[maxmsp] Re: Keeping oscillators in sync in a two oscillator synthesizer

Hi Adam,

After doing some more research, I believe that what you are describing is exactly the problem I was experiencing. When the waveforms are very slightly out of phase, portions of two waveforms cancel each other out which makes a significantly different sound then if the two waveforms are exactly in phase.

On a final note, I tested out a few synthesizers and I've no concluded that (at least in some cases) the oscillators *are not* kept in phase. In fact, with 2 of the 3 synthesizers I tested, you could get the oscillators out of phase by simply turning off the second oscillator playing a note, and then turning it back on. It seems that every time you do this you get a different sound, even though all the settings on the synthesizer are identical.

(In case anyone is wondering, the synthesizers I tested were SCB Synth, Reason's Subtracter, and Automat. The SCB Synth is the only one where the oscillators stayed in phase for the above test. This doesn't necessarily mean that it keeps the oscillators in phase,  only that *when you play a note it always starts the oscillators in phase*).

Since my goal for this project is to create a "standard" dual oscillator synthesizer, I am considering this problem sorted out. The information from this thread will still be coming in very handy, my next task is to implement a master oscillator/slave oscillator style sync feature.

Thanks again!

-Roben