Native Instruments Form 1.1 Instruction 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.
“Native Instruments”, “NI” and associated logos are (registered) trademarks of Native Instruments GmbH.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of them does not imply
any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
Document authored by: Gustav Santo Tomas, Jan Ola Korte
Software version: 1.1 (03/2017)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but
in making this a better product.
Disclaimer
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH
Schlesische Str. 29-30
D-10997 Berlin
Germany
www.native-instruments.de
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS North America, Inc.
6725 Sunset Boulevard
5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90028
USA
www.native-instruments.com
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS K.K.
YO Building 3F
Jingumae 6-7-15, Shibuya-ku,
Tokyo 150-0001
Japan
www.native-instruments.co.jp
Contact
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS UK Limited
18 Phipp Street
London EC2A 4NU
UK
www.native-instruments.co.uk
© NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH, 2017. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Welcome to FORM .....................................................................................................
1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 6
1.2 Document Conventions ............................................................................................................... 7
1.3 How to Open FORM ..................................................................................................................... 8
1.4 Getting Started ........................................................................................................................... 10
1.4.1 Loading a Preset ........................................................................................................ 11
1.4.2 Saving a Preset ......................................................................................................... 12
1.4.3 Resetting Sounds ...................................................................................................... 14
1.4.4 Loading Your own Sample ......................................................................................... 15
2 Overview of the FORM Interface ..................................................................................
2.1 The Header ................................................................................................................................. 20
2.2 The Main Section ........................................................................................................................ 22
2.3 The Footer ................................................................................................................................... 26
2.4 The Compact View ...................................................................................................................... 28
3 The SAMPLE Page .....................................................................................................
4 The SOUND Page .......................................................................................................
4.1 The FORM OSC Section ............................................................................................................... 36
4.2 ADDITIVE OSC ............................................................................................................................. 38
4.3 OSC FX ........................................................................................................................................39
4.4 MODULATION .............................................................................................................................. 40
4.4.1 ENV ............................................................................................................................ 41
4.4.2 LFO ............................................................................................................................ 43
4.4.3 SC .............................................................................................................................. 44
4.4.4 Assigning Modulation ................................................................................................ 46
4.4.5 Removing Modulation ................................................................................................ 53
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35
FORM - Manual - 4
Table of Contents
4.5 FILTER ........................................................................................................................................ 57
4.4.6 Modulating Modulator Parameters ............................................................................ 55
5 The EFFECTS Page .....................................................................................................
5.1 FREQUENCY SHAPING ................................................................................................................. 59
5.2 WARMTH ..................................................................................................................................... 60
5.3 DYNAMICS .................................................................................................................................. 61
5.4 DELAY ......................................................................................................................................... 62
5.5 REVERB ...................................................................................................................................... 63
6 The Footer ................................................................................................................
6.1 SPEED .........................................................................................................................................65
6.2 MOTION .......................................................................................................................................67
6.3 PERFORM ....................................................................................................................................84
6.4 Macro Controls ........................................................................................................................... 94
6.2.1 The CURVE PRESETS .................................................................................................. 68
6.2.2 The CURVE EDITOR .................................................................................................... 69
6.2.3 Creating a Motion Curve ............................................................................................ 74
6.3.1 Saving a Sound to a Performance Slot ....................................................................... 87
6.3.2 Switching between Performance Slots ....................................................................... 88
6.3.3 Copying a Sound to another Performance Slot ........................................................... 90
6.3.4 Clearing Performance Slots ....................................................................................... 91
6.3.5 Playing FORM in Multi Mode ...................................................................................... 92
6.4.1 Assigning Macro Controls to Modulation Destinations ............................................... 94
6.4.2 The Macro Label Menu ............................................................................................... 99
6.4.3 Knob Type and Polarity .............................................................................................. 101
7 Credits ......................................................................................................................
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FORM - Manual - 5
Welcome to FORM
1 Welcome to FORM
Thank you very much for downloading FORM from Native Instruments. This new and exciting
synthesizer can be used either with the free REAKTOR 6 PLAYER, or the full version of REAKTOR 6. On behalf of the entire NATIVE INSTRUMENTS team, we hope this product will inspire
you.
It is recommended to download and install the latest version of REAKTOR 6 or REAKTOR 6 PLAYER before using FORM. You can update REAKTOR 6 with Native Access.
