whenever VCO1 does. This means VCO2 can only play the harmonics of
VCO1. Particularly interesting effects can be created by only using Glide on VCO2,
modulating the pitch of VCO2 only, or manually moving the DETUNE slider.
PW 1 / PW 2 sliders
Each VCO has a manual pulse width slider. This allows the shape of the square
wave to be adjusted. When the Pulse Width is changed, a large change in
harmonics is created.
VCO1 PW / VCO2 PW input sockets
Each VCO has Pulse Width modulation CV input sockets. This allows the Pulse
Width to be modulated by an external signal. Eg, use a LFO triangle wave to give a
chorusing style effect which thickens up the sound, or, use an EG signal to give
brass style sounds.
VCO1 / VCO2 Square Wave audio output sockets
These are direct outputs from each VCO, and are taken before the mixer.
Sub-Oscillator
This is a special waveform that tracks the pitch of VCO1, but one whole octave
down. It has a square wave. It is really effective at giving the sound more grunt. It is
most effective with bass sounds.
SUB audio output socket
This socket is not labelled as such. It can be found under the SUB sockets and they
are connected by an arrow.
This is a direct output from the Sub-Oscillator.
Mixer
Cranial Saw has a built in audio mixer. The signals from each oscillator and the sub-
osc can be mixed and are output at the OUT socket.
VCO1 / VCO2 / SUB sliders
The three audio sources each have their own level slider.
VCO1 WAVE / VCO2 WAVE toggle switches
The position of these switches sets whether Sawtooth wave or Square wave is sent
to the mixer, via the level slider.