Tone2 Icarus User Manual
Icarus
Legal notice & Contact
The license included with this product is a single user license for an installation on a single
computer. Please contact our support team if you need additional licenses. This product is
copy protected and uses audio watermarks.
Please note that Tone2 will deactivate licenses of users who share our software without
permission. Violators will be excluded from customer resources, services and updates.
Under the DMCA, copying and sharing copyrighted materials without a license is illegal,
violations to copyright law may carry heavy civil and criminal penalties.
If you have any difficulties installing or using Icarus, please contact us by visiting our website
and clicking the Support button.
Tone2 website http://www.tone2.com
Tone2 forum http://www.tone2.org/forum/index.php
Support support@tone2.com
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Credits
Development: Markus Krause
Programming & Graphics: Markus Krause
Manual: Bastiaan van Noord, Markus Krause, Max Darga (German manual)
Thanks go to: Anna Krause, family and friends, all sounddesigners & beta testers, and of
course to all Tone2 customers for their continued support.
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Table of contents
Legal Notice & Contact..........................................................................................................2
Credits....................................................................................................................................2
Table of contents....................................................................................................................3
Installation & authorization procedure
Automatic installation for Mac & PC................................................................................4
Manual installation for PC...............................................................................................5
Manual installation for Mac.............................................................................................5
Welcome to Icarus ….............................................................................................................6
The Icarus User Interface …................................................................................................10
Top menu..............................................................................................................11
Patch display........................................................................................................12
Sound section......................................................................................................13
Oscillator section..................................................................................................................19
The Wavetable Editor...........................................................................................19
Oscillator top menu..............................................................................................32
Waveform display.................................................................................................39
Play Modes menu................................................................................................39
Morph Modes menu.............................................................................................42
Oscillator controls................................................................................................52
Filter section.........................................................................................................................54
Filter top menu.....................................................................................................55
Filter general controls..........................................................................................56
Filter display.........................................................................................................57
Envelope section..................................................................................................................60
LFO section..........................................................................................................................62
StepLFO...............................................................................................................................63
Arpeggiator...........................................................................................................................65
Top menu.............................................................................................................65
Bottom menu.......................................................................................................66
The Pattern sequencer........................................................................................67
Modulation Matrix................................................................................................................70
The Setup section...............................................................................................................78
Effects..................................................................................................................................82
EQ – Limiter.........................................................................................................................88
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Installation & Authorization procedure
Together with the download link from Share-it you have received attached to the product
delivery email a keyfile called 'Icarus.t2k'.
This file contains your personal serial number & your name and is used to unlock the full
version.
Automatic Installation (recommended) for PC & Mac
1. Close your host (Logic, Live, Cubase, etc.)
2. Install the full version of the plugin.
3. Open your host program
4. Do a plugin rescan in the host if it does not list Icarus. Detailed instructions on how to
perform a rescan can be found in your host's manual
5. Open Icarus
6. Click on the “I bought the full version.....” box on the bottom right part of the screen.
7. Click on the “Click here to activate now...”
8. Browse-to & select your keyfile 'Icarus.t2k' to activate the full version
9. Restart the plugin. Note that some host programs may require a complete restart
Click on the “I bought the full version...”screen to browse-to & select your Icarus.t2k keyfile
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Manual installation for PC
1. Close your host (Logic, Live, Cubase, etc.)
2. Install the full version of the plugin.
3. Copy 'Icarus.t2k' to the VST directory. Steinberg hosts often use C:\Program
files\Steinberg\VSTplugins as the default plugin path. You can also take a look at your
host's folder configuration. Note that the 'Icarus .t2k' keyfile should be inside the same
folder that the Icarus.dll is in.
4. Open your host program.
5. Do a plugin rescan in the host if it does not list Icarus. Detailed instructions on how to
perform a rescan are found in your host's manual.
6. Open Icarus. Now the normal user interface appears. If this is not the case, close your
host and go back to step 3, as most likely you did not copy the keyfile to the right
place.
Manual installation for Mac
1. Close your host (Logic, Digital Performer, Live, Cubase, etc.)
2. Install the full version of the plugin.
3. Copy 'Icarus.t2k' to 'Library/Audio/Plug-ins'. The correct path for the file is:
'/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Icarus.t2k'.
