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PM-202 faceplate in Studies
Studies

PM-202

Hybrid Complex Oscillator Designer

Part of Studies

A subscription opens all of Studies, in two plugins (Studies Effects and Studies Instruments), with new devices as we release them.

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10 devices are free.

Or own the plugin

Price: $20

The original plugin with its own interface, as a one-time purchase.

 See the standalone interface

Description

PM-202 is a hybrid synthesizer inspired by the sound engines of the early '80s, including the SH-101 and MC-202. Square, saw, sub and noise go into a resonant low-pass filter and one envelope, the way they did on those machines, and you can get anything from tight basslines and plucks to slow, evolving pads.

We added a Buchla-inspired complex oscillator next to the classic voice, so it mixes west and east coast synthesis. It can frequency- or amplitude-modulate the oscillators, or you can send it to the output and play it as a sound of its own. An 8-step modulator moves the filter, the oscillator levels or the modulation in time with your track, and delay and reverb sit at the end.

PM-202 in the Handbook

Signal path

Play it from a MIDI track. The oscillators are mixed, shaped by the modulator, then go through the filter. The envelope shapes both the level and the filter, and the delay and reverb are sends next to the dry sound.

  1. Source mixer

    SQUARE
    Sets the level of the pulse oscillator.
    SAW
    Sets the level of the sawtooth oscillator.
    SUB
    Sets the level of the sub oscillator.
    NOISE
    Sets the level of the noise generator, for grit and texture.
    WIDTH
    Sets the pulse width of the SQUARE oscillator. In PW MODE LFO, the LFO sweeps the width below this setting.
    SUB OCT
    Puts the sub one octave down (−1), two octaves down (−2), or two octaves down with a narrower pulse (−2P).
    PW MODE
    Lets the LFO move the pulse width (LFO), or holds it at the WIDTH setting (MAN).

  2. Modulator

    TIMBRE
    Morphs the modulator's waveform from a sine toward the shape you pick with MOD SHAPE.
    FREQ
    Sets the modulator's frequency as a ratio of the note you play, from half to double. Its level follows the envelope.
    AMOUNT
    Sets the modulation depth.
    MOD SHAPE
    Picks the waveform TIMBRE morphs toward: triangle, sawtooth or square. It applies from the next note you play.
    TYPE
    Switches between FM, which modulates the pitch of the square and saw oscillators, and AM, which modulates the level.
    ROUTE
    PASS also sends the modulator to the output as a sound source. MUTE keeps it working only as a modulator.

  3. LFO

    RATE
    Sets the LFO rate, from 0.2 to 10 Hz. The LFO moves the pulse width in PW MODE LFO, and the filter through the filter's LFO knob.
    SHAPE
    Switches the LFO between triangle (TRI) and square (SQR).

  4. Filter

    CUTOFF
    Sets the cutoff of the resonant low-pass filter, from 10 Hz to 10 kHz.
    RES
    Sets the resonance. At high settings the filter comes close to self-oscillating.
    ENV
    Sets how far the envelope opens the filter above CUTOFF.
    LFO
    Sets how far the LFO pulls the cutoff down, for wah and wobble.

  5. Envelope

    ATTACK
    Sets the attack, up to 3 seconds. The envelope shapes both the level and the filter.
    DECAY
    Sets the decay, up to 3 seconds.
    SUSTAIN
    Sets the sustain level.
    RELEASE
    Sets the release, up to 5 seconds.

  6. Step modulator

    TARGET
    Sends the 8-step pattern to the filter cutoff (FILTER), the level of SQUARE or SAW, or the modulator's AMOUNT (MOD), or turns it OFF. Each step scales the target, from nothing at the bottom of a bar to the full setting at the top.
    RATE
    Sets how fast the steps advance: 1/2X, 1X, 1.5X, 2X or 4X the quarter note at your host tempo.
    RETRIG
    Restarts the pattern from step 1 on every new note when it's on.
    STEPS
    Draw the eight step values by clicking or dragging across the bars. A playhead shows the current step.

  7. Delay

    DLY MIX
    Sets how much of the synth goes to the delay.
    TIME
    Picks one of eight delay times linked to your host tempo.
    FDBK
    Sets the delay feedback.

  8. Reverb

    VERB MIX
    Sets how much of the synth goes to the reverb.
    DEPTH
    Sets the size and decay of the reverb.

  9. Master

    OUTPUT
    Sets the output level, from silent up to double. The center is unity.

  10. Try this

    SEQUENCED BASS
    Set TARGET to FILTER, turn RETRIG on and RES fairly high, then play short notes. Every note starts the same filter rhythm.
    BELLS
    Set TYPE to FM, bring up AMOUNT and move FREQ off the even ratios. The square and saw pick up metallic, inharmonic overtones.
Demo

This recording was made with the standalone plugin.

Good to know

In Studies

PM-202 is in Studies Instruments, under Synthesizer. Load it on a MIDI track.

Standalone

The standalone plugin, shown further down the page, has a Jumble button that randomizes the controls, and its own Quick Start Guide (PDF).

Bundle

The standalone plugin is also part of Form & Frequency and the Hexadic Synthesis Bundle.

Formats
Studies: Audio Units, VST2 and VST3 on Mac, VST3 on Windows · Apple silicon native
Systems
Current macOS and Windows 10/11 x64
PM-202 | Hybrid Complex Oscillator Designer

Standalone version

The original plugin with its own interface, as a one-time purchase.

AU · VST2 · VST3 · macOS · Windows