The latest version of the free REAKTOR 6 PLAYER is available here:
https://www.native-instruments.com/de/products/komplete/synths/reaktor-6-player/
1.1 Introduction
FORM is a complex yet easy-to-use REAKTOR 6 instrument that lets you take your own samples and twist and turn them into completely different sounds. Use the bespoke Motion Curves
or create your own ones in order to get interesting textures and new futuristic sounds. FORM is
a powerful instrument with an intuitive interface that lets you get started quickly by simply
dragging and dropping a sample into the interface. At the same time FORM offers a multitude
of ways to influence the direction of the sound and gives you access to parameters for modulation and to effects so that you may change everything from timbre to length until your samples
are far beyond recognition.
Introduction
When you drag a sample into FORM, the instrument analyses it. After determining the pitches
present in the sample, FORM constructs a pitch curve that is superimposed on the sample (see
↑3, The SAMPLE Page). If two or more pitches are present in a section of the sample, FORM
chooses the most dominant pitch as the base frequency for that section. Based on this pitch
curve, FORM resynthesizes the sample by means of a Pitch Synchronous Overlap and Add
(PSOLA) algorithm. This algorithm is able to read the pitch curve, and use it to reproduce the
sample at any speed as well as change the sample to any pitch. FORM then lets you play back
the sample in different keys and by using the advanced PERFORM section (see ↑6.3, PER-
FORM), which lets you save up to twelve separate variations of your Sound and play these with
your MIDI keyboard.
FORM - Manual - 6
Welcome to FORM
Document Conventions
1.2 Document Conventions
This document uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you of potential issues. The icons introducing the following notes let you see what kind of information can
be expected:
The speech bubble icon indicates a useful tip that may often help you to solve a task
more efficiently.
The exclamation mark icon highlights important information that is essential for the given context.
The red cross icon warns you of serious issues and potential risks that require your full
attention.
Furthermore, the following formatting is used:
▪ Text appearing in (drop-down) menus (such as Open…, Save as… etc.) in the software and
paths to locations on your hard disk or other storage devices is printed in italics.
▪ Text appearing elsewhere (labels of buttons, controls, text next to checkboxes etc.) in the
software is printed in blue. Whenever you see this formatting applied, you will find the
same text appearing somewhere on the screen.
▪ Important names and concepts are printed in bold.
▪ References to keys on your computer’s keyboard you’ll find put in square brackets (e.g.,
“Press [Shift] + [Enter]”).
Single instructions are introduced by this play button type arrow.
►
Results of actions are introduced by this smaller arrow.
→
FORM - Manual - 7
1.3 How to Open FORM
This is how to open FORM in REAKTOR or REAKTOR PLAYER:
1. Start REAKTOR or REAKTOR PLAYER.
2. Click the Browser icon to open the Browser
3.
Click the Player tab to show the REAKTOR PLAYER files (or you can open the browser
with the [F1] key from your keyboard).
Welcome to FORM
How to Open FORM
FORM - Manual - 8
Welcome to FORM
How to Open FORM
4. Click the FORM folder. The content of the folder will be displayed in the lower section of
the browser.
5. Double-click the FORM.ens file, or drag it into the main screen.
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6. FORM will be loaded in REAKTOR/REAKTOR PLAYER:
Welcome to FORM
Getting Started
1.4 Getting Started
To get you started right away, FORM comes equipped with a library of Factory Presets that you
can quickly load from the REAKTOR browser. Doing so will load a sample and set all FORM's
parameters to preset values. You can play these as they are, or use them to as a starting point
for your own sound manipulations.
Please note that the workflow of browsing and saving user presets has changed in REAKTOR 6.0.3. To save a preset, you do not need to enter REAKTOR’s edit mode anymore. By default presets are saved in the global preset saving folders: Windows: C:
\Users\<User>\Documents\Native Instruments\User Content\Form
OS X: Macintosh HD:\Users\<User>\Documents\Native Instruments\User Content\Form
You can browse for presets stored in the location from REAKTOR’s Browser (in Play
mode) as well as from the MASCHINE and KOMPLETE KONTROL Browsers.
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1.4.1 Loading a Preset
1. Open the Presets tab.
2. Double-click on Factory to display the Preset folders.
⇨ The list with the Factory Preset folders is displayed.
