Image line software SAWER OVERVIEW User Manual
Image-Line
Sawer
Sawer is a vintage modeling synthesizer, that can cut through a mix with precisely articulated and punchy
sounds.
Overview
Sawer Development
Filters & Oscillators
Sawer pays homage to the envelopes and filters of a rare 1980s 'Soviet era' analog synthesizer, Polivoks .
Maxx has devoted meticulous attention to the detail of Sawer's filter design, ensuring Sawer delivers a
unique sonic character reminiscent of the Polivoks hardware. But Polivoks, like all analog synthesizers,
wasn't without its problems. Keeping the oscillators stable and in tune has been likened to 'moving a pile of
live frogs, by wheelbarrow', impossible! As Sawer is algorithmic, this solves the problems of tuning and
stability, however, in the same way electrical component instability makes analog gear unique (if not
cranky), Sawer benefits from the 21st century equivalent, a coding error.
While programming the SAW oscillator, Maxx accidentally set some incorrect variables and immediately the
sound gained bass, acquired some light but pleasing noise on the attack and an overall richer sonic
spectra. Maxx realized this was not a mistake, it was a discovery. Builing on this sound Maxx added some
frequency modulation to give it a touch of analog 'authenticity' and so Sawer was born.
Physical Envelopes
Sawer carries forward the 'physical' envelopes first heard in Toxic Biohazard. Physical envelopes are so
called as they are modeled on the physical decay & resonance of natural sounds. Rendered in real-time,
without interpolation to avoid noise artifacts, they allow Sawer to deliver incredibly fast, sample-accurate,
envelopes.
Features
Sawer has the following key design features -
Voicing
Main oscillator for subtractive synthesis: SAW shape with Sync frequency.
Sub oscillator (-2 to +2 octaves) with level, phase & detune controls.
1 NOISE Oscillator.
Variable polyphony (1 to 24 voices).
8 voice UNISON with user-adjustable stereo panning, detune and 'Octaver'. The Octaver expands the
harmonic range and flexibility of the unison sound. Additionally it allows to support the creation of
realistic 'vox-like' effects.
Modulation
SYNC frequency modulation.
RING modulation.
2 ADSR envelope generators (one user-assignable to modulation parameters).
4 FILTER modes - low pass (24 & 12 dB/Oct), band pass and high pass. Sawer features a warm,
analog-modeled filter with self oscillation. The Sawer filter can sound bright and clean passing highÂfrequencies transparently or 'gritty and grungy' with the addition of resonance (including carefully
crafted distortion) for that 'exciting' sound.
Keyboard and Velocity tracking for the filter.
Effects
CHORUS provides a fat and warm sound with excellent unison emulation.
PHASER great for stereo 'panning' effect.
DELAY effect, with tempo-synced click-free stereo delays and delay time modulation. Lo-cut and hi-
cut for trancers!
REVERB simulating acoustic spaces.
Performance
Muti-mode Arpeggiator.
MIDI learn feature with the ability to save/load MIDI setups to/from a patch.
MIDI MODULATION MATRIX - Controller parameters (e.g. LFO and MOD WHEEL) can be assigned to a
wide range of performance parameters in Sawer.
Sawer Online
Hear demo tracks, check for updates or purchase Sawer online at www.image-line.com
Plugin Credits:
Sawer was created by Maxx Claster exclusively for ÂImage Line Software BVBA
Image-Line
Sawer - General Settings & Controls
General Settings & Controls
The Master Controls section provides a range of global controls as described below:
Program management
BANK: Several options for managing banks -
Bank names - Displays the names of banks available to load.
Online content - Opens the online-content browser where you can download new Sawer patches
and banks (if available).
PRG (Program) - Drop-down menu containing the list of preset sounds in the current Bank.
OPTIONS -
Save Program - Save the current program (sound) as a single file.
Load Program - Load a single program (sound). Note: this will overwrite the currently selected
program in the loaded bank.
Reset Program - Reset Sawer program to the default state.
Import CC Map - Load a Continuous Controllers MIDI setup from preset file.
Reset CC Map - Reset the Continuous Controllers MIDI settings to the default state.
MIDI Controls
CTRL (Control): Shows the active MIDI control and value.
LINK: Link the last touched MIDI parameter (on your controller) to the selected target in Sawer.
UNLINK: Unlink the displayed link-relationship.
PARAM: Displays the value of the currently selected parameter.
Voice Controls
POLYPHONY: Set 4 to 24 note polyphony. Polyphony sets the maximum number of notes that can
sound at one time. With lower polyphony numbers the 'voice stealing' will occur, this can help to keep
CPU loads down.
BEND RANGE: Sets the maximum pitch bend range in semitones (1 to 12).
?: Sawer information.
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Sawer - Master Controls
Master Controls
The Master Controls section provides a range of global controls as described below:
Amplifier
LEVEL - Final output volume control.
PANNING - Final output panning.
ADSR - Note volume envelope controls:
ATK (Attack) - Note volume ramp-up speed.
DEC (Decay) - Note volume ramp down speed (after reaching the maximum level set by the
Attack).
SUS (Sustain) - Note volume when held (after the Decay time has completed).
REL (Release) - Note volume release rate (decays to silence).
Tuning
TRANSP (Transpose) - Controls the global pitch in semitones.
FINE - Controls the global pitch in cents (1/100th semitone steps). The range is -100 to +100 cents
with 0 in the middle position (vertical knob).
Portamento
Portamento is used to slide between notes or create legato effects.
STATIC/VARI (Static / Variable) - Static : Glide time is static. Notes will glide at a variable rate so
that glide-time is independent of the jump size. Variable: Glide time is variable depending on jump
size. The glide rate is fixed so larger note intervals will take longer.
BEND/HELD - Bend: All notes will glide. Held: Only held (overlapping) notes will glide.
GLIDE TIME Controls the slide-rate between notes.
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