The Cyndustries List

Hi Michael-

I am far from being a qualified e-tech... but I can tell you this:

The ZO is unlike any other oscillator... and in many ways, does not always behave like your regular, run-of-the-mill osc. The range is way beyond anything else, for one thing. And for another (and this may be related), there can be cycles which can take a very long time to complete. I've left mine running, and figured that what I was hearing, was pretty-much it... only to be surprised when it/they would suddenly break into some new, seemingly unrelated pattern.

Ya know, more and more, I'm starting to be of the opinion that the ZO is about as close to a self-contained synthesizer as you can get. Some of the sounds are... are... are... well- well, for lack of a better word, wild. I've done some side-by-side comparisons with my dotcom oscillators and a ZO... both receiving exactly the same modulation signals. I have to turn the input pot on the ZO way, way down to match to dotcom when it's input pot(s) are on full. Then, to turn-up the input pot(s) on the ZO... well, it becomes evident how much more range the ZO has. For the first couple of days, I just got the obvious 'bell-gong-H/F modulation' type sounds... some frazzies, and even some that sounded like I had a noise module patched in. Then, I left the audio range, for the low-frequency type stuff. Alas... another whole universe to discover. The thing I think that I'm gonna stick my neck out, and say- is that there are so many possibilities with the ZO... that it could take your average person quite a while to get familiar, and learn this module. I guess that many of us are used to plugging-in a new module, and within a couple of hours... you've got it nailed. I don't think that's gonna be the case, here. : )

The 'jitter' you described... well, I don't know that I can specifically address that... except to say that from my limited experience with the ZO's to date, I think that you can really approach these guys the same way you would with any standard osc. There are 'potentially' just too many other variables going on. But if you are concerned, I'd say shoot an email to Cyn... she's been fantastic about communicating with me, and I'd have to give her a AAA+++. The 'jitter'... are you using the 'square' output? Are there ANY external inputs? What are the knob and switch settings? See- I have found that there can be many variables... just depending on what is patched and/or tweaked... and where.

Something else I would recommend- Read the enclosed manual, as it does contain plenty of 'stuff' you'll need to know (not implying that you haven't). I've had mine for a week now... and where I DO know more now than I did. I still feel like it's gonna take a while longer before that light-bulb lights-up over my head, and I say "Oh wOw... now I get it!". One thing that has tied one hand behind my back is that I've got a pretty complex patch running that I dare not disturb... that, and I haven't had a lot of 'uninterrupted' time to play around with the ZO's. Oh- and that's another thing... it would certainly complicate things to modulate one ZO with another... that is, before you learn the basics (although the temptation is unbearable). I'm not saying "don't do it"... just that it's gonna be a wild trip.

Any ZO-people (whatever the format) who'd like to talk about the ZO... patches... questions... whatever.... feel free to email me off-list. As a matter of fact, I m made up a Yahoo group so we can document stuff in an easy way... and contact each other without cluttering-up more general postings. Everyone who has bought, or is planning on buying a ZO is welcome. http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/ZO_group/

~Morbius~