Native Instruments Absynth 5 Reference Manual
REFERENCE MANUAL
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Native Instruments GmbH. The software described by this document is
subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication
may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior
written permission by Native Instruments GmbH, hereinafter referred to as Native Instruments. All
product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.
Manual written by Nicolas Sidi
Document Version: 1.0 (10/2009)
Product Version: 5.0 (10/2009)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but in
making this a better product.
Germany
Native Instruments GmbH
Schlesische Str. 28
D-10997 Berlin
Germany
info@native-instruments.de
www.native-instruments.de
USA
Native Instruments North America, Inc.
5631 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
USA
sales@native-instruments.com
www.native-instruments.com
© Native Instruments GmbH, 2009. All rights reserved.
Table Of Content
1 WelcometoABSYNTH5!................................................................................................. 12
1.1 WhatisABSYNTH?................................................................................................ 12
1.2 What’sNewinABSYNTH5?...................................................................................13
1.3 TheABSYNTH5Documentation.............................................................................14
1.3.1 In this Manual ................................................................................ 14
1.3.2 Other Documentation ...................................................................... 14
1.3.3 Formatting Conventions ....................................................................15
2 ControlElementsandAreas............................................................................................. 16
2.1 Windows,Pages,Panels,andTabs........................................................................16
2.2 ButtonsandSwitches............................................................................................ 17
2.3 MenusandSelectors............................................................................................. 17
2.4 ValueFields..........................................................................................................18
2.5 SlidersandKnobs................................................................................................. 19
3 ApplicationMenuBar......................................................................................................20
3.1 FileMenu.............................................................................................................20
3.2 EditMenu.............................................................................................................22
3.3 HelpMenu............................................................................................................22
3.4 OptionsDialog.......................................................................................................23
3.4.1 General Page .................................................................................. 23
3.4.2 Surround Page................................................................................ 24
3.4.3 Browser Page ................................................................................. 27
4 NavigationBar................................................................................................................29
4.1 TopRow:GlobalControls.......................................................................................29
4.1.1 ABSYNTH 5 Logo ........................................................................... 29
4.1.2 Window Tabs .................................................................................. 30
4.1.3 Record Button ................................................................................ 30
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – IV
4.1.4 CPU Meter ..................................................................................... 31
4.1.5 Input and Output Level Meters ......................................................... 32
4.1.6 Panic Button .................................................................................. 32
4.1.7 NI Logo ......................................................................................... 32
4.2 BottomRow:SoundManagement...........................................................................33
4.2.1 File and Edit Menus ........................................................................ 33
4.2.2 Sound Name Display and Sound Menu .............................................. 33
4.2.3 Previous/Next Sound Buttons ........................................................... 34
4.2.4 Mutate and Retry Buttons ................................................................ 34
4.2.5 Save and Save As Buttons ............................................................... 35
4.2.6 Database Activity Indicator ............................................................... 35
4.2.7 Keyboard Button ............................................................................. 35
5 PatchWindow................................................................................................................36
5.1 SignalowinthePatch.........................................................................................37
5.1.1 Combining Modules in the Channels .................................................. 37
5.1.2 Channel Level controls ..................................................................... 38
5.1.3 Surround Pan Switch ....................................................................... 38
5.1.4 Master Channel .............................................................................. 39
5.1.5 Mono Mode and Poly Mode in the Master Channel .............................. 40
5.2 CommonFeaturesforallModules.......................................................................... 41
5.2.1 Edit Menu .......................................................................................41
5.2.2 Panels and Tabs ............................................................................. 42
5.2.3 Universal Library ............................................................................. 42
5.3 CommonFeaturesinManyModules.......................................................................44
5.3.1 Waveform Selector and Waveform Selection dialog .............................. 45
5.3.2 Frequency Menu and Frequency Control ............................................. 47
5.3.3 Anti-Alias Switch ............................................................................ 48
5.3.4 Phase Inverter ................................................................................ 49
5.4 OscillatorModule..................................................................................................49
5.4.1 Oscillator‘s Panels and Tabs ............................................................. 50
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – V
5.4.2 Oscillator’s Edit Menu ...................................................................... 52
5.4.3 Single Mode ................................................................................... 53
5.4.4 Double Mode .................................................................................. 54
5.4.5 FM Mode ....................................................................................... 55
5.4.6 Ringmod Mode ............................................................................... 56
5.4.7 Fractalize Mode .............................................................................. 57
5.4.8 Sync Granular Mode ........................................................................ 58
5.4.9 Sample Mode ................................................................................. 59
5.4.10 Granular Mode ................................................................................ 61
5.4.11 Audio In Mode ................................................................................ 62
5.5 FilterModule........................................................................................................63
5.5.1 General Functioning ........................................................................ 63
5.5.2 Filter’s Panels and Tabs ................................................................... 64
5.5.3 Feedback Loop and Feedback Panel .................................................. 64
5.5.4 Lowpass ........................................................................................ 67
5.5.5 Highpass ....................................................................................... 68
