Native Instruments Absynth 5 User 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
[e-mail]
www.native-instruments.de
USA
Native Instruments North America, Inc.
5631 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
USA
[e-mail]
www.native-instruments.com
© Native Instruments GmbH, 2009. All rights reserved.

ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – IV
Table Of Content
1 WelcometoABSYNTH5!................................................................................................. 12
1.1 WhatisABSYNTH?................................................................................................ 12
1.2 What’sNewinABSYNTH5?................................................................................... 13
1.3 TheABSYNTH5Documentation.............................................................................14
1.3.1 In this Manual ................................................................................ 14
1.3.2 Other Documentation ...................................................................... 14
1.3.3 Formatting Conventions ....................................................................15
2 ControlElementsandAreas............................................................................................. 16
2.1 Windows,Pages,Panels,andTabs........................................................................ 16
2.2 ButtonsandSwitches............................................................................................ 17
2.3 MenusandSelectors............................................................................................. 17
2.4 ValueFields.......................................................................................................... 18
2.5 SlidersandKnobs................................................................................................. 19
3 ApplicationMenuBar......................................................................................................20
3.1 FileMenu.............................................................................................................20
3.2 EditMenu.............................................................................................................22
3.3 HelpMenu............................................................................................................22
3.4 OptionsDialog.......................................................................................................23
3.4.1 General Page .................................................................................. 23
3.4.2 Surround Page................................................................................ 24
3.4.3 Browser Page ................................................................................. 27
4 NavigationBar................................................................................................................29
4.1 TopRow:GlobalControls.......................................................................................29
4.1.1 ABSYNTH 5 Logo ........................................................................... 29
4.1.2 Window Tabs .................................................................................. 30
4.1.3 Record Button ................................................................................ 30

ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – V
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 BottomRow:SoundManagement...........................................................................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 PatchWindow................................................................................................................36
5.1 SignalowinthePatch.........................................................................................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 CommonFeaturesforallModules.......................................................................... 41
5.2.1 Edit Menu .......................................................................................41
5.2.2 Panels and Tabs ............................................................................. 42
5.2.3 Universal Library ............................................................................. 42
5.3 CommonFeaturesinManyModules.......................................................................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 OscillatorModule..................................................................................................49
5.4.1 Oscillator‘s Panels and Tabs ............................................................. 50

ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – VI
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 FilterModule........................................................................................................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 ModulatorModule.................................................................................................77
5.6.1 General Function ............................................................................ 77
5.6.2 Ring Modulation ............................................................................. 77
5.6.3 Frequency Shift .............................................................................. 78
5.7 WaveshaperModule..............................................................................................80
5.7.1 General Function ............................................................................ 80
5.7.2 Main Panel .................................................................................... 81
6 EffectWindow................................................................................................................82

ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – VII
6.1 GeneralInteraction...............................................................................................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 WaveWindow..............................................................................................................104
7.1 WaveformPage,SpectrumPage,MorphPage......................................................104
7.2 CreatingNewWaves...........................................................................................105
7.3 EditingWaves..................................................................................................... 105
7.3.1 Tools in the Waveform Page .............................................................106
7.3.2 Transform menu (Waveform Page) ...................................................106
7.4 SpectrumEdit.....................................................................................................108
7.4.1 Tools in Spectrum Page ..................................................................109
7.4.2 Transform menu (Spectrum Page) ....................................................109
7.5 WaveMorph....................................................................................................... 110

ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – VIII
8 EnvelopeWindow.......................................................................................................... 113
8.1 FundamentalsforOperation................................................................................. 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 EnvelopeModes.................................................................................................. 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 EnvelopeLFO...................................................................................................... 124
8.5 EnvelopeModulation........................................................................................... 125
8.6 MasterEnvelope................................................................................................. 127
8.6.1 Assigning Breakpoints ....................................................................127
8.6.2 Controlling the Master Envelope ......................................................129
8.7 TransformCommands.......................................................................................... 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 – IX
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 LFOWindow.................................................................................................................. 133
9.1 OscillatorSection................................................................................................134
9.2 ModulationSections...........................................................................................135
9.2.1 Channel Parameters Section ............................................................136
9.2.2 Master Parameters Section .............................................................137
9.2.3 Controller Section ..........................................................................138
10 PerformWindow........................................................................................................... 139
10.1 GlobalFeatures...................................................................................................140
10.1.1 Global Settings Bar ........................................................................140
10.1.2 Master Envelope ............................................................................ 141
10.1.3 Audio In ....................................................................................... 141
10.2 AutomationinABSYNTH5:MacroControls........................................................142
10.3 ControllersPage.................................................................................................145
10.4 AssignmentsPage............................................................................................... 147
10.5 MIDIPage...........................................................................................................148
10.5.1 Pitchbend .....................................................................................148
10.5.2 Volume .........................................................................................149
10.5.3 Pan ..............................................................................................149
10.5.4 Velocity ........................................................................................150
10.6 NotePage........................................................................................................... 150
10.6.1 Note-dependent Modulation ............................................................ 151
10.6.2 Glide ............................................................................................ 151
10.7 TuningPage........................................................................................................ 152
10.7.1 Creating a User-dened Tuning ........................................................152
10.7.2 Octave Link ...................................................................................153

ABSYNTH 5 Reference Manual – X
10.8 AudioModPage..................................................................................................154
10.8.1 Audio Mod as Envelope Follower ......................................................154
10.8.2 Audio Mod as Trigger ......................................................................155
10.8.3 Parameters ...................................................................................155
11 TheBrowserandAttributesWindows............................................................................. 157
11.1 TheAttributesConceptandtheKORESOUND........................................................ 157
11.2 SearchingandLoadingSoundswiththeBrowser.................................................. 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 DeningAttributesandSavingKORESOUNDS....................................................... 172
12 AdditionalFeatures....................................................................................................... 174
12.1 VirtualKeyboard................................................................................................. 174
12.1.1 Hold Switch ..................................................................................174
12.1.2 Sustain Switch ..............................................................................175
12.2 AudioRecorder................................................................................................... 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 AppendixA–HowtoWorkwithAttributes...................................................................... 179
13.1 TheInstrumentColumn........................................................................................ 180
13.2 TheSourceColumn............................................................................................. 181