Algorithms#

The Cosmo PD-101 offers 25 phase distortion algorithms — 9 inherited from the Casio CZ-101 and 16 original warp algorithms. Each algorithm is a different mathematical function that reshapes the oscillator's phase before it reads the base waveform, producing a unique timbral character.

How to Read This Reference#

Each algorithm entry includes:

• Name — the label shown in the UI
• Category — CZ-101 Legacy or Cosmo Original
• Default Base Waveform — the carrier that sounds best with this algo
• Controls — the adjustable parameters (knobs/dropdowns)
• Audio Character — what the algorithm sounds like at default settings

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CZ-101 Legacy Algorithms#

These are faithful recreations of the original Casio CZ-101 phase distortion algorithms. Select them by choosing the CZ101 algorithm and picking a CZ Preset from the dropdown.

CZ Saw#

Parameters	Default	Range
Waveform 1	Saw	Saw, Square, Pulse, Null, Sine Pulse, Saw Pulse, Multi Sine, Pulse 2
Waveform 2	Saw	(same options)
Window	Off	Off, Saw, Triangle, Trapezoid, Pulse, Double Saw

Sound: Classic bright sawtooth. The foundation of most CZ patches.

CZ Square#

Parameters	Default	Range
Waveform 1	Square	(same options as above)
Waveform 2	Square	(same options)
Window	Off	(same options)

Sound: Hollow, reedy square wave. Good for thin leads and retro basses.

CZ Pulse#

Parameters	Default	Range
Waveform 1	Pulse	(same options)
Waveform 2	Pulse	(same options)
Window	Off	(same options)

Sound: Narrower than saw, with a buzzy quality. Brass-like tones.

CZ Double Sine#

Parameters	Default	Range
Waveform 1	Sine Pulse	(same options)
Waveform 2	Sine Pulse	(same options)
Window	Off	(same options)

Sound: Soft, rounded. Two sine-like components for gentle pads.

CZ Saw Pulse#

Parameters	Default	Range
Waveform 1	Saw Pulse	(same options)
Waveform 2	Saw Pulse	(same options)
Window	Off	(same options)

Sound: Combination of saw brightness with pulse-width character.

CZ Reso 1 – 3#

Parameter	Reso 1	Reso 2	Reso 3
Waveform 1/2	Multi Sine	Multi Sine	Multi Sine
Window	Saw	Triangle	Trapezoid

Sound: Resonant, metallic tones. The window function sweeps the resonance character from bright (Saw) to warm (Triangle) to hollow (Trapezoid).

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Cosmo Original Warp Algorithms#

These 16 algorithms are unique to the Cosmo PD-101 and expand well beyond the original CZ palette.

Bend#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Bend Curve	50%	0–100%	Curvature of the bend
Bend Bias	0%	-100% to +100%	Asymmetric offset
Bend Knee	50%	0–100%	Softness of the bend point

Audio: Pitch-dependent timbral shift. Creates expressive, vocal-like tones that change character across the keyboard.

Sync#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Sync Ratio	50%	0–100%	Ratio of synced to master frequency
Sync Phase	0°	0°–360°	Phase offset on reset
Sync Curve	50%	0–100%	Shape of the sync waveform
Sync Window	50%	0–100%	Windowing of the sync region

Audio: Hard-sync style. Metallic, screaming leads. Classic sync-sweep sounds when modulated by an envelope.

Pinch#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Pinch Focus	50%	0–100%	Center point of the pinch
Pinch Asym	0%	-100% to +100%	Asymmetry
Pinch Curve	50%	0–100%	Curve shape
Pinch Drive	50%	0–100%	Intensity

Audio: Squeezed, nasal tones. Can range from subtle formant-like shifts to aggressive distortion.

Fold#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Fold Stages	50%	0–100%	Number of folding stages
Fold Tilt	0%	-100% to +100%	Asymmetric tilt
Fold Symmetry	0%	-100% to +100%	Symmetry of folding
Fold Softness	0%	0–100%	Smoothing

Audio: Wavefolder. Subtle folds add harmonics; extreme settings create chaotic, noisy textures.

Skew#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Skew Bias	20%	0–100%	Bias point
Skew Curve	50%	0–100%	Curve intensity
Skew Spread	0%	-100% to +100%	Stereo spread
Skew Tilt	0%	-100% to +100%	Asymmetry

Audio: Skews the phase curve, producing asymmetric waveforms. Great for evolving pad timbres.

