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In-depth Feature:
Future Retro 777
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Oscillators
The FR-777 has two oscillators, A & B. Each oscillator has a switch allowing it to be controlled by an external control voltage (0 to +5.33 volts), or to track pitch internally based on the sequencer. Each oscillator has a frequency control with 1.66 octave range, meaning some nice fat detuned tones can be achieved or the pitches can be tuned to other instruments. The waveform knob allows the user to continuously vary the harmonic content of the oscillator from sawtooth to square wave. The level knob controls the volume of the signal sent from the oscillator to the filter.
My personal favourites in the oscillator section are the Sub B and Sub A/EX controls. These control the volume of a sub frequency one octave below that of their corresponding oscillators. The waveform of both Sub A and B is a square wave. Needless to say, using these sub frequencies can produce some mighty thick sounds! The Sub A/EX additionally controls the level of input signal from the Filter In jack, allowing the FR-777 to process an external sound source. When an external source is not plugged in, it functions as a Sub A, identical in function to Sub B.
To the lower left of the oscillator controls is a glide knob to control portamento on the note pitches. Just to the right of Sub B is a noise knob, which controls the volume of a white noise source.
Frequency Modulation
There are six controls in the frequency mod section. The Wave B knob controls the continuously variable waveform of Oscillator B (sawtooth to square) that is used to modulate Oscillator A's frequency (pitch). The Amount A knob adjusts the amount of effect Oscillator B has on Oscillator A. That's Wave B and Amount A. In turn, Wave A and Amount B do the same thing but in reverse, with Osc A affecting Osc B.
The frequency mod section is rounded out with an Envelope Decay knob to adjust the length of the decay time, and an Envelope Amount knob to control the amount of effect the envelope has on Oscillator B. Obviously, there is a lot of interaction between the various controls on the FR-777, so any fan of analog synthesis will have a good time tweaking up some unique sounds of their own.
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