Guru 5 Synthesizer for Buzz
Programmed by Juan Antonio Arguelles Rius aka Arguru
English translation by Raul Reales aka DJLaser
15-Jan-2000
 
Introduction
Guru 5 is a poliphonic analog modeling 8-track synthesizer made to be used as a buzz generator. It gets a lot of CPU process, but has great features like two LFOs and two Envelopes. So you can modulate things like an Oscillatorīs Pulse Width or Cutoff Frequency (from -100% to +100%)
 
Guru 5 has 53 global parameters and 3 track parameters. Because of the huge amount of the parameters, you will need a high resolution screen (like 1280x1024) to see all the machineīs parameters (buzz doesnīt has a vertical scroll for machines yet :)
 
How does it works
Guru 5 is substractive synthesis based. This kind of synthesis "substracs" harmonics to a tone. VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter) is used to do this. Guru 5 can produce 4 types of waveforms
 
Sine
Teorically, this kind of waveform only has one harmonic. His frequency is the same as the note played and is used to play smooth tones as flute, bass sounds, etc.
Sawtooth
This waveform is very rich in harmonics and VCF can affect drastically to that. This waveform is the most common for synthetic sounds.
Pulse
On this kind of waveform, the Pulse Width (PW) can get more dynamic sounds or more character if its modulated.
Random
Generates White Noise. Itīs used with VCF and Envelopes to get percussive sounds or the classic "wind effect" with a low-pass filter
 
 
The Guru 5 Diagram
Here you could see how is distributed Guru 5
 
LFO1+LFO2+ENV1+ENV2 ---> OSC1 PW/PITCH
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LFO1+LFO2+ENV1+ENV2 ---> OSC1 AMPL
   
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OSC1
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VCF
OUTPUT
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OSC2
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LFO1+LFO2+ENV1+ENV2 ---> CUTOFF
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LFO1+LFO2+ENV1+ENV2 ---> OSC2 PW/PITCH
LFO1+LFO2+ENV1+ENV2 ---> RESONANCE
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LFO1+LFO2+ENV1+ENV2 ---> OSC2 AMPL
 
Oscillators
There are 3 oscillators in Guru 5
 
Mainl (OSC1)
Base oscillator
Secondary (OSC2)
It has the same tone as the first oscillator, but you can detune it thru the parameters (OSC2 tune and OSC2 finetune) to get a richest sound
SubOscillator
This oscillator is one octave detuned with the OSC1. Its used to get fatness to the sound
 
VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter)
Voltage Controlled Filter is the part wich gives the analog feel to the sound. It subtracs harmonics to the output produced in the oscillators. There are three types of VCF
 
Lo Pass
substract harmonics behind the cutoff frequency
Hi Pass
substract harmonics below the cutoff frequency
Off
Deactivates the VCF
 
Q Control (Resonance)
Q is the cutoff filterīs banwidth attenuation. This get a fatter sound. Setting Q to the maximum value gives autooscillation, wich can blow your ears
 
Envelopes
Guru 5 has two ADSR (attack, decay, sustain and release) envelopes, wich can be assigned to almost every parameter.
Normally is used with Volume or VCF
 
LFOs
The Low Frequency Oscillators are used to modulate parameters as the cuttoff frequency, oscillatorīs tone (vibrato), pulse width, etc
All the LFO values (OSC's PW, PITCH, AMPL, VCF Q, VCF CUTOFF, etc) goes from -100% to 100% (where -100% = negative polarity)
 
Contact
   
Arguru
arguru@vermail.net
http://agarrense.freeservers.com
DJLaser
djlaser@buzztrack
http://zap.to/djlaser