Twist#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Twist Harmonics	50%	0–100%	Harmonic content
Twist Depth	50%	0–100%	Intensity of twist
Twist Phase	0°	0°–360°	Phase rotation
Twist Shape	50%	0–100%	Shape of the twist curve

Audio: Spiraling, vortex-like timbres. Can sound like a slow phaser at low settings, aggressive at high.

Clip#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Clip Drive	50%	0–100%	Drive amount
Clip Shape	50%	0–100%	Hardness of clipping
Clip Bias	0%	-100% to +100%	DC offset bias
Clip Soft	0%	0–100%	Soft clipping blend

Audio: Distortion-style clipping. Ranges from warm tube saturation to hard digital clipping.

Ripple#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Ripple Freq	50%	0–100%	Ripple frequency
Ripple Depth	50%	0–100%	Depth of modulation
Ripple Phase	0°	0°–360°	Phase offset
Ripple Shape	50%	0–100%	Shape of ripples

Audio: Undulating, watery textures. Multiple ripples create complex interference patterns.

Mirror#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Mirror Center	50%	0–100%	Center point
Mirror Blend	50%	0–100%	Dry/wet mix
Mirror Clip	0%	0–100%	Clipping at mirror point
Mirror Skew	0%	-100% to +100%	Asymmetry

Audio: Mirrors the phase curve around a center point. Creates metallic, bell-like tones.

Karpunk#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Karpunk Damp	50%	0–100%	Damping factor
Karpunk Bright	50%	0–100%	Brightness
Karpunk Decay	50%	0–100%	Decay character
Karpunk Excite	0%	0–100%	Excitation amount

Audio: Noisy, chaotic. Named for its karplus-strong-like pluck quality with added grit.

FOF (Formant)#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
FOF Ratio	50%	0–100%	Formant ratio
FOF Tightness	50%	0–100%	Spectral tightness
FOF Offset	0%	-100% to +100%	Formant offset
FOF Skew	0%	-100% to +100%	Asymmetry

Audio: Vocal/formant-like. Can produce vowel-like timbres and talking-bass effects.

Terrain#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Terrain Ratio	2.0	1.0–8.0	Terrain frequency ratio
Terrain Depth	50%	0–100%	Depth of terrain features
Terrain FM Phase	0°	0°–360°	FM phase offset
Terrain Shape	0%	0–100%	Shape complexity

Audio: Organic, terrain-like textures. Evolving, landscape-inspired timbres.

Stutter#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Stutter Segs	25%	0–100%	Number of segments
Stutter Reverse	100%	0–100%	Reversal amount
Stutter Slip	0%	0–100%	Time displacement
Stutter Spacing	0%	0–100%	Spacing between stutters

Audio: Granular stutter effect. Rhythmic gating and glitch textures.

Cheby (Chebyshev)#

Parameter	Default	Range	Description
Cheby Order	20%	0–100%	Polynomial order
Cheby Tilt	0%	-100% to +100%	Spectral tilt
Cheby Warp	0%	0–100%	Chebyshev warping

Audio: Polynomial-based distortion. Clean at low orders, increasingly complex harmonics as order rises.

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Algorithm Quick Reference#

Algorithm	Category	Best For	Default Waveform
CZ Saw	CZ Legacy	Classic synth leads	Saw
CZ Square	CZ Legacy	Retro / hollow tones	Square
CZ Pulse	CZ Legacy	Brass / reeds	Pulse
CZ Double Sine	CZ Legacy	Soft pads	Sine Pulse
CZ Saw Pulse	CZ Legacy	Bright + narrow	Saw Pulse
CZ Reso 1–3	CZ Legacy	Metallic resonance	Multi Sine
Bend	Cosmo	Expressive / vocal	Sine
Sync	Cosmo	Screaming leads	Sine
Pinch	Cosmo	Nasal / formant	Sine
Fold	Cosmo	Wavefolding grit	Sine
Skew	Cosmo	Evolving pads	Sine
Twist	Cosmo	Spiral / vortex	Sine
Clip	Cosmo	Distortion	Sine
Ripple	Cosmo	Watery textures	Sine
Mirror	Cosmo	Metallic / bells	Sine
Karpunk	Cosmo	Noisy / plucky	Sine
FOF	Cosmo	Vocal formants	Sine
Terrain	Cosmo	Organic textures	Sine
Stutter	Cosmo	Granular glitch	Sine
Cheby	Cosmo	Polynomial distortion	Sine

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