4. Open the host.
5. Do a plugin rescan in the host if it does not list Icarus. Detailed instructions on how to
perform a rescan can be found in your host's manual
6. Open Icarus. Now the normal user interface appears. If this is not the case, close your
host and go back to step 3, as most likely you did not copy the keyfile to the right
place.
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Welcome to Icarus
Icarus is a wavetable synthesizer, equipped with a high-end quality sound engine. An engine
that is flexible as well as offer an enormous number of features, yet remains easy and intuitive
to work with.
We call Icarus a '3D wavetable synthesizer', because we expanded the wavetable concept,
allowing you to cross-blend waveforms, with an additional dimension for morphing.
Next to its wavetable capabilities it also offers resynthesis, true stereo architecture, hypersaw
oscillators, a wavetable editor, modular effects, a vocoder, dual filter section, programmable
arpeggiator and a comfortable patch browser. Which is why Icarus is one of the most
powerful synthesizers on the market.
Resynthesis
Working with conventional resynthesis methods you need a deep knowledge of sample
editing to achieve good results, doing consuming pre-processing with a sample editor as well
as require precisely tuned samples.
We have taken care of these problems and developed completely new algorithms. Icarus'
resynthesis works on nearly any kind of audio material, is very easy to use and provides you
with high quality results.
Simply click on the button - select a wav file - wait for some seconds and Icarus will
automatically create a patch, which sounds very similar to the original sound. Optionally you
can use the morph modes or the wavetable editor to further shape your sound.
Effects
Tone2 Icarus comes with a flexible effects section. Three Modular slots, each with 53 different
effect types. You can create your own custom effects, which can be saved & loaded
separately. The flexible routing allows you to route single oscillators to different effects.
The innovative ducking mode can change the dry/wet mix of delays and reverbs dynamically,
resulting in a more transparent mix. The additional feedback section allows you to route the
output back to the input, this way you can create completely new effects, like a delayedphaser or a feedbacked vibrato. An additional EQ and a limiter is provided to make your
sound sit right in the mix. We developed innovative microtuning algorithms, which make
chords sound more fat, harmonic and warm.
Oscillators
Icarus is a '3D wavetable synthesizer', we expanded the wavetable concept, allowing you to
cross-blend waveforms, with an additional dimension for morphing. You can use any of the 54
different 'morphmodes' to further shape the sound of your wavetables: Waveshaping, timestretching, pitch- shifting, granulizing, stacking, PWM, formant shifting, BPM syncing, phase
distortion, reversing, ringmodulation, sync, rearranging, FM, spectral editing, looping,
denoising, mixing,... - literally anything is possible.
Icarus offers three oscillator blocks with stereo architecture. Each oscillator block itself again
can contain up to 10 detuned hypersaw oscillators.
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We've expanded the popular hypersaw concept with a stereo architecture, precise phase
control, punch and the ability to make single oscillators play chords.
37 different modes are available, including, hypersaw, supersaw, stereo hypersaw, unison,
stacking, chords and flanging.
The hypersaw modes can be combined with any kind of wavetable and morph mode.
Filters
Tone2 Icarus comes with a powerful, modular filter section. Two blocks, each equipped with
true stereo architecture and a multi-mode filter.
Over 60 different sounding filter types are available: Vocal, fractal, analog, digital, resonator,
EQ, ring modulation, amplitude modulation, FM, phaser, comb, physical modeling, multimode, resampling, … All filters offer the highest possible sound quality, many of them
exclusive to Icarus.
The animated display offers an immediate visual overview of the filter's frequency response,
making it easy to understand and tweak the filters.
Flexible routing allows you to route every oscillator individually to filter1, filter2 or bypass.
Additionally, two distortion sections, each with 9 different modes allow you to further shape
the sound.
Vocoder
Icarus contains a high-end quality vocoder module with 1024 bands. It's very easy to use:
Simply click on 'Vocoder' and select a wav file containing speech, Icarus will analyze this file
and automatically create a patch.
Optionally, apply one of the morph modes to further shape your sound. Playing the sound
forwards, backwards, formant shifting, time-stretching and looping is also possible.
The vocoder sound is automatically stored within your patches and songs, you won't have to
worry about managing these additional files on your hard disc.
Arpeggiator
Almost a synth by itself, the arpeggiator section holds the key to all of your arpeggio needs. It
provides you with the tools to set up & use your own arpeggios, in a way that is both powerful
and easy.
