From Manufacturer
The Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms Primary Oscillator is an analog oscillator that allows for a uniquely musical approach to experimenting with an array of infinitely variable waveforms for your Eurorack modular system. It uses a unique cascading waveform processing, which through the use of multiple interwoven waveshapers can quickly mutate a simple waveform into deeply dynamic and harmonically rich sounds.
Custom waveshapers include a harmonic sine wave that's processed to add just enough harmonics to give your resonant filter something more to dig into. The blade wave processor is an evolution of the company's custom modulation circuit for creating modulable ramps and pulse waves.
The fragments generator is an analog downsampler capable of crushing waveforms without sounding thin or cold. The timbre wavefolder enables deep spectral changes by repeatedly folding the waveform in on itself until the original waveform is unrecognizable.
Oscillator Core
Based around the custom dual VCA oscillator designed for the Microvolt 3900, the Primary Oscillator takes advantage of calibrated temperature stabilization paired with hard sync and both linear and exponential frequency modulation. The result is a stable, saw core oscillator fine-tuned for deep sonic exploration.
- Frequency knob: Frequency control sweeps from LFO through the full audio range.
- Fine Tune knob: limited range frequency control.
- FM CV button: Switch the destination of the FM input jack between linear FM (on) and exponential (off) modulation.
- Harmonic Sine button: Switch between sine wave (off) and harmonic sine wave (on). Harmonic sine wave adds a minimal number of harmonics to a sine, allowing for a new set of timbres to emerge.
- FM CV amount trimmer: FM input attenuator control.
- Pitch input: 1V/octave pitch-tracking CV input.
- FM input: linear FM or exponential CV input.
- Sync input: hard-sync oscillator reset input.
- Sine Wave output: Sine wave or harmonic sine wave output.
- Saw Wave output: Saw wave output.
Blade Wave and Pulse Wave Controls
The Blade wave is a modulable ramp wave that produces an evolving waveform capable of stable pitch tracking. The shape of the blade wave can be controlled using the Blade Pulse CV input and attenuator, creating a sweeping or chorus effect on the wave. The Blade Pulse slider manually sweeps the blade wave and pulse-width.
- Blade core wave source button: Select the waveform used as the core wave for the blade wave. Triangle (on) or sine (off). If sine is selected, the harmonic sine button affects the blade wave shape.
- Blade pulse-width slider: Manual blade wave shape and pulse width control. This slider acts as an offset when modulation is used.
- Blade pulse CV trimmer: Blade wave shape and pulse-width CV input attenuator.
- Blade pulse CV input: Blade wave shape and pulse-width CV input.
- Blade Wave output: Blade wave output.
- Pulse Wave output: Pulse wave output.
Fragments Wave Controls
This analog downsampler offers an effect similar to a bit crusher. However, unlike a digital bit crusher, the analog fragments circuit sounds full and warm. Taking advantage of unlimited bit- and sample-rate resolutions, the fragments section avoids lo-fi digital results by smoothly downsampling at infinite resolution. The density slider sets the periodic voltage sample timing, breaking down a sine or triangle wave into ever-larger static chunks. Perfect for subtle analog aliasing effects or total waveform destruction.
- Fragments Wave source button: Select the waveform used as the core wave for the fragments wave. Triangle (on) or sine (off). If sine is selected, the harmonic sine button affects the fragments wave shape.
- Fragments Density slider: manual fragments density control. This slider acts as an offset when modulation is used.
- Fragments CV amount trimmer: fragments wave periodic voltage sample timing CV input attenuator.
- Fragments CV input: fragments wave periodic voltage sample timing CV input.
- Fragments Wave output: fragments wave output.
Timbre Wave Controls
The timbre section features a highly tuned, voltage-controlled wavefolder used to add odd harmonics to either the sine wave or Blade wave. The timbre depth and timbre CV controls set the density and amplitude of the folds. When processing a sine wave, the wavefolder creates a spectral change from zero harmonics to square, with an infinite harmonic series. The effect on the blade wave is complex and uniquely rich.
- Timbre Wave Source button: Select the waveform used as the core wave for the timbre wave—Blade (on) or sine (off). If Blade is selected, all of the modulation and modifications made to the Blade wave cascade into the wavefolder. If sine is selected, the harmonic sine button affects the fragments wave core.
- Timbre Depth slider: Manual wave folder control—this slider acts as an offset when modulation is used.
- Timbre CV amount trimmer: wavefolder depth CV input attenuator.
- Timbre CV input: wavefolder depth CV input.
- Timbre Wave output: wavefolder output.