Welcome to FORM
Getting Started
FORM - Manual - 11
3. Browse through the folders and select a preset from the list below.
Welcome to FORM
Getting Started
The preset is loaded and ready to be played.
→
1.4.2 Saving a Preset
1. Open the Presets tab.
FORM - Manual - 12
Welcome to FORM
2. Double-click on User entry.
3. Click on the Add button at the bottom of the Browser.
⇨ An entry appears in the list. By default t contains the highlighted name of the current pre-
set.
Getting Started
4. Enter the desired name for the preset.
5. Confirm with the Return key on your computer keyboard.
FORM - Manual - 13
Welcome to FORM
The preset is saved.
→
1.4.3 Resetting Sounds
In order to really get to know FORM and its capabilities, it can be helpful to start with a clean
slate and load your own sample. To set all of FORM's controls to default and load a sample,
start by clearing all settings and opening the SAMPLE SELECT page.
1. To set all controls to default and reset the Sound, including all Performance slots in the
PERFORM section, click the RESET SOUND button in the bottom left corner of FORM's
interface.
Getting Started
⇨ The button will turn into red and read CLICK TO CONFIRM.
FORM - Manual - 14
Welcome to FORM
2. To confirm your selection and effectively clear the Sound, click the button. Otherwise
click the small cross icon to cancel.
The Sound is reset and the button turns into green reading SOUND CLEARED.
→
1.4.4 Loading Your own Sample
1. To open the SAMPLE SELECT page, click the SAMPLE SELECT button, located in the upper left corner of the interface, directly below the FORM icon.
Getting Started
FORM - Manual - 15
Welcome to FORM
2. To load a sample, click and drag it from your user library in the REAKTOR browser to
FORM’s waveform display, located at the center of the SAMPLE SELECT page.
The waveform of the sample appears in the waveform display.
Getting Started
FORM - Manual - 16
Welcome to FORM
3. To keep this sample and analyze it for the FORM oscillator, click the LOAD SAMPLE button below the waveform display.
Getting Started
If the length of your chosen samples exceeds 30 seconds, a timeframe of 30 seconds will be
selected from the sample. You can select the timeframe yourself by clicking and dragging the
white handles in each lower corner of timeframe within the waveform display.
FORM - Manual - 17
For longer samples, a timeframe is selected for analysis
Welcome to FORM
Getting Started
Once you have loaded a sample into FORM, click the LOAD SAMPLE button, and the instrument will analyze the audio content. Now you can apply FORM's Motion Curves to the audio
and create complex and interesting new sounds. You can control and edit these Motion Curves
in a multitude of ways and even create your own. Furthermore, you can use the PERFORM section to save different Curves or even alternative variations of the Sound altogether and play
them back using a control octave on your MIDI keyboard.
To learn more about the possibilities of FORM, continue reading this document.
►
FORM - Manual - 18
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Overview of the FORM Interface
2 Overview of the FORM Interface
FORM is an interesting instrument based on combining your own samples with FORM’s creative Motion Curves. Start by loading a sample into the waveform display of the SAMPLE page
or on the SAMPLE SELECT page and selecting one of the provided Motion Curves in the MO-
TION section at the center bottom of the interface. Once you have done so, you are already on
the way to experiencing the easy-to-use and yet extremely versatile power of FORM.
Overview of FORM's interface.
(1) The Header: This section lets you select the page to display in the Main section and holds
controls for voicing and to influence the PERFORM section. For detailed information, see ↑2.1,
The Header.
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Overview of the FORM Interface
(2) The Main section: The controls displayed here change depending on your selection in the
Header. The Main section displays the controls that are available for the SAMPLE, SOUND,
and EFFECTS pages as well as the Motion Curve CURVE PRESETS and CURVE EDITOR. For
detailed information, see ↑2.2, The Main Section.
(3) The Footer: This area displays the SPEED, MOTION, and PERFORM sections as well as the
Macro controls and is visible at all times. For detailed information, see section ↑2.3, The Foot-
er.
Alternatively, you can use FORM’s Compact view, which features a streamlined interface
and is well suited for browsing presets. For more information, see ↑2.4, The Compact
View.
2.1 The Header
The Header is located at the top of the interface. It is visible at all times and contains a selector that lets you switch between pages to display at the Main section. Furthermore, the Header
holds controls for voicing and parameters relating to the PERFORM section.