5.5.6 Allpass ......................................................................................... 69
5.5.7 Bandpass ...................................................................................... 70
5.5.8 Notch ............................................................................................ 71
5.5.9 Comb ............................................................................................ 72
5.5.10 Supercomb .................................................................................... 73
5.5.11 Cloud ............................................................................................ 74
5.6 ModulatorModule.................................................................................................77
5.6.1 General Function ............................................................................ 77
5.6.2 Ring Modulation ............................................................................. 77
5.6.3 Frequency Shift .............................................................................. 78
5.7 WaveshaperModule..............................................................................................80
5.7.1 General Function ............................................................................ 80
5.7.2 Main Panel .................................................................................... 81
6 EffectWindow................................................................................................................82
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – VI
6.1 GeneralInteraction...............................................................................................83
6.1.1 Change of Status and Selecting an Effect .......................................... 83
6.1.2 Signal Pathway ............................................................................... 84
6.1.3 Surround Panner ............................................................................. 84
6.1.4 Control Area ................................................................................... 87
6.1.5 Modulation and Sensitivity Control .................................................... 87
6.2 Pipe.....................................................................................................................88
6.2.1 Parameters .................................................................................... 89
6.3 Multicomb............................................................................................................90
6.3.1 Parameters .................................................................................... 90
6.4 Multitap................................................................................................................92
6.4.1 Parameters .................................................................................... 93
6.5 Echoes.................................................................................................................94
6.5.1 Parameters .................................................................................... 95
6.6 Resonators...........................................................................................................96
6.6.1 Parameters .................................................................................... 96
6.7 Aetherizer.............................................................................................................98
6.7.1 Master Section ............................................................................... 99
6.7.2 Grain Cloud Parameters ................................................................... 99
6.7.3 Aetherizer Display ..........................................................................103
7 WaveWindow..............................................................................................................104
7.1 WaveformPage,SpectrumPage,MorphPage......................................................104
7.2 CreatingNewWaves........................................................................................... 105
7.3 EditingWaves.....................................................................................................105
7.3.1 Tools in the Waveform Page .............................................................106
7.3.2 Transform menu (Waveform Page) ...................................................106
7.4 SpectrumEdit..................................................................................................... 108
7.4.1 Tools in Spectrum Page ..................................................................109
7.4.2 Transform menu (Spectrum Page) ....................................................109
7.5 WaveMorph....................................................................................................... 110
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – VII
8 EnvelopeWindow.......................................................................................................... 113
8.1 FundamentalsforOperation................................................................................. 113
8.1.1 Zoom Function .............................................................................. 114
8.1.2 Envelope List ................................................................................ 114
8.1.3 Selecting an Envelope .................................................................... 116
8.1.4 Copying and Inserting Envelopes ...................................................... 116
8.2 Breakpoints,Transitions/Steps,Sync................................................................... 116
8.2.1 Creating and Deleting Breakpoints .................................................... 118
8.2.2 Grid Switch ................................................................................... 118
8.2.3 Lock/Slide Switch ......................................................................... 118
8.2.4 Free/Sync Switch ........................................................................... 118
8.2.5 Sustain/Release Marker ................................................................. 119
8.3 EnvelopeModes.................................................................................................. 119
8.3.1 Release Mode ............................................................................... 119
8.3.2 Sustain Mode ................................................................................ 119
8.3.3 Loop Mode ...................................................................................120
8.3.4 Retrigger Mode ..............................................................................120
8.3.5 Control Driven Envelopes ................................................................121
8.3.6 Link Mode ...................................................................................122
8.3.7 Sample Jump ................................................................................123
8.4 EnvelopeLFO...................................................................................................... 124
8.5 EnvelopeModulation........................................................................................... 125
8.6 MasterEnvelope................................................................................................. 127
8.6.1 Assigning Breakpoints ....................................................................127
8.6.2 Controlling the Master Envelope ......................................................129
8.7 TransformCommands.......................................................................................... 129
8.7.1 Scale… .......................................................................................130
8.7.2 Expand to Rhythm… .....................................................................130
8.7.3 Generate AR Pulse… ..................................................................... 131
8.7.4 Set Duration… .............................................................................131
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – VIII
8.7.5 Load Template ..............................................................................132
8.7.6 Save as Template ..........................................................................132
8.7.7 Initialize Selected Envelope ............................................................132
8.7.8 Delete Selected Envelope ...............................................................132
9 LFOWindow.................................................................................................................. 133
9.1 OscillatorSection................................................................................................134
