Osc Page

Sample Mode

In Sample Mode, you can load and play different multi-samples.

Grain Mode

In Grain Mode, Skylab uses a grain oscillator for playback.

Position

You can set the playback position of the grains manually. For example, at a setting of 50 %, the playback position is in the middle of the sample. The playback position is updated with every new grain.

Random Position

Selects a random playback position within a specific range around the current position. At a setting of 100 %, the playback position jumps to a random position between the start and the end of the sample. The random playback position is calculated separately for each channel of the sample, at the start of a new grain. This can be used to widen the panorama of the sound.

Duration

Increases the grain period by a factor ranging from 1 to 1000.

For very short grains, the sound gets the pitch of the frequency at which the grains repeat. For grains longer than 30 ms, the sound gets the pitch of the original sample. This is the case for Center Key C3 if the Duration is set to a value above 10, for example.

Random Duration

Sets the random grain duration. This duration is calculated at the start of a new grain.

Duration Key Follow

Determines how the grain duration changes with the notes you play. It is mostly used with short durations. Longer durations sound with the original pitch of the sample and therefore do not need to follow the keyboard.

With a Duration of 1 and a Duration Key Follow setting of 100 %, the difference in pitch between two keys is one semitone, which corresponds to the standard keyboard tuning. Longer durations lead to an audible volume modulation that is different for the different keys. To apply the same volume modulation with each key, set Duration Key Follow to 0 %.

Note

The volume modulation is only audible if the grain is long and if you only use a few grains.

Pitch Interval

Allows you to specify an interval between -12 and +12 semitones. The grains are played randomly at their original pitch, or are transposed according to the pitch interval. This parameter is suitable for longer grain durations.

Pitch Random

Sets the random pitch range in semitones and cents. At a setting of +12, the random pitch values lie between -12 and +12 semitones. The random pitch is calculated separately for each channel of the sample, at the start of a new grain. This parameter can be used to enrich the sound.

Level

Adjusts the overall level of the grain oscillator. When you increase the number of grains, it might become necessary to lower the oscillator level. When you play back a very quiet portion of a sample, you can use this control to raise the level.

Random Level

Sets a random level for each new grain. At a setting of 100 %, the level varies between a factor of 0 and 2 of the original level. The random level is calculated separately for each channel of the sample, at the start of a new grain. This can be used to randomize the panorama of the sound.

Width

Narrows the stereo width of the grain oscillator. It is applied after the grain oscillator and does not affect the stereo width of the actual sample. At a setting of 0 %, the output of the grain oscillator is monophonic.

Auto Gain

Allows you to automatically adjust the level of grains using quieter sample parts. This way, you get a more homogeneous signal and you can use a quiet part of a sample as source.

Grains

Allows you to specify the number of grains, from 1 to 8. For example, with a setting of 4, you get 4 grains per period of the grain duration.

To hear the effect of this setting, you have to play a new note.

Fixed Pitch

Plays the sample at a fixed pitch.

• If this button is activated, the sample follows the pitch of the keyboard.

  The root key is C3.

• If this button is deactivated, the sample plays at its original pitch, and any pitch modulations for the zone have no effect.