User Manual

Wavetable Synthesis
173
HALion’s wavetable synthesis offers you a wide range of possibilities, from the re-synthesis
of samples to the creation of entirely new sounds.
In classic subtractive synthesis, static harmonic oscillator waveforms are sent through filters
and amplifiers where the sound is shaped. In wavetable synthesis, you can extract specific
portions of samples and align these to make up a wavetable. The waves in the wavetable are
played back one after the other to create the sound progression. You can shape the sound as
in the subtractive synthesis by using filters, amplifiers, etc.
The Wavetable Editor is where you create wavetables, that is, where you load samples, insert
wave extraction markers to add the waves, work on the spectrum of the waves, create the
wavetable envelope, and specify the order of the waves in the wavetable.
HALion allows you to create your own wavetables by extracting single-cycle waves from
samples. Single-cycle means that a wave is exactly one period long. The sophisticated
sample analysis functions in the Wavetable Editor help you to find good positions for wave
extraction.
When HALion extracts a wave from a sample, a wavetable envelope is created. You can edit
the envelope on the Envelope tab. This envelope is part of the wavetable, which means
that you can always use the wavetable as it is, without having to assign and set up a new
envelope.
The order of the waves in the wavetable determines how the sound evolves when you
modulate the position. A wavetable can contain up to 256 waves that can be extracted from
different samples. A series of consecutive waves from the same sample is called a sequence.
A wavetable can contain multiple sequences from different samples.
In the Zone Editor for a wavetable zone, in the Wavetable section, you can find the play
parameters for wavetables. This is where you specify which oscillators you want to use and
where you make settings for them.
You can modulate the wavetable position automatically with the Speed parameter or
manually in the modulation matrix.
RELATED LINKS
Editing Zones on page 92
Wavetable Section on page 109