9.2 ModulationSections...........................................................................................135
9.2.1 Channel Parameters Section ............................................................136
9.2.2 Master Parameters Section .............................................................137
9.2.3 Controller Section ..........................................................................138
10 PerformWindow........................................................................................................... 139
10.1 GlobalFeatures...................................................................................................140
10.1.1 Global Settings Bar ........................................................................140
10.1.2 Master Envelope ............................................................................141
10.1.3 Audio In .......................................................................................141
10.2 AutomationinABSYNTH5:MacroControls........................................................142
10.3 ControllersPage................................................................................................. 145
10.4 AssignmentsPage............................................................................................... 147
10.5 MIDIPage...........................................................................................................148
10.5.1 Pitchbend .....................................................................................148
10.5.2 Volume .........................................................................................149
10.5.3 Pan ..............................................................................................149
10.5.4 Velocity ........................................................................................150
10.6 NotePage...........................................................................................................150
10.6.1 Note-dependent Modulation ............................................................ 151
10.6.2 Glide ............................................................................................ 151
10.7 TuningPage........................................................................................................152
10.7.1 Creating a User-dened Tuning ........................................................152
10.7.2 Octave Link ...................................................................................153
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – IX
10.8 AudioModPage..................................................................................................154
10.8.1 Audio Mod as Envelope Follower ......................................................154
10.8.2 Audio Mod as Trigger ......................................................................155
10.8.3 Parameters ...................................................................................155
11 TheBrowserandAttributesWindows............................................................................. 157
11.1 TheAttributesConceptandtheKORESOUND........................................................ 157
11.2 SearchingandLoadingSoundswiththeBrowser..................................................158
11.2.1 Database View ...............................................................................159
11.2.2 File Tree View ................................................................................163
11.2.3 Programs ......................................................................................165
11.3 Mutator.............................................................................................................. 166
11.3.1 Basic Operations ............................................................................167
11.3.2 Mini-Patch View .............................................................................168
11.3.3 Mutation History ............................................................................169
11.3.4 Finetuning Controls ........................................................................170
11.3.5 Mutation Controls in Other Parts of the GUI ......................................171
11.4 DeningAttributesandSavingKORESOUNDS....................................................... 172
12 AdditionalFeatures....................................................................................................... 174
12.1 VirtualKeyboard................................................................................................. 174
12.1.1 Hold Switch ..................................................................................174
12.1.2 Sustain Switch ..............................................................................175
12.2 AudioRecorder................................................................................................... 175
12.2.1 Main Operations ............................................................................176
12.2.2 Overdubbing ..................................................................................177
12.2.3 Options ........................................................................................177
12.2.4 Once the Recording Is Finished........................................................178
13 AppendixA–HowtoWorkwithAttributes...................................................................... 179
13.1 TheInstrumentColumn........................................................................................180
13.2 TheSourceColumn............................................................................................. 181
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – X
13.3 TheTimbreColumn............................................................................................. 183
13.4 TheArticulationColumn......................................................................................184
13.5 TheGenreColumn...............................................................................................185
13.6 Examples............................................................................................................186
14 AppendixB–AttributesReference................................................................................. 191
14.1 InstrumentCategories......................................................................................... 191
14.1.1 Instrument .................................................................................... 191
14.1.2 Source .........................................................................................193
14.1.3 Timbre .........................................................................................195
14.1.4 Articulation ...................................................................................196
14.1.5 Genre ...........................................................................................198
14.2 EffectCategories................................................................................................200
14.2.1 Type ............................................................................................ 200
14.2.2 Mode ...........................................................................................201
14.2.3 Characteristic ............................................................................... 202
14.2.4 Application .................................................................................. 203
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – XI
1 Welcome to ABSYNTH 5!
We at Native Instruments would like to thank you for purchasing ABSYNTH – it’s because
of customers like you that we can continue developing ground-breaking music software. We
hope that this reference manual will provide you with all the information needed to make use
of ABSYNTH 5 to its full capacity.
1.1 What is ABSYNTH?
ABSYNTH is a synthesizer capable of producing some of the most daring sounds. Whether
you are developing a lm soundtrack or want to create striking leads – ABSYNTH 5 always has
the right sound for you. The semi-modular design allows you to combine oscillators, modulation sources and lters in any way you want. You can create unusual and dynamic sounds by
combining the numerous effects and modulation possibilities in various ways. Endless evolving soundscapes and eccentric pads made up ABSYNTH’s legend. The new Aetherizer effect
and lter feedback bring ABSYNTH 5 to a new level in penetrating sound design. Or you can
simply navigate through the huge ABSYNTH 5 Factory Library, containing more than 1700
ne-shaped presets in the KORE SOUND® format. Moreover, the new Mutator feature allows
you to create whole new sounds based on a favorite and the attributes you choose!
