Waves Audio Element 2.0 Virtual Analog Synth User Guide
WAVES
ELEMENT 2.0
USER GUIDE
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 3
1.1 Welcome ............................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Product Overview ................................................................................................ 3
1.3 Concepts and Terminology .................................................................................. 4
1.4 Components ........................................................................................................ 5
CHAPTER 2 – QUICK START GUIDE ............................................................................ 6
CHAPTER 3 – INTERFACE AND CONTROLS .............................................................. 7
3.1 Interface .............................................................................................................. 7
3.2 Controls ............................................................................................................... 7
3.2.1 Oscillators ............................................................................................................ 8
3.2.2 Additional Oscillators & Mix Section ..................................................................... 9
3.2.3 Voltage-Controlled Filter (VCF) .......................................................................... 11
3.2.4 Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (VCA) .................................................................... 13
3.2.5 Low-Frequency Oscillators (LFOs) .................................................................... 14
3.2.6 Envelope 3 ........................................................................................................ 15
3.2.7 Modulation Matrix .............................................................................................. 16
3.2.8 Arpeggiator/Sequencer ...................................................................................... 17
3.2.9 Effects ............................................................................................................... 18
3.2.10 EQ ..................................................................................................................... 20
3.2.11 Global and Out Sections .................................................................................... 21
CHAPTER 4 – STANDALONE APPLICATION ............................................................ 22
CHAPTER 5 – ELEMENT 1 AND ELEMENT 2 MODES ............................................... 22
5.1 Element 1 Mode ................................................................................................ 23
5.2 Element 2 vs. Element 1 .................................................................................... 24
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CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Welcome
Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of your Waves processor,
please take the time to read through this manual.
In conjunction, we also suggest that you become familiar with www.wavesupport.net.
There you will find an extensive answer base, the latest tech specs, detailed installation
guides, new software updates, and current information on licensing and registration.
By signing up at www.wavesupport.net, you will receive personalized information on
your registered products, reminders when product updates are available, and more.
1.2 Product Overview
Waves Element 2.0 is a subtractive polyphonic virtual analog synthesizer, designed to
provide fat analog sound in the tradition of the classic analog synths, with all the control
and flexibility of modern digital units. Element 2.0’s control panel combines tradition with
intuitive interaction, so you can easily customize existing presets or build custom
patches from the ground up. Special care and attention have been given to the synth’s
sound quality in order to recreate the fatness and depth of its analog ancestors.
Drawing inspiration from the classics, Element 2.0 lets you create seemingly complex
sounds using very simple settings, and then add “bells and whistles” using its built-in
modulators, effects and sequencer/arpeggiator. All Element 2.0 parameters are
accessible via a single page interface, conveniently laid out so you can see the entire
patch at all times. Fully MIDI-controllable, with easy-to-use MIDI Learn for all controls,
Element 2.0 is designed for quick integration with any connected MIDI control device
and can be used either as a plugin within your DAW host, or as a standalone application.
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1.3 Concepts and Terminology
Element 2.0 is powered by Virtual Voltage™ technology, which connects its various
generators, transformation filters, envelopes and modulators. Element 2.0 therefore uses
many of the same concepts used by its hardware forerunners: VCF (Voltage Controlled
Filter), VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier), and so on.
Anyone acquainted with synthesis – especially classic ’80s-style polyphonic subtractive
synthesis – should feel right at home with Element 2.0. You’ll be able to dive right in and
start programming immediately. For novice synthesists, Element 2.0 is an ideal place to
learn the basics of synthesis theory. The learning curve will pay off when encountering
other synthesizers, whether software or hardware, analog or digital.
All users can partake in the instant gratification of Element 2.0’s vast selection of factory
presets. Element 2.0’s team of experienced preset developers created hundreds of
presets, sorted by category, so you can quickly find just the sound you need: leads,
pads, basses, sound effects, sequences, gated rhythmic lines and motions. Or simply
browse until something catches your ear – or imagination.
Whether in the studio or live on stage, many musicians like to control synthesizer
parameters in real time for enhanced creativity and expression. Element 2.0 supports
the basic automation features of plugin hosting technologies like VST, but it also
supports MIDI Learn. Assigning an Element 2.0 control to a knob on your MIDI controller
is as easy as right click > Learn, knob turn, done!
Analog modeling and sound quality do come at a price. Element 2.0 can be rather CPU-
hungry compared to other software synthesizers. During the days of analog hardware,
less expensive oscillators were often considered “dirty,” while accurate oscillators cost
more than was practical for music making. Ironically, in today’s digital world, creating a
pristine oscillator is comparatively easy; it’s the “dirtiness” that takes more CPU
calculations to recreate.
To conserve CPU power, Element 2.0 lets you select the maximum number of
simultaneous voices.
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1.4 Components
Element 2.0 has one component: Element 2.0 Stereo
Element 2.0 is a virtual instrument plugin and will appear under the related selection
menus for virtual instruments under all supported DAW host applications.
Waves Element 2.0 also works as a standalone application, using ASIO (Windows) or
Core Audio (Mac) drivers to play through your audio device of choice. Element 2.0
receives MIDI data to trigger notes and control changes.
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CHAPTER 2 – QUICK START GUIDE
1. Open Element 2.0 on an instrument track in your DAW of choice, or launch the
Element 2.0 standalone application.
2. Select a preset from Element 2.0s factory presets.
3. Play!
Use the next/previous preset arrow controls on the toolbar to scroll through
presets. If you’re looking for a certain type of sound, click the load button to reveal the
factory presets, sorted by category.
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CHAPTER 3 – INTERFACE AND CONTROLS
3.1 Interface
3.2 Controls
The Element 2.0 interface is arranged into four sections grouped according to function,
each highlighted in a different color:
Voice generation and subtractive elements (blue)
Modulation sources and patches (purple)
Effects, EQ, global and output sections (green)
Arpeggiator/sequencer (red)
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3.2.1 OSCILLATORS
Element 2.0 has two modeled analog oscillators which are labeled OSC 1 and OSC 2.
OCT determines the pitch range.
Options: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 (from highest to lowest pitch)
TUNE determines the pitch.
Range: -12 to +12 semitones
FINE fine-tunes the pitch.
Range: -100 to +100 cents
TYPE determines the waveform type.
Options: Sine, Saw, Triangle, Pulse
PW determines the pulse width. (Pulse waves only.)
Range: 0–99
VCO selects between virtual Voltage-Controlled Oscillation (VCO) and virtual Digitally
Controlled Oscillation (DCO). VCO starts the oscillation at a random phase and jitters
the pitch within a contained range; DCO starts the oscillation when triggered by a note
and is more consistent.
Options: VCO, DCO
Waves Element 2.0 User Guide
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