Session 37

Quick Reference

The Basic Patch

The "home base" for all learning sessions. Adapted from Anu Kirk's Definitive Guide to Evolver (p.7-8). This is a minimal, neutral patch that lets you isolate and hear the effect of any single parameter change.

Save this to Program 128 in Bank 1 (and a backup copy elsewhere).

Why This Matters

Without a known starting state, you can't isolate what you're learning. When you turn a knob and hear a change, you need to know that change came from that knob and not some other parameter interaction. The basic patch is your lab bench.

Source: Anu Kirk Guide p.7 -- "The Basic Patch"

Complete Parameter Dump

Every parameter on the Evolver front panel, organized by section. Values sourced from Anu Kirk's basic patch table (p.7-8) and verified against the DSI Manual parameter definitions (p.14-26).

Global Parameters

Parameter	Value	Notes
Main Volume	75	Overall output level
Pot Mode	Relative	Recommended for learning -- changes are relative to stored values

Source: Anu Kirk Guide p.7, DSI Manual p.13

Oscillator 1 (Analog, Left Channel)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	C0	Base pitch, lowest practical range. C3 = middle C
Fine	0	No detuning (range: -50 to +50 cents)
Shape	Saw	Sawtooth wave -- rich harmonics, good for hearing filter changes
Level	50	Half volume (range: 0-100)
Glide	0	No portamento (range: 0-100, or Finger 02-100, or Keybd Off)

Oscillator 2 (Analog, Right Channel)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	C0	Same as Osc 1
Fine	0	No detuning
Shape	Saw	Sawtooth wave
Level	50	Half volume
Glide	0	No portamento

Analog Oscillator Shared Parameters

Parameter	Value	Notes
Sync 2->1	OFF	No hard sync (Osc 2 does not reset Osc 1)
Osc Slop	0	No random frequency drift (range: 0-5)

Oscillator 3 (Digital, Left Channel)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	C0	Base pitch
Fine	0	No detuning
Shape	1	Sine wave (first waveshape in Prophet-VS set)
Level	50	Half volume
Glide	0	No portamento
FM 4->3	0	No frequency modulation from Osc 4 (range: 0-100)
Ring Mod 4->3	0	No ring modulation from Osc 4 (range: 0-100)
Shape Seq	OFF	No waveshape sequencing

Oscillator 4 (Digital, Right Channel)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	C0	Base pitch
Fine	0	No detuning
Shape	1	Sine wave
Level	50	Half volume
Glide	0	No portamento
FM 3->4	0	No frequency modulation from Osc 3 (range: 0-100)
Ring Mod 3->4	0	No ring modulation from Osc 3 (range: 0-100)
Shape Seq	OFF	No waveshape sequencing

Noise

Parameter	Value	Notes
Volume	0	No noise mixed in (range: 0-100, feeds both channels equally)

Lowpass Filter (Analog, L+R in tandem)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	164	Wide open -- maximum cutoff, all harmonics pass through (range: 0-164)
Resonance	0	No resonance (range: 0-100, self-oscillates in 4-pole at high values)
2/4 Pole	2P	2-pole mode (-12dB/oct). 4-pole is -24dB/oct and can self-oscillate
Env Amount	0	No filter envelope modulation (range: -99 to +99)
Velocity	0	No velocity sensitivity on filter envelope
Key Amount	0	No keyboard tracking on filter cutoff (72 = 1 semitone/note)
Audio Mod	0	No audio-rate modulation from analog osc (range: 0-100)
Split	0	L/R filters locked together (range: 0-100, raises L / lowers R)

Filter Envelope (ENV 1)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Attack	0	Instant attack (range: 0-110)
Decay	0	No decay (range: 0-110)
Sustain	100	Full sustain -- filter stays open while key held (range: 0-100)
Release	0	Instant release (range: 0-110)

VCA (Amplifier)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Level	0	No base level -- sound only when envelope is active (range: 0-100)
Env Amount	100	Full envelope control of amplitude (range: 0-100)
Velocity	0	No velocity sensitivity on VCA envelope
Output Pan	St1	Full stereo (L fully left, R fully right). Options: St1, St2, St3, Mono, rSt1, rSt2, rSt3
Volume	100	Voice volume at maximum (range: 0-100)

VCA Envelope (ENV 2)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Attack	0	Instant attack (range: 0-110)
Decay	0	No decay (range: 0-110)
Sustain	100	Full sustain -- sound holds at full level while key pressed (range: 0-100)
Release	0	Instant release (range: 0-110)

Highpass Filter (Digital)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	0	No high-pass filtering (range: 0-99)

