I am turning back to Tranzistow. It is great sounding synth, and learning it is most likely time spent better than testing all possible other synths (linux native and windows).
So I started my journey to it by picking Diodow, older/smaller synth by same programmer.
http://www.hrastprogrammer.com/hrastwerk/diodow.htm
For linux it is available as stand-alone program, no plugin. I did not try would it work as plugin with carla.
It uses many same concepts and patches made by it are compatible with Tranzistow. And UI is such size that I can run thru all the controls to find out things.It has 4 OSC, and each of them can have normal osc and sample, both active same time. It has ~100 presets, and nearly half of them use some sample (mostly combined with 'normal' osc)
OSC waveform is controlled by 4 parameters (from that web page)
* SawShape ... Controls the amount of waveshaping applied to the sum of Saw1 and Saw2.
* SawSigma1/SawSigma2 ... Saw1/Saw2 level.
* Morph ... Morphing between full saw (up or down) and sine wave. Higher morphing values (starting at around 0.7-0.
generate stronger high-frequency harmonics which can actually produce aliasing when using lower sample rates and/or oversampling has been turned off.
For Square/Pulse waveform set SawSigma1=1, SawSigma2=-1, SawShape=0. For Ramp/Triangle waveform set SawSigma1=1, SawSigma2=-1, SawShape=0.993 or so.
And for sine, morph 0 will give it.
And I think I found answer to my earlier Tranzistow dilemma: why I cannot silence all voices.
* Filters generate also sound if there is resonance >0, even if none of the osc is feeding anything. Filter self oscillates, but not alone, but when there is note pressed. So you could make preset with filters only.
* Even if osc is turned to zero, modulation can turn it on.
After 2 hours studies with Diodow, I think I am ready to dive into Tranzistow, much more complex beast!
Edit: and sure, diodow itself is great synth, so you can use it!