Working with the arpeggiator is very simple, just lay down your notes inside the note
sequencer and select the play direction. The arpeggiator also supports advanced features
such as chords, glides, swing & shuffle, split, matrix integration, as well as giving you very
precise control over note-sorting, play direction and velocity.
Don’t feel like programming your own patterns? Use one of the built-in patterns or load one of
the many external pattern presets to use as a starting point.
Working with an arpeggiator should be fun and inspiring, the arpeggiator in Icarus is as fun
and inspiring as it is powerful, flexible and easy to use.
Sounds
With a powerful and sonically versatile approach to audio production, Icarus provides you with
truly outstanding new sounds.
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Icarus comes with an astounding sound collection of over 1000 production-ready sounds
designed by professional sound designers. A comfortable patch browser is provided to give
you an instant overview of the available categories and sounds, together with an on-screen
keyboard to audition them from within the patch browser. Picking the sound you want is as
easy as it can be. Icarus is ready for any type of music you play!
Interface
The user-friendly interface makes tweaking accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level or
experience. All controls provide you with visual feedback, making it easy to understand and
tweak the synthesizer. The animated displays and tool tips instantly visualize what the filters,
the LFOs, the envelopes and the oscillators are doing.
Over 40 different color schemes are available for the interface. With several instances of the
synthesizer loaded at the same time, it's even possible to show single instances with different
colors. Helping you to keep an overview when working on a complex project with many
instances of Icarus.
Wavetable editor
You can use the built-in wavetable editor to create your own wavetables or to edit one of the
many stock wavetables that ship with Icarus.
Using only a mouseclick, a smart wavetable generator allows you to generate an infinite
number of completely new and musically useful wavetables. Or even use the mouse to paint
your own waveforms.
The spectral editor turns Icarus into an additive synthesizer, giving you detailed control over
the partials and phase.
It is possible to drag & drop waveforms or wavetables into the editor or oscillators.
The wavetables are stored within your patches and songs, so you don't have to worry about
managing any additional files on your hard disc.
Many common wavetable & waveform formats are supported and it is possible to import and
export wavetables from-and-to other synthesizers.
A large, professional set of tools are available, giving you a comfortable and efficient way to
edit waveforms and wavetables. This includes basic features like, cutting, mixing and filtering,
as well as advanced tools like, denoising, enhancing, resynthesis, vocoder, spectral
modification and phase manipulation.
Icarus' flexible, compact and open file format allows sound designers & artists to easily create
their own soundsets, waveforms and wavetables.
Modulation
Modulation is where the true power of a synthesizer emerges. By using the modulation matrix,
Icarus allows you to connect dozens of modulation sources to all-important sound
parameters.
Want to use an LFO to wobble your filter? Simply set the proper assignments inside of the
modulation matrix and you're on your way.
Modulate almost any parameter well up into the audio-rate speed, from internal modulation
sources like the LFOs, to a wide variety of MIDI messages. We've also included midi-learn, so
assigning CC's is as simple as a right-click and a knob-turn.
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Modulation can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Icarus’ modulation system is
there to provide whichever modulation routing you require to create your perfect sound.
CPU
CPU load is always an important factor to consider, especially in light of today's complicated
multi-track projects. We made sure that Icarus is as easy on your CPU as possible. Icarus
offers a rich, deep sound, the very best sound quality, AND low CPU usage. What is the
advantage of good sound quality if it consistently brings your system to a halt with a mere
single instance of the synth?
The low CPU requirement ensures that you can easily use multiple instances of the synth
without overloading your project and without the need to render tracks right in the middle of a
creative session.
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The Icarus User Interface
The Icarus user interface is designed to make patch designing and editing intuitive and fun.
All the sound editing parameters are kept on a single page so that you can see the signal flow
without getting lost in multiple tabs and pages.
The UI (User Interface) is larger than most software synthesizers but once your patch is built
you can switch off the EDITOR view (click the EDITOR button above the Patch Browser
section) leaving just the Rack GUI which saves considerable screen real-estate.
Parameter changes are always displayed in the bottom section of the PATCH BROWSER
display, values are displayed as soon as the mouse pointer is hovered over one of Icarus'
controls.
The Rack View shows just the patch / file management and basic sound editing functions of
Icarus – if you’re just loading a patch, or browsing for inspiration, this is all you’ll ever need.
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Top menu
• File button – This menu offers patch Load and Save, as well as Initialization &
Optimize patch options. The menu options are:
◦ Load patch – Loads a patch from disk
◦ Save patch as – Opens a file dialog to save the current patch to file
◦ Quick save patch – The preset file inside the current category (within
icarus_sounds) is overwritten.
