Shephard-generator - what is that ?

[Dan Higdon]

> Hi list,
> sorry, but can anyone describe what a shephard-generator/barber-pole 
> (?!)- phase shifter is??

Listen to the end of Pink Floyd's "Fearless" (on Meddle), and you'll hear it -
it's like an endlessly rising pitch.  In reality, it's a clever interleaving of
crossfaded pitch rises, together in such a way that it gives the "barber pole"
effect.

The cool thing about the shepard generator, is that it can be used to control
ANYTHING in a modular synth, not just pitch.  I'd guess you can get
some VERY freaky sounds out of one.

If you have a DX-7, I have a patch (somewhere) that plays a shepard function
wave.

Dan Higdon (hdan at charybdis.com)