Dedicated Macro Controls allow you to operate several parameters at the touch of a button or
just by pressing one key on your MIDI keyboard. Additionally everything is fully automatable in
your audio MIDI sequencer allowing you to trigger your sounds into action with full project recall.
Even with all these possibilities, getting the right sound from ABSYNTH 5 is always quick and
intuitive using the Browser. Simply choose the characteristics for your desired sound and let
ABSYNTH 5 nd the perfect creation for you. Coupled with the new Mutator and Finetuning
controls, the Browser might be all you need to get the perfect sound. If you want to tweak
or program your own sounds, the clear interface structure lets you quickly nd important
operating features and always keep them in view. All this allows you to keep concentrating
on what this is all about: realizing your musical ideas!
We hope you enjoy ABSYNTH 5 as much as we do.
– The ABSYNTH 5 Team at Native Instruments.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 12
1.2 What’s New in ABSYNTH 5?
Here is a short overview of the new features in ABSYNTH 5 compared to ABSYNTH 4:
•
The Mutator: This powerful feature introduces a totally new approach to sound design
with ABSYNTH. With the Mutator, you can let ABSYNTH automatically generate new
Sounds somewhere between the current Sound and other Sounds from the Library.
•
New Aetherizer effect: This amazing effect combines a granular-based feedback with a
post-delay section. Moreover, all its parameters can be both randomized and modulated.
•
New Cloud lter: This is the little brother of the new Aetherizer effect, for use in the Filter
modules within the Patch Window.
•
New Supercomb lter: This lter type extends the capacities of the Comb lter (still available), using some of the characteristics of the Resonators and Pipe Delay effects.
•
New feedback loop for many lter types: LPF 2 Pole, LPF 4 Pole, LPF 8 Pole, Supercomb,
Allpass 2, Allpass 4, Allpass 8. Filter feedback allows you to insert a sound modulator
like a Waveshaper, Frequency shifter or Ring modulator in the resonance path, giving your
lters custom distortions, even ones never heard before.
•
Reorganized Filter, Modulator and Waveshaper modules: These modules now present a
unied interface and propose a new organization for their menus.
• Support for Windows XP/Vista 64-bit operating systems.
If you are particularly interested in the new sounds ABSYNTH5shas to offer, type “ab-
%
Result List down to the new Sounds in ABSYNTH 5.
synth5” in the relevant Search Field in the ABSYNTH Browser. This will narrow the Search
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 13
1.3 The ABSYNTH 5 Documentation
1.3.1 In this Manual
What you are reading right now is the Reference Manual that will give you an in-depth description of all commands and functions to be found in ABSYNTH 5.
This Reference Manual is divided into three parts:
• The rst part is the introduction, which you are reading right now.
• Chapters 2 to 12 are the reference itself.
• Chapters 13 and 14 are appendixes relating to the work with Attributes.
1.3.2 Other Documentation
For an comprehensive introduction to ABSYNTH 5, please refer to the ABSYNTH5 Getting
Started guide, which is both copied to the ABSYNTH 5 folder on your hard drive during the
installation and available as paperback in the product box. The Getting Started guide provides
you with necessary information about the installation and setup procedures. It also presents
you the important concepts implemented in ABSYNTH 5 and offers a selection of Quick
Starts, introducing you to some important workows in ABSYNTH 5.
We recommend you to read the Getting Started guide rst. If you have any doubt about a
command, control element or function of ABSYNTH 5, please refer to this Reference Manual.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 14
1.3.3 Formatting Conventions
This section will introduce you to the signage and text highlighting used in this manual.
This manual uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you of potential issues. The icons introducing these notes let you see what kind of information is to be
expected:
Whenever this exclamation mark icon appears, you should read the corresponding note carefully and follow the instructions and hints given there if applicable.
This light bulb icon indicates that a note contains useful extra information. This information
may often help you to solve a task more efciently, but does not necessarily apply to the
setup or operating system you are using. However, it should be worth reading for most users.
Special Formatting
In this manual, distinctive formatting has been applied in order to let you recognize certain
elements in the text at a glance:
• Menu item: Items from ABSYNTH 5’s menus and lists are printed in italics.
• Important concepts: On rst occurrence important concepts are printed in bold.
• Results of actions are introduced by an arrow (→).
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 15
2 Control Elements and Areas
On the ABSYNTH 5 user interface you will nd various control elements which allow for customizing the interface itself, to run functions or modify values. This section provides you with
an introduction to nomenclature, elements, and instructions for their use.