◦ Download sounds – This takes you to Tone2's website where you can buy
additional sound banks to be used with Icarus.
◦ Init patch – This option initializes all of the synth's settings to their default values.
◦ Random patch – This option randomizes all synth settings.
◦ Optimize patch – This removes unused wavetables and modulation matrix slots to
enhance performance and save hard disk space.
◦ Reset Midi-learn – Select this option to remove / reset all previously learned midi
CC assignments.
• Editor button – This button switches Icarus' interface to either Rack or Editor mode.
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Patch Display
There are four arrow shaped buttons inside the PATCH BROWSER display window, these
buttons allow you to navigate / switch to different patches or patch categories.
• Arrow Up (next to the Patch name) – loads the previous patch in the current patch
category
• Arrow Down (next tot the Patch name) – loads the next patch in the current category
• Arrow Up (next to the Category name) – loads the previous patch in the current patch
category
• Arrow Down (next tot the Category name) – loads the next patch in the current
category
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Sound Section
• Browser button
Icarus comes with a comfortable patch browser that allows you to see all patches and patch
categories in one window. This gives you an quick overview of all patches available,
together with an on-screen keyboard to play your sounds using a mouse.
The Patch Browser is split up into 3 sections:
◦ Type: Displays the current patch category / type of patch.
◦ Patch: Displays the list of patches available in the currently selected category.
◦ Info: The Info window displays all information on the selected patch, e.g. used
playmode, synthesis type, etc..
To exit the Patch Browser, click on the Exit button (bottom left of the screen)
Patch Organization
Icarus banks and presets can be organized with your standard file browser. In the
'Tone2/Icarus_sounds' folder you'll find the different banks as seen in Icarus' Both
the folders and the .fxp patch files contained inside can organized / renamed and the
changes will be displayed the next time you start Icarus.
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• Resynthesis button
Icarus comes with a powerful resynthesis feature. Resynthesis means that a sound of your
choice is analyzed and reassembled within the synthesizer. Unlike conventional sampling,
where the sample is just a simple copy of the original sound, the resynthesized sound is a
completely new, but similar sounding patch, which is rebuilt from the scratch.
With resynthesis there are many things possible, which are impossible with conventional
samples or which can not properly done with them:
- Variable Pitch shifting
- Variable time stretching
- BPM syncing
- Time freezing
- Forward and backward playback with variable speed
- Formant shifting (eliminates the 'Mickey Mouse' effect on vocals)
- Morphing
There are many synthesizers out there, which are advertized to be capable of 'resynthesis'.
However the results that these products give are mostly poor: They produce heavy rumble
and artifacts when a sample isn't tuned exactly, they fail with chords, they fail with voices, they
fail with many natural sounds, they fail with pitch slides and they are difficult to use. We have
taken care of these problems.
How to resynthesize a sample
Click on RESYNTHESIS and select 'Easy create patch: Resynthesis'. Select a short wav
sample of your choice...
Tips for the best results:
- Use single sounds, avoid melodies.
- Try to avoid samples with other instruments or percussion in the background.
- Recordings from monophonic sounds give better results than chords.
- The sound quality of the processed wav file should high.
- Use 16 bit mono files with less than 2 seconds length.
- If you use very large files the processing time will be also very long.
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...wait for some seconds. The synth now created a new patch. OSC1 contains a wavetable
which contains waveforms that have been resynthesized from your wav file. Lfo1 now controls
the WAVE position of this wavetable.
When you change the SPEED knob of Lfo1 you can change the playback speed of the sound.
When you change the octave with the OCT knob, you can change the pitch of the sound.
Please note that a change of the SPEED does not affect the pitch, like with conventional
samples. You can pitchshift and timestrech a resynthesized samples without quality loss. It's
even possible to BPM sync loops or to play samples forward and backward by changing the
Lfo1 SHAPE.
TIP: Apply a Morph Mode to change the sound.
TIP: Combine the Vocoder and Formant Morph Modes for formant shifting on vocals.
TIP: You can resynthesize wavetables without automatically creating a new patch in the TOOL
menu of the oscillators.
The following resynthesis options are available:
◦ Easy create patch: Resynthesis - Is the default mode which gives the best results
with most sounds. You should use this one.