Tuned Feedback

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	0	C0, lowest feedback pitch (range: 0-48, steps in semitones C0-C4)
Level	0	No feedback (range: 0-100, oscillates at high levels)
Grunge	OFF	No nasty feedback character

Distortion

Parameter	Value	Notes
Amount	0	No distortion (range: 0-99). Note: noise gate activates at any non-zero value

Output Hack

Parameter	Value	Notes
Amount	0	No bit-crushing (range: 0-14)

Delay (All 3 Taps)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Time 1	0	No delay on tap 1 (range: 0-150, or sync values)
Level 1	0	Tap 1 silent
Time 2	0	No delay on tap 2
Level 2	0	Tap 2 silent
Time 3	0	No delay on tap 3
Level 3	0	Tap 3 silent
Feedback 1	0	No delay self-feedback (range: 0-100)
Feedback 2	0	No delay-to-filter feedback (range: 0-100)

Envelope 3 (Mod Envelope)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Destination	OFF	No modulation target
Amount	0	No modulation amount (range: -99 to +99)
Velocity	0	No velocity sensitivity
Delay	0	No pre-attack delay (range: 0-100)
Attack	0	Instant attack (range: 0-110)
Decay	0	No decay (range: 0-110)
Sustain	0	Zero sustain (range: 0-100)
Release	0	Instant release (range: 0-110)

LFO 1 (Low Frequency Oscillator)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	0	Slowest rate (range: 0-150, or sync values)
Shape	Tri	Triangle wave (options: Tri, RevSaw, Saw, Square, Random)
Amount	0	No modulation (range: 0-100)
Destination	OFF	No modulation target
Key Sync	OFF	LFO free-runs (does not restart on key press)

LFO 2

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	0	Slowest rate
Shape	Tri	Triangle wave
Amount	0	No modulation
Destination	OFF	No modulation target
Key Sync	OFF	Free-running

LFO 3

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	0	Slowest rate
Shape	Tri	Triangle wave
Amount	0	No modulation
Destination	OFF	No modulation target
Key Sync	OFF	Free-running

LFO 4

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	0	Slowest rate
Shape	Tri	Triangle wave
Amount	0	No modulation
Destination	OFF	No modulation target
Key Sync	OFF	Free-running

Modulation Slot 1

Parameter	Value	Notes
Source	OFF	No modulation source
Amount	0	No modulation amount (range: -99 to +99)
Destination	OFF	No modulation target

Modulation Slot 2

Parameter	Value	Notes
Source	OFF	No modulation source
Amount	0	No modulation amount
Destination	OFF	No modulation target

Modulation Slot 3

Parameter	Value	Notes
Source	OFF	No modulation source
Amount	0	No modulation amount
Destination	OFF	No modulation target

Modulation Slot 4

Parameter	Value	Notes
Source	OFF	No modulation source
Amount	0	No modulation amount
Destination	OFF	No modulation target

MIDI Controllers

Parameter	Value	Notes
Velocity Destination	OFF	No velocity routing
Velocity Amount	0	No velocity modulation
Mod Wheel Amount	0	No mod wheel modulation
Mod Wheel Destination	OFF	No mod wheel target
Pressure Amount	0	No aftertouch modulation
Pressure Destination	OFF	No aftertouch target
Breath Amount	0	No breath control modulation
Breath Destination	OFF	No breath target
Foot Controller Amount	0	No foot pedal modulation
Foot Controller Destination	OFF	No foot pedal target

Sequencer (All 4 Tracks)

Parameter	Value	Notes
Seq 1 Destination	OFF	No sequencer modulation target
Seq 2 Destination	OFF	No sequencer modulation target
Seq 3 Destination	OFF	No sequencer modulation target
Seq 4 Destination	OFF	No sequencer modulation target
All Step Values (1-16)	0	All 64 steps (4 tracks x 16 steps) set to 0

External Input

Parameter	Value	Notes
Volume	0	No external audio (range: 0-100)
Mode	St	Stereo mode (options: Stereo, Mono Left, Mono Right, L Control + R Audio)
Input Hack	0	No input bit-crushing (range: 0-14)
Input Peak Amount	0	No peak hold modulation
Input Peak Destination	OFF	No peak hold target
Env Follow Amount	0	No envelope follower modulation
Env Follow Destination	OFF	No envelope follower target

Miscellaneous Parameters

Parameter	Value	Notes
Env Shape	Exp	Exponential envelopes (more natural than Linear)
Key Off/Transpose	-24	Keyboard transposed down 2 octaves for best range
Pitch Wheel Range	0	No pitch bend
BPM	120	Default tempo
Clock Divide	8n	Eighth note division
Trigger Select	Seq or Key	Envelopes triggered by sequencer or keyboard
Key Mode	Poly Low Note	Low note priority (Poly for poly chain compatibility)

Source: Anu Kirk Guide p.7-8, DSI Manual p.14-26

What It Sounds Like

A plain, bright, sustained tone. Both analog oscillators playing sawtooth waves in stereo with the filter wide open and no modulation. Boring on purpose -- it's a canvas, not a painting.

