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Waldorf Attack Operation Manual

Percussion synthesizer
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Summary of Contents for Waldorf Attack

  • Page 2 Attack Waldorf Music will not be liable for any erroneous information contained in this manual. The contents of this manual may be updated at any time without prior noti- ce. We have made every effort to ensure that the information herein is accurate and that the manual contains no contradictory information.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Oscillator Section ...........14 System Requirements for Mac OS .....5 Mixer Section ..........16 Installation under Mac OS .........6 Filter Section...........18 Using the Attack as VST or AudioUnit instrument............6 Amplifier Section ..........21 Using the Attack ..........6 Audio Channels of the Attack ......6 Delay Effect Sections........23...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    In addition, the Attack offers ways to create amazing bass and lead sounds.

  • Page 5: System Requirements For Windows

    Attack System Requirements for Windows In order to be able to use the Waldorf Attack, you will need at least: A PC with a Pentium III / AMD Athlon 600 processor or better 64 MB free RAM Windows 2000 / XP VST 2.0 compatible host application supporting virtual instruments, such as Cubase...

  • Page 6: Installation Under Mac Os

    Then insert the Attack CD into your computer’s CD-ROM drive. 2. If you need to, double click on the Attack icon to open the CD window. 3. Double click on the Attack Installer icon to load the installation software. Follow the instructions on the screen.

  • Page 7: Loading Banks And Kits

    If needed, you can transform any or all Attack tracks into an audio file. To do this, simply use the “Export Audio” function of your host application. Please find more information in the corresponding documentation.

  • Page 8: Selection Of A Kit

    Playing the Attack Live If you notice considerable latency times (delay) when you play the Attack via MIDI, then the sound/audio card that you use and/or its driver is the source of the problem. If...

  • Page 9: Functions Of The Edit Menu

    Attack Functions of the Edit Menu The Attack offers several different functions for convenient organization of kits and sounds. In the edit menu in the upper left corner of the plug-in you can choose the fol- lowing functions: Import File... (Macintosh only) imports a VST or AudioUnit program.

  • Page 10: Midi Functions

    Attack MIDI Functions The MIDI interface of the Attack is identical in its most aspects to the interface of most common synthesizers. When the MIDI connection is set up, the Attack can be played over the key range from C1 to G9 if required. The 24 sounds can be played through MIDI notes C1 to B2, thus affording 1 sound per key.

  • Page 11: Controlling The Attack Through The Novation Remotesl

    Page 3 Sliders 1...8 Amplifier Volume Sound 1...8 The host application must support the Novation RemoteSL and its „AutoMap“ feature to be able to control the Attack. Please read the documentation of the cor- responding host application. Polyphony of the Attack The Attack has up to 64 voices.

  • Page 12: Key Combinations

    The pitch bender snaps back into its center positi- on as soon as you let go of the mouse button. Attack logo: If you click on the Attack logo, a window opens with program information and MIDI controller documentation.

  • Page 13: The User Interface Of The Attack

    Attack The "Automatic" Keyboard The Attack has a 5 octave keyboard in its user interface. When selecting one of the up- per 12 sounds, the Attack’s keyboard screen will appear. You can play these sounds melodically through your MIDI keyboard or by clicking on the displayed keyboard with your mouse.

  • Page 14: Oscillator Section

    Attack Oscillator Section The Attack is equipped with two oscillators that have almost identical functionality. Oscillator 1 additionally contains an integrated FM (frequency modulation) section. The following explanation is valid for both oscillators. 0.007984...<20000 Hz Pitch Sets the pitch of the oscillator over a very wide range. This is necessary to reproduce drum and percussion sounds.
  • Page 15 This is characteristic of drum and percussion sounds. To avoid this click, simply open up the attack value for Envelope 2 by a small amount. When creating typical synthesizer sounds you might like to avoid the flanging effect caused by detuned oscillators.

  • Page 16: Mixer Section

    FM. To change the frequency modulation dynamically, use an envelope or velocity. The FM range of the Attack is very wide, so that you can generate nearly chaotic FM out of periodic waveforms like sine waves.
  • Page 17 Attack 0%...100% Osc 1 Volume of Oscillator 1. 0%...100% Osc 2 Volume of Oscillator 2. If the sum of all mixer signals (Osc 1, Osc 2 and Ring Modulator) is higher than 100%, filter saturation will be attained. At this point Resonance doesn´t make any volume difference, as it does in the normal filtering process.

  • Page 18: Filter Section

    Crack Length to 3 cycles. Filter Section Once the audio signal leaves the mixer, it is sent to the filters. The Attack offers a multimode filter with different filter types. In a subtractive synthesizer a filter is a component that have significant influence on sound characteristics.
  • Page 19 Beside the low pass filter, the Attack offers the following filter types: Type (Filter Types) The following filter types are available when selected with the mouse: 12 dB Low Pass Filter.
  • Page 20 Use this parameter to change the timbre of the sound over time. Sounds with a hard attack usually have a po- sitive envelope amount that makes the start phase bright and then closes the filter for a darker sustain phase.