◦ Easy create patch: Additive Resynthesis - Works like the previous one, but
removes all phase information and detuning from the sample. As a result you get
the cold sound known from additive synthesizers.
TIP: Later you can use the spectral editor to change the partials and to turn Icarus
into a complete additive synthesizer!
◦ Easy create patch: Resynthesis for noisy sounds - Works like the normal
resynthesis, but sometimes gives better results with very noisy sounds like flutes.
◦ Easy create patch: Granulator - Creates a patch which uses granular synthesis.
In granular synthesis a sample is divided into small 'grains' with a window function.
Use the OCT knob to control the density of the grains. Use the MORPH knob the
change the pitch of the grains. Change the Lfo1 SHAPE to a triangle for a forward
and backward playback. Change Lfo1 SPEED for a faster or slower playback of the
sound. When you set SPEED to 0 you can timefreeze the sample. You can use the
WAVE knob to move within the sound.
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◦ Easy create patch: Time stretch large / medium / small blocks - Loads a
sample and timestreches or pitchshifts it. 'Medium blocks' is the default mode.
'Large blocks' produces less artifacts, but has a less precise timing. 'Small blocks'
has a precise timing, but more artifacts.
Change the Lfo1 SHAPE to a triangle for a forward and backward playback.
Change Lfo1 SPEED for a faster or slower playback of the sound. When you set
SPEED to 0 you can timefreeze the sample. You can use the WAVE knob to
change the start offset of the sound. The pitchwheel changes the pitch of the
sample without affecting the playback speed.
• Vocoder button
The vocoder module of Icarus offers the highest possible sound quality: It has over 500 bands
and ultra fast envelopes.
Click on the VOCODER button, select 'Easy create patch: Vocoder Poly' and select a vocal
sample or a drumline in wav format. A complete vocoder patch is created instantly. Use the
Lfo1 SPEED knob to change the playback speed of the vocoder. Use the MORPH knob to
shift the formants up and down.
TIP: Apply 'OSC->TOOL->Modify Wavetable: Maximize Volume' for one or several times to
boost the volume.
The following Vocoder options are available:
◦ Easy create patch: Vocoder Poly Classic - A classic vocoder sound with a
sawtooth as carrier wave. A good choice if you want to play chords.
◦ Easy create patch: Vocoder Poly Robo Stack - The 90s robotic vocoder sound
known from many old Freestyle recodings. It uses two stacked sawtooths as carrier
wave.
◦ Easy create patch: Vocoder Poly Breathy - A unique, breathy sounding vocoder
which is only available in Tone2 Icarus. A good choice if you want to play chords.
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◦ Easy create patch: Vocoder Poly Hollow - A vocoder with a squarewave as
carrier. It has a hollow sound.
◦ Easy create patch: Vocoder Poly Noise - A vocoder with a noise as carrier. It
sounds like whispering.
◦ Easy create patch: Speech Synthesis Solo Singer - Creates a monophonic
patch which sounds like the famous 'Cher' record 'Do you believe'.The 'Cher effect'
means that singing phrase is overprocessed with an autotune processor to achieve
an artificial sound. Use the GLIDE knob to control the speed of the legato. Use the
MORPH knob to shift the formants up and down.
TIP: Play legatos (2 keys are pressed, one is released).
TIP: You can make it sound even more artificial if you apply 'OSC->Tool->Modify
Wavetable: Enhance Spectrum'
What is a vocoder?
Simply put, a vocoder puts the ‘characteristics’ of one sound onto another. Originally
designed in the 1930s as a method of encoding a person’s voice for secure
communication over a telephone network, it found a home in modern music during the
1970’s.
A more detailed explanation goes like this. A vocoder needs two inputs, a carrier and a
modulator. The tonal characteristics of the modulator are impressed onto the sound of the
carrier. The modulator is usually a voice, drum loop or other percussive sound. This sound is
passed through many parallel filters to create a ‘signature’ of the modulator from the
frequency content and volume of the frequency components. This multi-frequency, time-varied
‘signature’ is then used to filter the carrier which is usually a frequency rich sustained sound
(like chords played using a sawtooth wave). If you use a voice as the modulator the output
sounds like the sawtooth wave modulated by the filter created by the voice
• Shop button – The Shop button will take you to Tone2's sound shop, where you can
purchase new soundsets or expansions for Icarus.
• Help button – Opens Icarus' PDF manual
The Sound section also holds several master controls that shape the overall sound of the
current patch.