Quick Test

After programming, play middle C. You should hear a bright, buzzy, sustained sawtooth tone in stereo. If you hear anything else -- modulation, filtering, echo, distortion -- something is still set wrong.

Parameter Count Summary

Section	Parameters
Global	2
Oscillators 1-4	26
Analog Shared (Sync, Slop)	2
Noise	1
Lowpass Filter	8
Filter Envelope (ENV 1)	4
VCA	5
VCA Envelope (ENV 2)	4
Highpass Filter	1
Tuned Feedback	3
Distortion	1
Output Hack	1
Delay (3 taps)	8
Envelope 3	8
LFOs 1-4	20
Mod Slots 1-4	12
MIDI Controllers	10
Sequencer	68 (4 destinations + 64 steps)
External Input	7
Misc Parameters	7
Total	~198

This session builds on Session #36 — complete it first for the best experience

Session 37: Partial Recipe -- Evolving Pad

25 min|advanced|patch

Session 37: Partial Recipe -- Evolving Pad

Objective: Build a lush, slowly evolving pad that changes character over time through modulation. This session provides the structure and most settings -- you fill in the blanks that shape how the pad breathes and moves.

If you only have 5 minutes

Load the basic patch. Set Osc 1 Shape = Pulse 50, Osc 2 Shape = Saw, Osc 2 Fine = +3. LPF Freq = 65, Resonance = 15, 4-Pole ON. Amp Envelope Attack = 45, Decay = 80, Sustain = 70, Release = 75. Hold a chord. Instant warm pad.

Target Sound

A warm, expansive pad that swells slowly into the mix and shimmers as modulation routes shift the timbre over several seconds. It should feel like a held chord on a vintage string machine -- rich, wide, and gently alive. The modulation should be felt more than heard, creating subtle movement that rewards sustained listening.

Starting Patch

Load the basic patch.

Steps

Set Osc 1 Shape = Pulse 50 and Osc 1 Level = 80
Set Osc 2 Shape = Saw and Osc 2 Level = 75
Set Osc 2 Fine = +3 for gentle detuning
Enable 4-Pole mode on the lowpass filter
Set LPF Frequency = 70 and Resonance = 12
Set Amp Envelope: Attack = 50, Decay = 90, Sustain = 75, Release = 80
Set Filter Envelope: Attack = 35, Decay = 70, Sustain = 40, Release = 60
Set Filter Envelope Amount = 45
Open the Mod Matrix. Assign a modulation route: Source = ____, Destination = ____, Amount = ____ (hint: Session 18 introduced the mod matrix -- which source creates slow, cyclic movement, and which destination makes the timbre evolve over time? Think about what you want the listener to feel shifting beneath the surface.)
Set Delay Time = 45, Delay Feedback = 35, Delay Mix = 20 for spatial depth
Assign a second mod route to add movement to the stereo field or pulse width: Source = ____, Destination = ____, Amount = ____ (hint: Session 22 explored pad design techniques -- what modulation adds that shimmering, alive quality to a sustained pad without making it sound wobbly?)
Set Distortion Amount = 0 (pads want warmth, not grit)
Hold a chord (root + fifth or root + octave) in the C3-C5 range. Let it sustain for at least 8 seconds. The pad should swell in, shimmer gently, and fade out slowly when released.

Listen For

A slow, smooth attack that builds the sound gradually rather than hitting immediately
Gentle timbral movement in the sustained portion -- the filter or pulse width shifting slowly
Stereo width from the detuned oscillators and delay
A long, graceful release that lets the pad fade naturally rather than cutting off

Reflection

The two mod matrix blanks are the heart of this patch. What sources and destinations did you choose? Play the pad with and without the mod routes active (set amounts to 0, then back). Can you hear the difference? The best pad modulation is the kind where you do not notice it until it is gone. Compare your approach to the pads in Session 22 and Session 29.

Output Checklist

Evolving pad patch completed with all blanks filled in
Mod matrix routing documented with reasoning
Patch saved to a program slot
Patch documented in patches/evolver/ with full parameter dump
Session logged in Obsidian daily note