  • Page 21: Amplifier Section

    (assuming that it is capable of sending the needed timing information to the Attack). When you click on the Sync button, a pop-up menu will appear to select the different settings.
  • Page 22 Attack 1...6 Output The Attack offers 6 stereophonic audio outputs. This parameter sets the audio output of the selected sound. You can use this function to assign different effects or EQ settings to sounds of a kit. Please take into account that Delay 1 only appears on stereo output 1, and Delay 2 only on stereo output 2.

  • Page 23: Delay Effect Sections

    Syncs the delay time to the tempo of the host application (assuming that it is capable of sending needed timing information to the Attack). When you click on the (delay-) Sync button, a pop-up menu will appear to select the different settings.

  • Page 24: Envelopes

    If you press a key, the envelope is started. The envelope parameter has the following functions: Attack defines the period of time for the envelope to rise to its maximum. Decay defines the time for the envelope to fall to 0.

  • Page 25: Appendix

    "Attack" parameter controlled the overall pulse/noise level, and the decay rate of the envelope was not adjustable. On the Attack, you can make this sound as follows: Oscillator 1 plays a sine wave, and Envelope 2 is used to modulate its pitch. This means that the pitch of the oscillator be- comes higher or lower depending on the setting of the Decay parameter of Envelope 2, but this slight variation doesn't affect the drum sound once it has been set up.
  • Page 26 On the Attack, you can make this sound as follows: Oscillator 1 plays a triangle or sine wave pitched at around 30Hz, and Envelope 2 is u- sed to modulate its pitch.
  • Page 27 If you want a sound of this type from the Attack, use the representative sound from the library instead of trying to simulate it on your own. Look at the parameters and try to find out why it sounds quite close.
  • Page 28 The modulated oscillator can be set either to square or sine. The FM of the Attack has a maximum amount of a- round 8 waveform cycles, which results in heavy but tonal noise. When you don't use...
  • Page 29 When you want to do the latter, just copy the settings of the first oscillator and change the pitch or the envelope depth a little.

  • Page 30: Concluding Remarks

    Since 1989, Waldorf has cultivated a tradition of synthesizers, and continues to deve- lop a wide range of different units based on powerful sound generation systems. If you like the sound character and expressiveness of the Attack, we invite you to drop by to visit our web site at: http://www.waldorfmusic.de...

  • Page 31: Glossary

    An envelope parameter. "Attack" is a term that describes the ascent rate of an envelope from its starting point to where it reaches its highest value. The Attack phase is initiated immediately after a trigger signal is received, i.e. after you play a note on the keyboard.
  • Page 32 Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. This sequence is called an ADSR envelope. Attack, Decay and Release are time or slope values, and Sustain is a variable volume level. Once an incoming trigger is received, the envelope runs through the Attack and Decay phases until it reaches the programmed Sustain level.
  • Page 33 Attack synthesizer systems. A keyboard generates an active gate signal as long as a key is held down. When the key is released, the gate signal becomes inactive again. An envelope generator can use this signal for triggering purposes, and as a result a VCA unit can be controlled.
  • Page 34 Sustain An envelope parameter. The term "sustain" describes the level of an envelope that re- mains constant after it has run through the Attack and Decay phases. Sustain lasts until the trigger is terminated. System Exclusive Data System exclusive data allow access to the heart of a MIDI device. They enable access to data and functions that no other MIDI messages are able to address.
  • Page 35 Attack vice has unique system exclusive data. The most common applications for SysEx data include transfer of entire memories and complete control of a device via a computer. Trigger A trigger is a signal that activates events. Trigger signals are very diverse. For instance, a MIDI note or an audio signal can be used as a trigger.

  • Page 36: Midi Controller List

    Amp Velocity Osc 1 FMEnv Select Osc 2 Shape Delay Mix Osc 2 Pitch XOR Group Osc 2 PitchEnv Env 1 Attack Osc 2 PEnvVel Env 1 Decay Osc 2 PEnv Select Env 1 Shape Crack Speed Env 1 Release...
  • Page 37 Cutoff Delay Lo Cut Resonance Delay Hi Cut Controller List for Novation RemoteSL RemoteSL Controls Attack Parameter Page 1 Encoders 1...8 Oscillator 1 Pitch Sound 1...8 Page 1 Pots 1...8 Oscillator 1 FM Sound 1...8 Page 1 Sliders 1...8 Envelope 2 Decay Sound 1...8 Page 2 Encoders 1...8...

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