The Header
The Header
(1) FORM icon: Opens the product credits in the Main section.
(2) SAMPLE: Click this to display and access the waveform of the loaded sample.
(3) SOUND: Click this to access parameters for controlling FORM’s oscillators and to control
the modulators and filters.
FORM - Manual - 20
Overview of the FORM Interface
(4) EFFECTS: Click this to access FORM’s effects section. It contains both traditional effects
like reverb and delay and the new frequency shaping tool.
(5) EFFECTS OFF: Click to bypass all effect units of the EFFECTS page.
(6) Key lock button: Switch this on to lock the EFFECTS OFF button to its current state (on or
off) while browsing through FORM's Presets. This means that you can audition FORM's Presets
either untouched or without effect units.
(7) TUNE: Drag the slider right or left to tune the master output up or down, respectively.
(8) VOL: The master volume slider lets you click and drag to set the output level.
(9) SAMPLE SELECT: Click this button to open the SAMPLE SELECT page, were you can load
and preview your samples.
(10) Voice selector: Select one of three voicing modes:
▪ POLY: Lets you play back your samples using two or more notes simultaneously.
▪ MONO RETRIG: Monophonic Retrigger mode. Only one note at a time will be played. Enve-
lopes and/or LFOs will be retriggered by every new MIDI Note On event.
▪ MONO LEG: Monophonic Legato mode. Only one note at a time will be played. Envelopes
and/or LFOs will be retriggered only when a MIDI Note Off event is received before the next
MIDI Note On event (non-legato).
The Header
(11) GLIDE: Sets the amount of time it takes to transition from one note pitch to another.
(12) RESET PHASE: Activate to reset the phase of the oscillators when a key is pressed.
(13) SPREAD: Turn to set the pitch offset for each voice when in UNISON and MULTI MODE.
(14) Perform Voice selector: This lets you define how the PERFORM section will behave. Select
one of three different settings:
▪ SINGLE: This mode plays back one active Performance slot.
▪ UNISON: This mode plays back up to four versions of the active Performance slot, depend-
ing on the setting of the Voice Amount button to the right of the Perform Voice selector.
▪ MULTI MODE: This mode plays back up to four different saved Performance slots simulta-
neously. The Performance slots being played back are visually reflected in the PER-
FORM section at the bottom right of the FORM interface.
FORM - Manual - 21
Overview of the FORM Interface
The Main Section
(15) Voice Amount: Click this button to set a number (2-4) of voices for the Performance slots
to play back simultaneously in UNISON and MULTI MODE. When doing so, you are using multiple voices to play one note, meaning that you are reducing the total amount of voices you can
play back simultaneously. Setting Voice Amount to 2 equals four available notes, whereas setting it to 4 gives you two simultaneously playable notes.
2.2 The Main Section
The Main section displays parameters belonging either to the SAMPLE, SOUND, or EF-
FECTS page, depending on your selection in the Header. This is also the section where you can
browse and edit Motion Curves in detail using the CURVE EDITOR.
The Main section gives you controls to shape the sound of your sample into something completely different. Using the selector in the Header you can display and control parameters either for the SAMPLE, SOUND, or EFFECTS page.
The SAMPLE Page
The SAMPLE page
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Overview of the FORM Interface
The Main Section
The SAMPLE page lets you select and load your samples via drag-and-drop. For more detailed
information, see section ↑3, The SAMPLE Page.
The SOUND Page
The SOUND page
The SOUND page lets you shape, edit and modulate the sound of your sample. For more detailed information, see section ↑4, The SOUND Page.
FORM - Manual - 23
The EFFECTS Page
The EFFECTS page with effect units switched on
Overview of the FORM Interface
The Main Section
The EFFECTS page lets you further control your output by giving you access to a set of classic
and creative effects. For more detailed information, see section ↑5, The EFFECTS Page.
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Overview of the FORM Interface
The Main Section
The CURVE EDITOR
The CURVE EDITOR displayed in the Main section.
The CURVE EDITOR is called up by clicking the CURVE EDITOR button in the MOTION section in the Footer. It lets you create your own Motion Curves and edit pre-existing ones in full
detail. For more detailed information, see section ↑6.2.2, The CURVE EDITOR.
