Future Sound Systems OSC2: DNA scissoring, VCA gluing Recombination Engine
From the laboratories of Future Sound Systems comes the Recombination Engine they are calling OSC2. It’s a wizard 3 oscillator jumble of interconnected positive and negative waves.
OSC2
Not sure it needs “OSC2” in there as “Recombination Engine” is so much more rock ‘n’ roll in my view but I guess we had the OSC1 Cyclical Engine last year so the naming is in keeping. So there are 3 oscillators which use a unique relationship to generate harmonics and waveforms. Scissor is the master oscillator and then we have the Positive DNA and Negative DNA oscillators. The Scissor looks like a regular oscillator with tuning, pulse width modulation, ramp, triangle and square wave outputs and modulation inputs. But the idea is that the Scissor oscillator derives its waveform by switching between the outputs of the Positive and Negative DNA oscillators at audio rate. The waveforms from the Positive DNA oscillator occupy 0v to+5V whereas the Negative DNA are 0v to -5V. So you get half a waveform from one combined with half a waveform from the other producing a full voltage range of some rather unique tones.
It also has the ability to switch into a low-frequency mode to act as an LFO.
Positive/Negative DNA
These oscillators can run independently as regular oscillators and have regular things like tuning, FM input and a mixed waveform output. But they also have inbuilt VCAs with attenuators and CV control. These are pretty cool oscillators without all this messing about with the Scissor.
Glue
The Glue section combines the outputs of the 2 oscillators and provides VCA Bias, Mix level and CV control over the output as a whole. With the waveform switching rate off you get a simple combination of waveforms. But as you turn it up the Scissor oscillator will start to switch between the two waveforms at its own rate generating many more harmonics and overtones.
It’s a very complete unit that provides endless amounts of individual complexity but is all pulled together in an easy to manage way so that you don’t need other modules to start having fun.
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Variety
If you check out DivKid’s demo video below you’ll see just how diverse and fascinating this chunk of modular can be. He goes through dozens of different scenarios and possibilities pulling out all sorts of extraordinary tones, noises and adventures.
There’s a huge amount to play with inside the Recombination Engine and you can start your own journey for £559.
More information
Video
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