4ms Ensemble Oscillator
Sixteen oscillators, one voice, infinite harmonic textures
16 HP Eurorack module
The Ensemble Oscillator is a 16-voice polyphonic oscillator that quantizes all voices to user-selectable scales, crossfading smoothly between notes rather than snapping. It combines additive, FM, phase-distortion, and wavefolding synthesis to explore the perceptual boundary between rich timbres and harmonic chords, producing sounds ranging from pure sine aggregates to pulsar synthesis, lush wide chords, and dirty drones.
Features
- 16 sine-based oscillators quantized to a selected scale with smooth crossfading between notes
- 30 factory-programmed scales in three groups: 12TET, Octave, Free — all user-writable
- Scale Learn mode: program custom scales manually with knobs or via CV/Gate keyboard/sequencer
- Three Twist phase-distortion algorithms: Ramp, Pulsar, Crush
- Three Warp wavefolding algorithms: Fold, Cheb (Chebyshev), Segment
- Three Cross FM algorithms: root modulates all, each modulates next, highest modulates all
- Freeze feature locks a subset of oscillators while others remain live
- Three Freeze Mode algorithms: root only, lower half, odd oscillators
- Three Stereo Mode panning algorithms: even/odd, low/high, root/others
- Shift functions: number of oscillators (1-16), crossfading curve, Freeze Mode, Stereo Mode
- Two 1V/oct inputs: Pitch (non-quantized, -2V to +6V) and Root (quantized, -2V to +6V)
- Six bi-polar CV inputs (-5V to +5V): Scale, Spread, Twist, Warp, Cross FM, Balance
Controls & Jacks (28)
- Root — Sets the root frequency before quantization to the scale
- Pitch — Shifts all oscillators after quantization, moves the entire pitch grid
- Twist — Applies phase distortion to the oscillators
- Cross FM — Applies frequency modulation between oscillators
- Balance — Controls the volume mix of oscillators — at min only root oscillator heard, at center all equal, at max only highest heard
- Warp — Applies wave distortion/wavefolding to the oscillators
- Scale CV — CV input to select scale (0-10V)
- Scale — Selects which scale within the current group (0-9)
- Out B — Audio output (right channel in stereo mode)
- Pitch CV — 1V/oct pitch input (non-quantized), eight octave range -2V to +6V
- Out A — Audio output (left channel in stereo mode, sum in mono mode)
- Twist CV — CV input for phase distortion amount (-5V to +5V)
- Learn Gate — Gate input for automated scale learning with CV/Gate keyboard
- Cross FM CV — CV input for cross-FM modulation amount (-5V to +5V)
- Root CV — 1V/oct root input (quantized to selected scale)
- Warp CV — CV input for waveform distortion amount (-5V to +5V)
- Spread CV — CV input for oscillator spread parameter
- Detune — Bends the pitch grid after quantization for subtle detuning
- Learn — Enters Learn Mode to create custom scales manually or via external CV/Gate input
- Spread — Spreads the oscillator frequencies before quantization
- Scale Group — Selects scale group: 12TET (equal temperament), Octave (unquantized repeating octaves), or Free (unquantized custom range)
- Freeze Gate — Gate/trigger input to freeze and unfreeze oscillators
- Detune CV — CV input for detune parameter
- Freeze — Freezes the frequency of selected oscillators while others continue to respond to controls
- Cross FM Algorithm — Selects one of three cross-modulation algorithms
- Freeze Algorithm — Selects the algorithm determining which oscillators freeze
- Twist Algorithm — Selects one of three phase distortion algorithms
- Spread LED
How-To Guides
- Save a Custom Scale Using Knobs
- Save a Custom Scale Using a CV/Gate Keyboard
- Restore a Factory Scale
- Lush Stereo Drift Pad
- Pulsar Bass Drone
- Frozen Pedal Point with Moving Harmonics
- Chebyshev Harmonic Timbre Sculptor
- Bohlen-Pierce Xenakis Cluster
- CV Keyboard Live Chord Scanning
- Generative Slow FM Evolution
Explore the interactive Ensemble Oscillator panel on BleepDex — tap any control to learn what it does.
