Vacuum VTO One and Two Controls

Vacuum features two VTOs (Vacuum Tube Oscillators). These modules are where Vacuum’s sound originates from, before it goes through the rest of the processing chain.

Each VTO has its own set of controls, labelled “VTO One” and “VTO Two.”

VTO controls

Range

Sets the octave at which the current VTO plays. This is helpful when creating sounds where the two oscillators must play an octave or more apart, and also for easily changing the range a sequence is playing in after the MIDI note data has already been recorded.

Each Range knob also has a special setting. The “Wide” setting for VTO 1 changes its Fine knob into a wide-ranging pitch control that is continuously variable up or down as many as 5 octaves. The “Lo” setting changes VTO 2 into an LFO (low-frequency oscillator). In this mode, its pitch is too low to be heard, but instead, it can be routed using the Modulation Routing section to modulate other parameters in the synth.

Fine

Continuously varies the current VTO pitch up or down as much as 7 semitones. Subtle changes can create thick, detuned sounds. Larger amounts can create intervallic splits between the two VTOs, for chordal effects.

Shape

Continuously morphs the current VTO oscillation between several types of wave shapes.

 

Wave Shape	Description
Tri	Generates a Triangle wave, with a mellow, yet slightly edgy sound. This is the first option for VTO 1 Shape control.
Noise	Generates random white noise. This is the first option for VTO 2 Shape control.
Saw	Generates a Sawtooth wave, which is brighter than Tri, and rich in even harmonics.
PW50–PW0	Generates a Pulse wave, which can be swept through a continuum between a standard, 50% on, 50% off wave and a thinner, more modulated type. Pulse wave sounds are rich in odd harmonics, with a “reedy” character.

Env 1 to Shape

Controls the modulation of the current VTO wave shape by Envelope 1.

As one of the Env knobs is moved to the right, more and more modulation occurs, offsetting the value of the Shape control upward when a MIDI note is received, then down, following the envelope over time.

As the control is moved left of center, the same occurs, only the modulation is negative instead of positive, so the effect is inverted.

Clicking the missing Drive knob will create a new patch at random.