If the mouse cursor is not in a text or value eld, your computer keyboard triggers MIDI
%
you can see the corresponding keys being pressed while you play on your computer keyboard.
2.1 Windows, Pages, Panels, and Tabs
Window is the word used to refer to the overall work areas in ABSYNTH 5. There are eight
Windows on the ABSYNTH 5 user interface: Browser, Attributes, Perform, Patch, Effect,
Wave, Envelope and LFO. They can be accessed via the Navigation Bar, at the top of the
notes. Use the keyboard letters to play ABSYNTH 5. If the Virtual Keyboard is displayed,
application’s interface. To switch to a particular Window, click on the desired Window tab in
the Navigation Bar. The tab for the active Window is highlighted.
Window tabs in the ABSYNTH 5 Navigation Bar
In the Wave and Perform Window, there is a number of distinct pages. Each page holds control elements related to a specic task. To switch to a particular page, click on the desired
tab at the top of the page. The tab for the active page is highlighted.
Page tabs within Perform Window
In the Patch Window, most modules can be switched between multiple panels. To switch to a
particular panel, click on the desired tab at the top of the panel. The tab for an active panel
is highlighted.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 16
Module in the Patch Window with highlighted Main panel
2.2 Buttons and Switches
Buttons and switches basically allow you to trigger a function or to activate/deactivate a feature.
Some other parts of the interface also work as switches: for example, you can turn individual
modules on and off in the Patch Window by clicking on the extended left border of each
Module Slot. You do not necessarily need to click on the writing, the entire left border area
works as a switch. The same applies to the effect within the Effect Window: clicking on the
thick border displaying Effect at the top left corner activates/deactivates the effect.
2.3 Menus and Selectors
Menus can be found in many areas in ABSYNTH 5. They contain lists of available options.
Menus can be recognized a small triangle pointing downwards.
Edit menu button available in all Windows
In order to choose an option or a command from a menu, click on it: A drop-down list appears, which remains open if you move the cursor. Click on the desired entry to select it. To
leave the menu without changing the setting, click somewhere else on the user interface or
press [Esc] on your computer keyboard.
Selectors are similar to menus, but instead of opening a drop-down list below the menu when
clicked, they open a separate pop-up dialog. Most of the time, you can not only select an entry
with them but also choose some other options. You then need to click on “OK” (or “Cancel”)
at the bottom to get back to the original Window. An example is the Wave Selector and its
companion the Wave Selection dialog, which can be found in many places in ABSYNTH 5.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 17
2.4 Value Fields
Value elds contain the numerical values of parameters. The values indicated can be changed
in a variety of ways:
•
Clicking within the eld: The value is highlighted and you can enter a value using your
computer keypad. Press [Enter] to conrm or [Esc] to let the value unchanged.
• Using the diamond button ( ) next to a value eld: Click on it and hold the mouse button
depressed. Drag the mouse up/down to increase/decrease the value, respectively. Depending
on the resolution of the parameter, you will see one, two or three diamonds next to its
value eld. The leftmost diamond has the biggest range – and the lowest resolution: use it
to change the value roughly. Use the other diamonds to make ner adjustments.
•
If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can place the cursor on a diamond and change the
value by turning the scroll wheel. Move the wheel forward to increase the value and backwards to decrease it.
•
You can also right-click ([Ctrl]+click on Mac) on most value elds to bring up a contextual menu. Here you can assign the parameter to one of the Macro Controls. More specic information about Macro Controls can be found at section 10.2 “Automation in
ABSYNTH 5: Macro Controls”.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 18
2.5 Sliders and Knobs
Some parameter values can be changed via sliders and knobs.
Sliders (or faders) are used for example to adjust the effect’s input levels in the Effect Window,
or to dene the mutation settings in the Browser Window’s Mutator. To adjust the value of a
slider, click on it and drag your mouse horizontally while holding the mouse button depressed.
Sider for Mutation Aamount in Browser Window
Knobs can be found for example in the Effect Window, where you adjust the signal proportions using the Wet Level an Dry Level controls.
Wet/Dry knobs in the Effect Window
The global Master Envelope also uses knobs to dene its four steps Attack, Decay, Sustain
and Release. To adjust the value of a knob, you have following possibilities:
•
Click on the knob (or on the value display if available) and drag the mouse up/down to
increase/decrease the value, respectively. If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can place
the cursor on the knob and change its value by turning the scroll wheel. Move the wheel
forward to increase the value and backwards to decrease it.
•
Double-click on the value display (if available) and enter a new value via your computer
keyboard, then press [Enter] to conrm or [Esc] to let the previous value unchanged.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 19
3 Application Menu Bar
The Application Menu Bar (here on Windows version shown)
The Application Menu Bar is only available if you are using ABSYNTH 5 in stand-alone mode.
