Moog Subharmonicon evaluate: An experimental synth with an iconic sound

So let’s originate with the oscillators. All of them (the two major and 4 subs) are independently tunable. The frequency of the subs is determined by taking the frequency of the major oscillator and dividing it by a host from one to 16. When the knobs are turned your total manner to the correct, they’re in unison with the major oscillator. As you turn them counterclockwise, they generate assorted subharmonics. Most subs simply play the identical demonstrate an octave or two decrease. So briefly, these sound assorted due to math. 

This also manner that it’s probably you’ll perhaps also expend the Subharmonicon to “play” six-demonstrate chords with a single press of a button, or key ought to you join an exterior controller. So even even though it’s miles in belief a two-suppose paraphonic synth, it’s probably you’ll perhaps also get some complex sounds out of it.

It is probably you’ll perhaps also tune the oscillators in a fully unquantized mode ought to you feel like exploring the sphere of microtonal music. Those of you with extra-old-long-established tastes will seemingly be delighted to know that there are four assorted modes of quantized tuning. There are twelve- and eight-demonstrate variations of both equal temperament (the customary for contemporary Western music) and proper intonation. And moreover it’s probably you’ll perhaps also predicament the differ of the sequencer knobs to be plus or minus one, two or five octaves from the oscillator’s frequency. Choosing plus or minus five offers you a total of 10 octaves to locate. Here’s at the expense of accuracy, due to you’ll now rating 120 notes to determine from versus 24 in one-octave mode.

There are also three alternate choices by manner of wave shapes: square, saw or a aggregate of a square major oscillator and sawtooth subs. That offers you entry to now not completely traditional Moog bass nevertheless also brassier tones and prosperous multitimbral sounds. Using the patchbay, it’s probably you’ll perhaps also additionally feed one oscillator into one other to invent metallic FM tones, a noise provide or modulate the heartbeat width of the major oscillator, which is huge for adding rather of dissonance or warbling your sound.

Here’s all to suppose that whereas the establish and spec sheet would perhaps lead you to deem this synth is all in regards to the bass, it’s able to a wide differ of timbres. Actually, within an hour of unboxing the Subharmonicon, I changed into as soon as coaxing some moderately gorgeous pads out of it. And with a runt artful patchbay work, it’s probably you’ll perhaps also even get some solid drums.

After I indirectly figured out easy how to get some decent percussion sounds going (it took a pair days), I changed into as soon as resplendent enraged, in big portion thanks to the potential of pairing them with the sequencer. Or would perhaps also just tranquil I dispute sequencers. There are two of them: one for every of the oscillators. Before all the pieces witness it would perhaps also just now not seem like mighty — a pair of 4-step sequencers — nevertheless this machine has substitute tricks at its disposal. 

Terrence O’Brien / Engadget

The strongest instruments are the rhythm generators. Such as the sub oscillators, these divide the master tempo by a host from one to 16 after which apply that to the sequencers to invent polyrhythms. All four generators can even be utilized to sequencer one, two, both or none. This form that even ought to you’re runt to completely four notes, the rhythm at which they play and the scheme they combine can invent long, evolving passages that would perhaps now not repeat for somewhat a whereas.

For an especially easy instance of this, it’s probably you’ll predicament sequencer one to play a four-demonstrate progression, stretched out over four bars. Then sequencer two would perhaps play a easy arpeggio twice earlier than the bass demonstrate adjustments, creating a transferring unity that feels mighty longer than what it’s probably you will get out of a frail step sequencer. 

Now, it’s indispensable to illustrate that the Subharmonicon is paraphonic — which manner the oscillators fraction a single amp envelope and filter envelope. So when the sequencer triggers one suppose, both sound. This form it’s probably you’ll perhaps also’t really rating a slowly plucked melody playing over a consistently thumping bassline without some patchbay trickery (or exterior modules). Here’s a shame, due to being ready to trigger the oscillators individually would originate up total unusual avenues for rhythmic exploration. But there are tranquil hundreds of opportunities for them to work together in intriguing solutions.

The substitute major instrument at your disposal is the capability to resolve which oscillators your sequencers are controlling. By default, sequencer one is for oscillator one and sequencer two is for oscillator two (it’s probably you’ll perhaps also’t expend both sequencers to trigger a single oscillator). But you procure whether or now not the sequencer controls the major oscillator, sub oscillator one, sub oscillator two or some aggregate of the three. When the sequencer is controlling the sub, it’s changing its relation to the major oscillator, now not controlling its frequency straight. It would result in some really out-there sounds. It is probably you’ll perhaps even rating the major oscillator chug away whereas the sub dances spherical it. Or as the major oscillator adjustments, the subs can shift the interval they’re playing.

Whereas you happen to’re the rest like me, your first intuition will seemingly be to get all the pieces going proper away: all four rhythm generators triggering both sequencers, that are controlling both the oscillators and their subs, with all the pieces tuned to assorted intervals. Enable me to pronounce you proper off the bat: Here’s a abominable belief. Whereas it’s tempting with any unusual toy to make expend of all of its savor facets, restraint is the key to making the many of the Subharmonicon. It is a long way extremely complex to get all six voices to line up in a consistently fair manner ought to you’re utilizing the sequencers to regulate all of them. Since the voices are all introduced on simultaneously, the line between intriguing interplay and full chaos — ought to you make expend of all four rhythm generators simultaneously — is extraordinarily, very skinny.