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• Modwheel– This Modwheel control transmits MIDI Continuous Controller 1 messages
(modulation wheel) when modified. Controlling this knob with your mouse does the
same job as moving the modulation wheel on your keyboard controller. The Modwheel
knob also acts as a visual indicator for your modulation wheel. By default, MIDI
Continuous Controller 1 is used to change, or 'morph' between one timbre and another.
• Pitchwheel – The pitchwheel controls the amount of pitch bend (portamento) applied
to your sound.
• Volume – The Volume knob provides a master volume control for Icarus.
• Vel – The Vel knob controls the amount of keyboard velocity applied to the volume.
• Glide – The glide knob controls the oscillators' glide speed, gliding occurs if you set the
glide knob to a value larger than 0. Several glide modes are available and can be
setup using Icarus' Setup menu.
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The Oscillator Section
Icarus’ oscillators generate tones through a multiple of different methods which can later be
shaped by the filters and effects processors. Each of the three available oscillators offer
several synthesis methods along with different play modes, wavetables & wave modifiers.
The oscillator section holds a lot of controls so an explanation will be given for each section:
Oscillator top menu
• Editor – The editor button opens the Wavetable editor, which can be used to further
manipulate & shape your wave.
The Wavetable Editor
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The Wavetable editor offers a wide range of tools and options to edit your wavetable using
waveform, spectrum and phase editors. With the help of these tools you can further shape
your wavetable or single wave any way you want to.
The Wavetable editor screen is split into several sections, which we'll describe in more detail
below.
Wavetable Strip Display
The Wavetable Strip display provides you with an easy overview of your wavetable, displaying
all of the wavetable's slots. An Icarus wavetable contains all waveforms in series and consists
of 1 to 256 waveforms.
Select a single waveform by clicking inside the wavetable strip. The currently selected and
displayed waveform is blue. You can also select a block of several waveforms if you click on
the wavetable strip and move your mouse, the selected waveforms are blue or red, the
currently displayed waveform is blue.
To add a new slot click on the plus sign at the end of the wavetable. The magnifier icons
found on the top right allow you to zoom in or out of your wavetable.
Just below the wavetable strip, two preview keyboards are provided to listen to either the
complete wavetable or currently selected wavetable slot, the left keyboard is used to play the
wavetable, whereas the right keyboard will only play back the selected slot.
A speed control (found in the middle of these keyboards) is provided to set the wavetable's
playback speed.
Drag & Drop
You can drag & drop a wav file which contains a wavetable, waveform (a wave with a single
cycle waveform - 2048 samples length or less) or audio data to a slot of the wavetable strip.
Icarus will load the waveform to that specific slot.
You can also drag & drop several wave files which contain single cycle waveforms (2048
samples length or less) to a slot of the wavetable strip. Icarus will replace all slots, followed
by this slot with the new waveforms.
You can INIT a new wavetable (Create Wavetable: Saw Square Sine) and then drag & drop
several waveforms to the first slot to create a custom wavetable.
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Drag & Drop on waveform display
If you drag & drop a waveform to the large blue waveform display, Icarus will load the
waveform to the currently displayed wavetable slot.
You can also drag&drop several wave files which contain single cycle waveforms (2048
samples length or less) to the waveform display. Icarus will replace all slots, which are
following the currently displayed waveform, with the files.
Wavetable Tool & Options section
The Tool / Options section gives you access to all
wavetable edit, file and initialization functions. Use
the tool section to create & edit your own wavetable
or import a wavetable from disc.
The following tools & options are offered:
• File – The file menu contains all wavetable / wave
load and save options.
◦ Load Wavetable (N*2048 samples, Icarus,
Serum, Falcon) – Loads a wavetable in the
Icarus wav format (N*2048 samples)
It also works with wavetables from synths like
Serum or Falcon.
◦ Load Waveform to selection – Loads a
waveform to the selected wavetable slot.
◦ Save Wavetable – Saves the wavetable to disc.
Icarus wavetables are compatible with many
other synthesizers and audio editors from other
companies.
An Icarus wavetable is in the common wav file format (16 bit mono) and contains all
waveforms in series. A wavetable can consist of 1 to 256 waveforms. Each singlecycle waveform is exactly 2048 samples long.
A wav file containing a wavetable with 3 waveforms has a length of 3 x 2048
samples.
◦ Save Waveform – Saves the currently selected waveform to disc.