The CURVE EDITOR button in the MOTION section.
FORM - Manual - 25
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Overview of the FORM Interface
2.3 The Footer
This area contains the SPEED, MOTION, and PERFORM sections as well as the Macro controls. The Footer area is visible at all times, regardless of what parameters you are monitoring
in the Main section. The controls are split into three sections, each controlling a different aspect of the sound.
The Footer
The Footer
(1) SPEED: This section contains controls for playback speed.
(2) MOTION: This section contains controls for the Motion Curves.
(3) PERFORM: This section contains controls for playing and saving variations of the Sound in
twelve Performance slots.
(4) RESET SOUND: Click to reset all of FORM's parameters to default, effectively clearing the
Sound.
(5) Macro controls: The Macro controls can be assigned as modulation sources for any of
FORM’s parameter available for modulation. You can set polarity and select one the available
labels to organize your macros according to their modulation destinations.
(6) MOD AMOUNT: This slider sets the total amount of modulation being sent to all destinations simultaneously.
FORM - Manual - 26
Overview of the FORM Interface
The SPEED Section
The SPEED section lets you decide how fast the Motion Curve is played back and in extension
the loaded sample. You can choose between syncing it to the tempo of your host or repeat the
playback at a given frequency, or at a set speed in relation to the length of your sample. You
can also control the playback position manually, with the modulation system, or via host automation. For more detailed information about the SPEED section, see section ↑6.1, SPEED.
Modulating the speed by e.g. an LFO can add interesting and unexpected textures and
variations to your sound.
The MOTION Section
The MOTION section is where you select your Motion Curve and control its settings, e.g.
whether the playhead should move freely or retrigger. This is also where you call up the
CURVE EDITOR to create and edit your own Motion Curves. To get started with Motion Curves,
you can also use the CURVE PRESETS to load one of the many existing curves. For more detailed information about the MOTION section, see section ↑6.2, MOTION.
The PERFORM Section
The Footer
The PERFORM section in the bottom right corner of the interface lets you save variations of
the Sound to Performance slots and play these back using a control octave on your MIDI keyboard. This effectively means that you can have up to twelve variations of a Sound and play
these back, either one at a time or even simultaneously, depending on the settings for UNISON
and MULTI MODE located in the Header to the far right. For more detailed information about
the PERFORM section, see section ↑6.3, PERFORM.
The Macro Controls
The Macro controls are located at the very bottom of the interface. They can be used as a modulation source to control almost any parameter in FORM’s interface. You can assign each Macro control to as many parameters as you want. For more detailed information about the Macro controls, see section ↑6.4, Macro Controls.
FORM - Manual - 27
Overview of the FORM Interface
The Compact View
2.4 The Compact View
The Compact view is ideal for browsing and playing presets. Its focused interface lets you
change key parameters with the four Macro controls. Each preset comes with its own set of
Macro control assignments, specifically chosen to bring out key aspects of the sound.
To switch to Compact view, right-click in FORM’s Header and select View B from the con-
►
text menu.
FORM is now displayed in Compact view.
→
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Overview of the FORM Interface
The Compact View
Compact view
(1) VOL: The master volume slider lets you click and drag to set the output level.
(2) Waveform display: Displays the waveform of your loaded sample.
(3) Performance slots: Click any slot to switch to it, resetting all parameters to their saved state.
For more information, see ↑6.3, PERFORM.
(4) Perform settings button: Click to show the Perform settings, where you can set up the control
octave for switching between Performance slots from your MIDI keyboard. For more information, see ↑6.3, PERFORM.
(5) Macro 1: This knob controls all parameters assigned to the first Macro control. For more
information, see ↑6.4, Macro Controls.
FORM - Manual - 29
Overview of the FORM Interface
The Compact View
(6) Macro 2: This knob controls all parameters assigned to the second Macro control. For more
information, see ↑6.4, Macro Controls.
(7) Macro 3: This knob controls all parameters assigned to the third Macro control. For more
information, see ↑6.4, Macro Controls.
(8) Macro 4: This knob controls all parameters assigned to the fourth Macro control. For more
information, see ↑6.4, Macro Controls.
(9) Effects switches: Click to enable or disable the individual sections on the EFFECTS page.
WARMTH is only available when FREQ SHAPING is enabled. For more information, see ↑5,
The EFFECTS Page.
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