It holds commands dealing with the overall functioning of ABSYNTH5. Similar to the menu
bar found in other applications on your operating system, it contains three menus, detailed
below: the File menu, the Edit menu and the Help menu.
3.1 File Menu
The File menu contains the following entries:
•
NewSound: Creates a new empty Sound in ABSYNTH 5. The default new Sound only
contains one Oscillator in its Channel A.
• OpenSound…: Opens a dialog labeled Open SingleSound File… allowing you to select a
Sound on your hard drive for opening. In the dialog, navigate to the desired Sound, select
it and click on “Open” (or double-click on the Sound). The Sound replaces the Sound
previously loaded in ABSYNTH 5.
•
RecentFiles: Opens a submenu containing shortcuts to the 10 last Sounds that you
opened in your last sessions. Select an entry in the submenu to open the corresponding
Sound. At the bottom of the submenu, the entry Clear Menu empties the submenu.
• SaveSound: Allows you to save the changes made to the currently loaded Sound. If you
did not save the current Sound yet, this command automatically opens the Save Sound
As dialog (see below).
•
SaveSoundAs…: Opens a dialog labeled Save SingleSound File As… allowing you to save
the current Sound under a new name. In the dialog, navigate to the desired folder where
you want to save your Sound, type a new name for the Sound and click on “Save”.
We recommend saving sounds to the default path, “My Sounds.” This way, your Sound
!
will automatically be integrated to the ABSYNTH 5 Database upon saving.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 20
• ImportGloBank…: Opens a dialog labeled Please select a glo bank to import… allowing
you to import Sounds made with older versions of ABSYNTH into ABSYNTH 5. Navigate
to the desired Glo bank on your hard drive, select it and click on “Open”. You can then
scroll through the list of Sounds available in this bank. The Sound selected in the list is
automatically loaded in ABSYNTH 5 and you can play it. Should you wish to convert this
Sound into an ABSYNTH 5 KORE SOUND®, you can save it like any other Sound via the
Save/Save As… commands explained above.
The Factory Contents of all previous versions of ABSYNTH have already been converted
!
Sounds only!
and are directly available via the Browser Window. Thus, you need this command for User
• Options…: Opens the Options dialog, which will be explained in detail later (see section
3.4 “Options Dialog” below).
•
AudioandMIDISettings…: Opens the Audio and MIDI Settings dialog allowing you to
adapt ABSYNTH 5 to your custom studio or live setup. The audio and MIDI settings are
explained in detail in the Getting Started guide.
•
Exit: Quits the application. Please check that you saved your Sound before closing. I you
did not, unsaved changes will be lost!
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 21
3.2 Edit Menu
The Edit menu contains the following entries:
• Undo: Cancels the last action in ABSYNTH 5.
•
Redo: Cancels the last Undo command – in other terms, re-executes the last cancelled action.
•
Copy: Stores the selected Envelope (if in Envelope Window) or Waveform (if in Wave
Window) to the clipboard.
•
Paste: Pastes the Envelope or Waveform stored in the clipboard (via the command Copy above).
•
Balancelevels: Equilibrates the three Channels A, B and C at a level that prevents the
overall output from clipping.
3.3 Help Menu
The Help menu contains three entries with further information about ABSYNTH 5:
•
LaunchServiceCenter: Starts the NI Service Center. The Service Center can activate
ABSYNTH 5 as well as search for new updates. Detailed information can be found in the
Service Center Quick Start Guide and manual.
• VisitAbsynthontheWeb: Opens the ABSYNTH page on the Native Instruments website
in your favorite Internet browser, where you can access up-to-date information on
ABSYNTH 5.
•
AboutAbsynth…: Opens the About screen where you can view the version number and
the individual serial number of your copy of ABSYNTH5. You also nd there the names
of all the people who worked on ABSYNTH5.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 22
3.4 Options Dialog
The Options dialog provides you with various options that shape global functions in ABSYNTH5.
You can call the Options dialog by selecting the corresponding entry in the File menu of the
Application Menu Bar (stand-alone application only) or in the File menu of the Navigation Bar
(see section 4 “Navigation Bar” below).
The Options dialog is organized into three pages: General, Surround and Browser. Each of
them can be accessed by clicking on the corresponding tab at the top of the Options dialog.
To conrm any changes made to the options, click on “Done” at the bottom of the dialog.
To close the dialog without saving your changes, click on the dialog’s close icon instead (its
location depends on your operating system).
We describe hereafter all available options.