◦ Import Wavetable – Imports a wavetable.
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• Init – The Init menu contains several initialization options.
◦ Create Wavetable: Saw Square Sine – Creates a three slot Wavetable that
contains a Saw, Square and Sine wave.
◦ Create Wavetable: PWM – Creates a Wavetable using PulseWidth Modulated
waves.
◦ Create Wavetable: Random – Creates a randomized Wavetable.
◦ Init Selection: Saw – Initialises the currently selected Wavetable slot to a Saw
wave.
◦ Init Selection: Square – Initializes the currently selected Wavetable slot to a
Square wave.
◦ Init Selection: Sine – Initializes the currently selected Wavetable slot to a Sine
wave.
◦ Init Selection: Triangle – Initializes the currently selected Wavetable slot to a
Triangle wave.
◦ Init Selection: White Noise – Initializes the currently selected Wavetable slot to a
White Noise wave.
◦ Init Selection: Pink Noise – Initializes the currently selected Wavetable slot to a
Pink Noise wave.
◦ Init Selection: Random Phase – Randomizes the Phase values for the currently
selected Wavetable slot.
◦ Init Selection: Random Spectrum – Randomizes the Spectral values for the
currently selected Wavetable slot.
◦ Init Selection: Random Harmonic – Randomizes the Harmonic values for the
currently selected Wavetable slot.
◦ Init Selection: Silence – Insert Silence into the currently selected Wavetable slot.
◦ Rename to MyWavetable – Rename the current wavetable name to MyWavetable.
TIP: Save a wavetable with the file name of your choice and reload it to get a name
of your choice.
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• Undo / Redo – Use the Undo / Redo button to compare and undo changes that you
made within the editor.
• Copy – Copy the currently selected Wavetable slot.
• Paste – Paste your copied slot to the currently selected Wavetable slot.
• Cut – Cuts the currently selected Wavetable slot (note that you can still paste the cut
out slot back into a new slot)
• Trim – Trims the Wavetable back to include only the selected waves. (if needed use
the undo button to undo this)
• Sweep – The waveform currently selected by the blue box is picked and a morphing
wavetable with many waveforms is created, replacing the old wavetable. You can find a
detailed description of the different morph modes in the 'morph Modes menu' section of
this handbook. The first slot of the sweep sounds like the MORPH knob set to 0, the
last slot sounds like the MORPH knob set to 100.
TIP: You can undo your changes with 'OSC->Tool->Undo/Redo Wavetable edit'.
TIP: You can use this feature to create smooth filter sweeps and soft transitions for Morph
modes which are 'steppy' like 'Bandpass 1oct'.
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• Mix – The mix menu offers several mix functions, combined with a slider control to
determine how much of the function is applied. Mouse-click on the Mix button to open
the Mix menu and use the slider control to set the amount.
◦ Mix with copy – Mix the copied data with the
selection (use the Copy button to first copy your
data)
◦ Insert copy – Insert the copied data at the current
selection point.
◦ Crossfade selection – Crossfades the selected
data.
◦ Reverse selection – Reverses the selected data.
◦ Normalize volume – Normalizes the selected
data's volume.
◦ Maximize volume – Applies a maximize process
so waveforms with low volume are boosted
◦ Change volume to value – Changes the volume
(Use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ Stack Octave+ by value – Stacks an oscillator with another oscillator, one octave
higher. (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ Stack Octave- by value – Stacks an oscillator with another oscillator, octave
higher and with 180 degree phase shifted. (Use the value slider control to set the
amount)
◦ Stack Harmonic+ by value – Stacks an oscillator with another oscillator, two,
three, four, five, six, seven or eight times higher. (Use the value slider control to set
the amount)
◦ Stack Harmonic- by value – Stacks a 180 degree phase shifted oscillator with
another oscillator, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight times higher. (Use the
value slider control to set the amount) This mode has a more hollow sound than
'Stack Harmonic+'
◦ Stack Power by value – Stacks several oscillators, two, three and four times
higher. (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
TIP: Use this mode together with sinoid waveforms to build organs.
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◦ Chord 2x by value – Two stacked oscillators play a chord. (Use the value slider
control to set the amount)
◦ Chord 3x by value –Three stacked oscillators play a chord. (Use the value slider
control to set the amount)
◦ PW by value – Applies Pulse-width Modulation. (Use the value slider control to set
the amount)
◦ Comb 2x by value – Applies a comb filter with 2 stages. (Use the value slider
control to set the amount)
◦ Comb 3x by value – Applies a comb filter with 3 stages. (Use the value slider
control to set the amount)
◦ Half size - Cuts the selection into half.
