Why sync makes synth leads scream

Transcript

Oscillator sync makes one oscillator restart another's cycle, so you hear the master pitch while the slave's changing shape adds rich, biting overtones. Simple diagram: keyboard pitch to master oscillator, master out to slave sync input, then slave out to filter, VCA, and speaker. Quick before-and-after demo: before, a plain wave sounds steady; after, turn sync on and sweep the slave with an envelope or mod wheel, and the tone snaps into a screaming, animated lead. That ripping, barking sound shows up in the Cars' 'Let's Go' and in modern sync-lead patches for retro screaming leads.