3.4.1 General Page
The General page allows you to dene the paths for the directories containing your samples
and your templates, along with two additional options:
The General page of the Options dialog
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 23
• SamplesDirectories: These three elds allow you to set paths to the directories contain-
ing the samples used by your Sounds. To dene a path, click on the Browse button under
one of the elds, navigate to the desired folder on your hard drive and click “OK.”
•
TemplateLibrariesDirectory: This eld allows you to set the path for the directory containing your various Templates (Envelopes, Waveforms, modules, Channels…). To change the
path, click on the Browse button under the eld, navigate to the desired folder on your
hard drive and click on “OK.” For more info on the Templates, please refer to section
5.2.3 “Universal Library.”
•
Autobalancepatchchannels: If this option is enabled, ABSYNTH 5 controls the output
of the three individual Channels in the Patch Window so that the main output remains
constant and do not clip. That is, if you were to increase the level of one Channel,
ABSYNTH 5 would automatically decrease the levels of the two other Channels.
•
Autorenamecontrolmacroonrstassignment: If this option is enabled, a Macro Control
that has had a parameter assigned to it takes over the name of this parameter – but only
if no other parameters have already been assigned to it.
3.4.2 Surround Page
The Surround page allows you to congure ABSYNTH5’s surround output channels.
The Surround page of the Options dialog
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ABSYNTH5 can have up to eight separate audio outputs. The fundamentals for conguring
your audio and MIDI interfaces can be found in the Getting Started guide. The Surround page
can then be used to assign your output channels to specic positions in the panoramic eld.
In the Surround menu sitting at the top of the page, you can choose from the following congurations:
•
2Stereo: This standard conguration delivers typical two-channel stereo sound. In this
setting, the speakers are situated at 45 degrees and -45 degrees.
•
2StereoWide: This conguration is easy to distinguish from 2 Stereo: Both front speakers are arranged at 90° and -90°. This results in a wider stereo soundscape.
• 3Surround: This conguration returns to analog Matrix surround sound. It is well known
under the names of, for example, Dolby Surround™ (home entertainment center) or Dolby
Stereo™ (movie theatre), but without a front center channel. Here, there is a central rear
channel as well as left- and right front ch3 Front: This conguration replaces the central
rear channel of the previous conguration with a center front channel, which leads to
better distribution in the stereo soundscape than a classic stereo conguration.
•
4Surround: This conguration combines a 3 Surround conguration with a front-center
channel and is also known under the name Dolby Surround Pro Logic™.
•
4Quad: This four-channel conguration is based on the quadraphonic systems that were
popular with consumers in the 1970’s. The four speakers are arranged symmetrically in
a square shape.
•
5Music: This ve-channel surround sound conguration is comparable to top-of-the-line
home theater arrangements and movie theaters systems, known as, for example, Dolby
Digital™ or DTS™. This system provides you with three front channels (left, center, right)
and two surround channels (surround left, surround right).
•
5Pentaphonic: This conguration delivers ve-channel surround sound, where the ve
channels are arranged symmetrically in a circle.
• 6Music: This conguration corresponds to a 5 Music conguration, but contains an ad-
ditional rear center channel. This arrangement is used by, for example, the surround sound
systems Dolby Digital EX™ and DTS-ES™.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 25
•
6Hexaphonic: This conguration delivers six-channel surround sound where the six channels are symmetrically arranged in a circle.
•
7Cinema: This conguration delivers seven-channel surround sound as it can often be
heard in lms. Well-known surround sound systems of this type include SDDS™ and
IMAX™. This conguration combines the 5 Music congurations with two additional front
center channels (center left, center right).
•
7Music: This conguration delivers seven-channel surround sound. It is comparable with
the 6 Music conguration, but the surround center channel is divided between the two
rear channels “surround center left” and “surround center right”.
•
7Heptaphonic: This conguration delivers seven-channel surround sound, where the
seven channels are symmetrically arranged in a circle.
• 8Octaphonic: This conguration delivers eight-channel surround sound, where the eight
channels are symmetrically arranged in a circle.
For any of these congurations, you can then set the assignment of each channel to the
available audio outputs of the stand-alone version. The audio outputs that you congured in
the Audio and MIDI Settings dialog are at your disposal in the various Channel menus sitting in the panoramic eld (the position and number of these menus vary with the selected
conguration, see above).
Low Frequency Effect Channel
For all congurations but the last 8 Octophonic, you can activate an additional LFE (Low
Frequency Effects) or Subwoofer channel. To enable it, click on the little LFE button at the
bottom left of the Surround page.
The LFE channel settings
When activated, you see other parameters appearing on its right:
•
Channelmenu: An additional Channel menu lets you dene the output to assign to the
LFE channel.
