Getting Started
Top Toolbar and Preset Browser
Panel View Mode (Important)
Transient Generators
Bend Depth, Octave Shift, and Glide
LFO
VCO 1 and 2
VCF
Master
VCA
Noise
Keyboard Mode and Unison Controls
Effects
Sequencer
MIDI Controllers Setup and the MIDI Tab
Using MPE
QWERTY Musical Typing Keyboard (MTK)
Settings
These controls are located to the left of the keyboard. They set the number of simultaneously playable notes, as well as unison mode and behavior.
Keyboard Mode- Determine the number of simultaneously playable notes, but Duo mode is unique, so we advise not skimming over this part:
Poly- Plays as a standard polyphonic synthesizer, that is, each voice has its own independent dual oscillators, filter, VCA, envelope generators, etc. The total number of voices is set using the Poly Num of Voices controls, and the keyboard always plays in last note priority mode, that is, the most recently played note always steals the oldest note.
Duo (Duophonic)- Duophonic mode is based on the original Cat's primitive duophonic circuit. When the keyboard is played monophonically, both oscillators play the same pitch as with standard mono mode. If two or more keys are played, the CV of the lowest note controls VCO 2, and the CV of the highest note controls VCO 1. Any notes played in between won't affect the pitch of either VCO.
Since the original instrument only has a single set of envelopes, filter, VCA, etc., each note played will retrigger the envelopes, causing both pitches to be heard - even if one of them is held). And similarly, both tones will be hear, even if one of the keys is released because there is only one VCA. Duo mode is far from ideal for "normal" playing, but it can lead to unusual and interesting musical results. If you'd like Cat to behave more like a conventional two-voice polyphonic synth, use Poly mode with Poly Num of Voices set to 2.
Mono- One key sounds at a time with low-note priority.
Poly Num of Voices- Sets the maximum number of voices that can be played in Poly mode. Poly Num of Voices has no effect if Mono or Duo mode is currently selected.
Unison- Unison stacks multiple voices according to the current Poly Num of Voices setting. The Unison slide switch is used in conjunction with the Unison Detune slider which spreads out the tuning of the oscillators for fat sounds. Unison mode works only in Mono and Duo keyboard modes.