Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments Ziggy

• analog desktop synthesizer
• consistently Buchla West Coast style!
• COMPLEX OSCILLATOR - sine wave with variable timbre/distortion on spike, square & sawtooth
• MODULATION OSCILLATOR - sawtooth, square & triangle waveforms, high/low frequency range with amplitude or frequency modulation of the Complex Oscillator
  
• CYCLER - Envelope or LFO, depending on the control setting of Speed, Cycle and Width; Uncertainty activates the randomizer of one of the four cycle parameters
  
• GATE - Ziggy's version of an LPG; Lowpass filter meets VCA. This section controls the level behavior including "Buchla bongos"
• AUDIO BLEND - controls the mixing ratio between Complex VCO and Mod VCO, audio input or noise and switches the VCA behavior and (LPG, Combo, VCA).
• XLFO - a freely assignable LFO with triangle waveform
• LOCAL SUSPEND - make settings and changes to parameters and fire them all at once
• FX - digital effects processor with reverb, delay, Chorus Pitch Shift and Flanger variations with dry/wet Mix and size parameters
• Over 100 presets (overwritable)
• Power supply via USB
• MIDI In (DIN, TRS & USB)
• Control voltage inputs for CV, gate, mod
• Audio input
• Headphone output
• Stereo output

Adding waveforms instead of filtering them out

The two oscillators are the mainstay and sound-shaping element of Ziggy. The Complex VCO is the primary oscillator, which generates a sine waveform that can be morphed into a spike, square or sawtooth waveform using Timbre and Waveshape. The sound potential is incredible! If you are only used to classic waveforms, you will notice one of Buchla's greatest strengths here.

The second oscillator is the Modulation Oscillator, which generates the sawtooth, square and triangle waveforms, has two frequency ranges and can modulate the Complex VCO with amplitude or frequency modulation. The structure makes it possible to create "typical" analog sounds with two oscillators, but above all metallic FM sounds in all variations, ring modulation and tremolo-like sounds at oscillator level.

Modulations in the Buchla tradition

The modulations and assignments are all under the hood, so not a single patch cable is needed to animate a parameter. The CYCLER is Ziggy's most important modulation source; the MIDI interface and the three analog control voltage inputs - which, by the way, correspond to the Eurorack standard - are connected or assignable to some parameters.

The cycler functions as an LFO or envelope, depending on the speed, cycle and width settings. The voltages generated provide enormous dynamics at the modulation destination. The Uncertainty button is a random generator for the four cycle parameters.

The XLFO is the simplest modulation source: a freely assignable LFO with a triangle waveform! A special feature and not entirely uninteresting for performers is the Local Suspend button: you hold this button down, make settings and changes to parameters and fire them all at once. Drastic sound changes without changing the Preset!