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• Frequencycontrol: Lets you dene the cutoff frequency (in Hz) for this channel.
• Dampingcontrol: Lets you adjust the level (in dB) of this particular channel according to
your subwoofer.
When using ABSYNTH5 as a plug-in, the host automatically chooses the correct setting for
the track in which ABSYNTH5 is used: a particular plug-in will be used depending on whether
you use ABSYNTH5 as an instrument or as an insert effect, and whether the according track
is a stereo track or a surround track.
3.4.3 Browser Page
In the Browser page, you can set options in relation with the Database.
The Browser page of the Options dialog
In the top part of the page, you nd the following settings:
• DefaultAuthor: Allows you to dene a default text string for the Author eld in the Meta
Information of the Sounds.
•
UseDefaultAuthorforNewSound:If this option is activated, the default Author name
dened above is inserted into the Meta Information of all newly created Sounds.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 27
•
UseDefaultAuthorforSaveSoundAs: If this option is activated, the default Author name
dened above is inserted into the Meta Information of all Sounds stored via the command
Save Sound As (see 3.1, “File Menu”, above).
•
DatabaseHit-Count: This menu allows you to customize the displayed information for each
Attributes in the Browser Window. If None is selected, only the Attributes’ names are
shown. If Indicate Empty Categories is selected, the Attributes for which there is no Sound
are grayed out. If Show Count as Number is selected, the Browser displays after each
Attribute’s name the number of Sounds having this Attribute.
Note that for the two last entries Indicate Empty Categories and Show Count as Number,
!
selection of Attributes: for example, if the Attribute Solo/Single is selected in the category Source
for the Instruments, the Attribute Ensemble/Kit will logically be grayed out (and the number behind
it will be 0). This allows you to quickly see, upon each selection you make, which other Attributes
are possible (and how many Sounds have these Attributes).
the current state (and number) displayed after each Attribute name depends on the current
In the bottom part of the page, you can dene the list of folders to scan for Sounds. You can
add/remove folders to/from the list via the respective buttons at the bottom. Remember that
subfolders in the selected folders will automatically be included in the search as well.
Should you ever make changes in this page, or delete/add individual Sound les in the corresponding folders using your operating system, then you must rebuild the Database. In order
to do this, use the Rebuild Database button (labeled Rebuild DB), at the bottom right corner
of the page. Depending on the number of available KORE SOUNDS, this process can be
time-consuming. Only then will the changes take effect in the Database.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 28
4 Navigation Bar
The Navigation Bar is located at the very top of the ABSYNTH5 interface:
The Navigation Bar
It consists of two lines:
• In the top line of the Navigation Bar you see (from left to right) the ABSYNTH logo, the
tabs opening the different Windows, the Record button, the CPU meter, the Input and
Output Level meters, the Panic button and the NI logo. More information about these
features is available below.
•
The bottom line includes mostly options to load and save Sounds and navigate through
the Library.
4.1 Top Row: Global Controls
4.1.1 ABSYNTH 5 Logo
Interactive ABSYNTH button
Clicking on the ABSYNTH5 logo has the same effect as clicking on the NI logo: both open
the About screen. This About screen contains some important information: the version number, license type and serial number of your copy of ABSYNTH5, along with the list of all the
people who worked on this great synth!
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 29
4.1.2 Window Tabs
Window tabs in Navigation Bar
These eight tabs allow you to select a particular Window to display. As already mentioned, a
Window is a specic work environment in ABSYNTH5 (see section 2.1, “Windows, Pages,
Panels and Tabs”, above). The following Windows are available: Browser, Attributes, Perform,
Patch, Effect, Wave, Envelope and LFO. To activate a particular Window, click on the eponymous tab. ABSYNTH5 replaces the currently displayed Window with the new selected one
and the corresponding tab gets highlighted.
Opening Several Windows Simultaneously
In the stand-alone version of ABSYNTH5 you can open a Window in the main ABSYNTH5
interface in a new pop-up window instead of replacing esion of ABSYNTH5:, hold [Ctrl]
(Windows Vista/XP) or [Cmd] (Mac) depressed while clicking on one of the tabs in tup Window
instead. This works for the following tabs/Windows: Patch, Effect, Wave, Envelope and LFO.
This can be very handy, especially if you have a large computer screen: you can display two
or more Windows, place them where you want on your screen and work simultaneously on
different parts of ABSYNTH5, both giving you a better overview of various ABSYNTH5
components and preventing you from switching back and forth between different Windows.
Opening Windows simultaneously is only available in stand-alone mode!
!
4.1.3 Record Button
Record button
A click on the d button shows/hides the Audio Recorder. For more info on the Audio Recorder,
please refer to section 12.2 “Audio Recorder”.
ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – 30
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