INSTRUMENTS / GENERATORS

Wasp XT

Wasp XT is a 3-oscillator synth with two LFOs, two ADSR envelopes, a ring modulator, FM, PWM and a distortion unit. Wasp XT is an update of the Wasp plugin.

Parameters

Filter Section

The Filter section is located at the top left of Wasp XT.
  • Keyboard track (KB.TRK) - Scales the cut-off frequency on the note played - higher notes can have a higher cut-off, lower notes can have a lower cut-off.
  • Envelope Amount (ENV) - The relative scaling of the cut-off frequency in response to ADSR.
  • Cut-off (CUTOFF) - Adjusts the Filter cut-off frequency.
  • Resonance (RESO) - Adjusts the Filter resonance.
  • Filter Types -
    • Buttons select the following filter types - LP = 12 dB Lowpass Filter, LP FAT = 24 dB Lowpass Filter, LP+NT = 12 dB Lowpass + Notch Cascade, DBL.NT = double notch filter, BP = 24 dB Bandpass Filter, HP = 24dB Highpass Filter.

Oscillator section

  • Coarse Tuning (COARSE) - The two CRS knobs set the pitch for the first and second oscillators. Coarse tuning is adjustable in the range -3/+3 octaves.
  • Fine Tuning (FINE) - The two FINE knobs set the pitch for the first and second oscillators (fine tuning in -1/+1 semitone).
  • Oscillator Shape - Red buttons set the shape for the first two oscillators. The third oscillator can only use square or sawtooth shape.
  • Mix Slider (OSC MIX) - The slider between OSC1 and OSC2 adjusts the mix of the oscillators in the final sound. Slide max to left to hear only OSC1, slide max to right to hear only OSC2.
  • Amount (AMT) - Sets the volume of the third oscillator, which is zero (inaudible) by default.
  • Ring Modulator (RINGMOD) - If turned on, modulates oscillator 1 and 2. This often leads to a harsh metallic sound, dependent on the shapes and frequencies of the oscillators.
  • Pulse Width (PW) - This property has effect when at least one of the oscillators is set to the square shape. It shortens 1 of the square shape sides, thus altering the final sound. Turn max to left to use the default square shape.
  • Frequency Modulation (FM) - When turned on, modulates the frequency of oscillator 2 with the output of oscillator 1. To hear the effect, set the mix slider to the right. Classic FM uses sine waves (the 3rd oscillator shape).

LFO-1

  • LFO Shapes - the red buttons select the LFO shape to be used. This can be sawtooth, square, sine or noise.
  • OSC 1+2 / FILTER / PW - LFO-1 can modulate the pitch of the output (OSC1+2), the filter cut-off frequency (FILTER) or the Pulse Width (PW) depending on the highlighted option.
  • DELAY - Delays the onset of the LFO.
  • SYNC - Synchronizes the frequency of the LFO to a multiple of the current tempo.
  • RESET - Sets the LFO to the beginning of the LFO waveform (phase is zero) when a note is triggered.
  • AMOUNT - Sets the effect's strength over the controlled value.
  • RATE- Sets the modulation speed.

LFO-2

  • LFO Shapes - the red buttons select the LFO shape to be used. This can be sawtooth, square, sine or noise.
  • OSC 1 / OSC MIX / AMP - LFO-2 can modulate the pitch of Oscillator 1 (OSC1), the mixing ratio of oscillator 1 & oscillator 2 (OSC MIX) and the volume of the whole output (AMP).
  • DELAY - Delays the onset of the LFO.
  • SYNC - Synchronizes the frequency of the LFO to a multiple of the current tempo.
  • RESET - Sets the LFO to the beginning of the LFO waveform (phase is zero) when a note is triggered.
  • AMOUNT - Sets the effect's strength over the controlled value.
  • RATE - Sets the modulation speed.

Amplitude ADSR

This is a standard ADSR volume envelope. The link button links the filter and amplitude envelopes for editing convenience.

Filter ADSR

This is a standard ADSR filter envelope.

MOD ENV

  • Attack (ATK) - The rate at which the modulation takes effect.
  • Decay (DEC) - The rate at which the modulation releases.
  • Amount (AMT) - Amount of modulation of the above two controls.
  • Modulation destination switches -
    • PW - Pulse width.
    • LFO 1 AMT - LFO 1 modulation amount.
    • OSC 1 LEVEL - OSC 1 Volume.
    • OSC 2 PITCH - Tuning of OSC 2.

Velocity

This section changes the keyboard velocity modulation of the Amplitude and Filter envelopes.

  • AMP - Velocity to Amplitude Envelope modulation amount.
  • FILTER - Velocity to Filter Envelope modulation amount.

Output

  • TONE - Changes the color of the distortion. Turned to the left, the sound gets muddy, turned to the right, more bright.
  • Amount (AMT) - Adjusts the drive. More drive means heavier distortion.
  • Volume (VOL) - Adjusts the final output volume of the Wasp XT plugin.
  • Drive - The red button turns the distortion unit on/off.
  • Dual - Doubles the oscillator voices with a slight detune to fatten the sound.
  • Analog - Adds a small amount of randomness (oscillator tuning, for example), for a less predictable, more 'analog' sound. Oscillators are not synchronized in this mode.
  • W.Noise - Changes the 'noise' used in XT oscillators from a set noise wavetable to true random white noise.

Plugin Credits: Richard Hoffmann