Setting LFO rise and fall curvature in cycle mode selects the output waveform shape

When MATHS channels 1 or 4 run in cycle mode (LFO mode), the curvature knob for rise and fall effectively functions as a waveshape selector. With both rise and fall set to linear, the output is a triangle wave (constant slopes both ways). With both set to logarithmic, the waveform approximates the positive half of a sine wave. Combining exponential and linear stages yields ramp-up/ramp-down-like shapes, and many other shapes are possible. This means MATHS does not have fixed waveform outputs — the wave is constructed parametrically from curvature pairs. Practitioners use this to dial in exactly the LFO shape needed without switching waveform modes.

Examples

Linear rise + linear fall = triangle. Logarithmic rise + logarithmic fall ≈ positive half of a sine. Exponential + linear ≈ a ramp-like shape. Adjustable in real time as a performance parameter.

Assessment

List three curvature combinations and describe the resulting waveform shape. Explain why this is called ‘waveshaping’ rather than ‘waveform selection’.