• Filter – The Filter menu offers several filter functions, combined with a slider control to
determine how much of the function is applied. Mouse-click on the Filter button to open
the Filter menu and use the slider control to set the amount.
◦ Tone warmer by value – Reduces the volume of
high harmonics, making the selection sound
warmer (Use the value slider control to set the
amount)
◦ Tone brighter by value – Boosts the volume of
high harmonics, making the selection sound
brighter (Use the value slider control to set the
amount)
◦ Denoise by value – Applies a Denoise process to
the selection where noise is removed from the
wavetable (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ Lowpass by value – Applies a Lowpass filter to the selection (Use the value slider
control to set the amount)
◦ Highpass by value – Applies a Highpass filter to the selection (Use the value slider
control to set the amount)
◦ Bandpass 1oct by value – Applies a steppy spectral one octave bandwidth filter to
the selection (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
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◦ Bandpass 2oct by value – Applies a steppy spectral two octave bandwidth filter to
the selection (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ Bandstop 1oct by value – Applies a steppy spectral one octave bandstop filter to
the selection (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ Bandstop 2oct by value – Applies a steppy spectral two octave bandstop filter to
the selection (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
• Modify – The Modify menu offers several modifier functions, combined with a slider
control to determine how much of the function is applied. Mouse-click on the Modify
button to open the Modify menu and use the slider control to set the amount.
◦ Saturate by value – Saturation is applied to the
selected wave(s) (Use the value slider control to set
the amount)
◦ Bitcrush by value – A bitcrush process is applied to
the selected wave(s) (Use the value slider control to
set the amount)
the amount)
◦ Downsample by value – The selected wave(s) are
downsampled (Use the value slider control to set the
amount)
◦ Add Noise by value – Noise is applied to the selected
wave(s) (Use the value slider control to set the
amount)
◦ Ringmod by value – Ringmodulation is applied to the
selected wave(s) (Use the value slider control to set
the amount)
◦ AM by value – Amplitude Modulation is applied to the
selected wave(s) (Use the value slider control to set
the amount)
◦ Sync Square by value – Applies hard sync to the
selected wave(s) Useful for synced sounds and sharp
sounding sweeps. (Use the value slider control to set
◦ Sync Saw by value – Applies hard sync to the selected wave(s) Useful for speech
synthesis, synced sounds and sweeps. (Use the value slider control to set the
amount)
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◦ Waveshape by value – Waveshaping is applied to the selected wave(s) (Use the
value slider control to set the amount)
◦ FM Sine by value – The selected wave(s) are FM modulated with a sine wave
oscillator. (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ FM Sine 2x by value – The selected wave(s) are FM modulated with a sine wave
oscillator at double frequency. Which provides a hollow sound. (Use the value slider
control to set the amount)
◦ FM Sine 3x by value – The selected wave(s) are FM modulated with a sine wave
oscillator at triple frequency. Which provides a bell like sound. (use the value slider
control to set the amount)
◦ FM Square by value – The selected wave(s) are FM modulated with a square
wave oscillator. (use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ FM Saw by value – The selected wave(s) are FM modulated with a saw wave
oscillator. (use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ Harmonic by value – Applies a partial morph with smooth transitions. (use the
value slider control to set the amount)
◦ Hollow1-3 by value – Applies a partial morph with smooth transitions and hollow
sound. (use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ Hollow Double by value – Applies a partial morph at double frequency, with
smooth transitions and hollow sound. (use the value slider control to set the
amount)
◦ PhaseDist PW by value – Applies Phase Distortion with pulsewidth control to the
selected wave(s) (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ PhaseDist Saw by value – Applies Phase Distortion to the selected wave(s)
Morphing a sine wave to a sawtooth. (Use the value slider control to set the
amount)
◦ PhaseDist Square by value – Applies Phase Distortion to the selected wave(s)
Morphing a sine wave to a square. (Use the value slider control to set the amount)
◦ PhaseDist Double by value – Applies Phase Distortion to the selected wave(s)
Morphing the wave to a wave with double frequency. (Use the value slider control to
set the amount)
◦ Mirror by value – Mirrors the waveform(s) in the middle. (Use the value slider
control to set the amount)
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