WAVES ELEMENT 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 .
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION 1.1 Welcome Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of your new Waves plugin, please take a moment to read this user guide. To install software and manage your licenses, you need to have a free Waves account. Sign up at www.waves.com. With a Waves account you can keep track of your products, renew your Waves Update Plan, participate in bonus programs, and keep up to date with important information.
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.
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. Waves Element 2.
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. Waves Element 2.
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) Waves Element 2.
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.
SINE MOD controls the modulation of OSC 1 using a sine oscillator. (OSC 1 only.) Range: 0–100 FM (Frequency Modulation) controls the degree to which the frequency of OSC 2 is modulated by OSC 1. (OSC 2 only.) Range: 0–100 PhM (Phase Modulation) controls the degree to which the phase of OSC 2 is modulated by OSC 1. (OSC 2 only.) Range: 0–100 SYNC synchronizes OSC 2’s pitch to that of OSC 1. When SYNC is activated, OSC 2’s pitch controls (OCT, TUNE, FINE) affect only OSC 2’s timbre, not its pitch.
OSC 1 / OSC 2 activate each oscillator. Options: In, Out MIX balances the mix between OSC 1 and OSC 2. Range: -50 to +50 MONO toggles between monophonic and polyphonic modes. Options: On (mono), Off (polyphonic) RTRG controls envelope re-triggering. When activated, every note restarts the envelopes. (Mono mode only.) Options: On, Off UNISON stacks multiple voices for a richer sound. Options: Off, 2 Voices, 4 Voices PORT determines the glide time (portamento) between notes. Range: 0.5–2500 ms (0–2.
3.2.3 VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED FILTER (VCF) The VCF section includes selectable filter slope, frequency and resonance parameters as well as a filter envelope which determines the filter movement on each trigger. TYPE determines the filter type. Options: High Pass, Low Pass, Band Pass, Band Reject SLOPE toggles between two types of pole filters. Options: 2-pole/12 dB per octave, 4-pole/24 dB per octave CUTOFF controls the VCF cutoff frequency.
KBD controls keyboard tracking using C3 as its reference point. Range: 0–100 FM controls the amount of frequency modulation on filter cutoff by OSC 1. Range: 0–100 ADSR determines the filter’s envelope cutoff behavior after a note is triggered: A (Attack): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) D (Decay): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) S (Sustain): 0–100% amplitude R (Release): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) VEL sets the VCF cutoff in relation to the Note On velocity.
3.2.4 VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER (VCA) The VCA envelope controls the note level from trigger to release: A (Attack): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) D (Decay): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) S (Sustain): 0–100% amplitude R (Release): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) VEL sets the envelope depth in relation to the Note On velocity. Range: 0–100 SHAPE determines the contour of the envelope time constants.
3.2.5 LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATORS (LFOS) Element 2.0 features four identical LFOs that can be either free-running or synced to both MIDI clock and Note On commands. TYPE controls the LFO waveform shape. Options: Sine, Saw Down, Saw Up, Triangle, Pulse, S&H (random) RATE controls the frequency of the free LFO. Range: 0.1–100 Hz TIME controls the rate of the synced LFO, locked to the project BPM.
3.2.6 ENVELOPE 3 In addition to the filter and the VCA envelopes, Element 2.0 includes an envelope generator that can be freely assigned to selectable destinations via the modulation matrix. A (Attack): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) D (Decay): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) S (Sustain): 0 to 100% amplitude R (Release): 1–10,000 (1 millisecond–10 seconds) VEL sets the envelope depth in relation to the Note On velocity. Range: 0–100 SHAPE determines the contour of the envelope time constants.
3.2.7 MODULATION MATRIX The Modulation Matrix allows the patching of modulation sources to selectable destinations. PHASE inverts the phase, per assignment. Depending on the phase setting, this will change the direction of the modulation. Options: On, Off SRC determines the modulation source. Options: LFO1, LFO2, LFO3, LFO4, Env3, Modwheel, Keyboard, Velocity, Aftertouch, Bender, VCF Envelope, Sequencer DEST determines the destination of the modulation source.
3.2.8 ARPEGGIATOR / SEQUENCER The ARP/SEQ section functions as both a traditional arpeggiator and a 16-step sequencer. Each sequencer step has an In/Out toggle as well as a pitch control which may be set +/-24 semitones from the currently held note. MODE determines the operational mode. Options: Off, (Arp) Up, (Arp) Down, (Arp) Up/Down, (Arp) Random, Sequence OCT determines the range, in octaves, of the arpeggiator.
SWING pushes even-numbered notes/steps toward the next odd-numbered note/step, to create a shuffle/swing feel. Range: 0–100 3.2.9 EFFECTS DIST controls the amount of distortion effect. Distortion is applied per voice, eliminating IMD (inter-modulation distortion.) Settings below 50% create a warm saturated drive effect; settings above 50% result in a more aggressive, “crunchier” sound.
CRSHR A/B switches between distinct crushing algorithms. Options: A, B DELAY is a stereo delay that allows separate delay times for the left and right channels, using note values. LEFT sets the delay time for the left channel. Options: 1/2, 3/8, 1/3, 1/4, 3/16, 1/6, 1/8, 3/32, 1/12, 1/16, 3/64, 1/24, 1/32 RIGHT sets the delay time for the right channel. Options: 1/2, 3/8, 1/3, 1/4, 3/16, 1/6, 1/8, 3/32, 1/12, 1/16, 3/64, 1/24, 1/32 MIX determines the amount of delay effect in the mix.
3.2.10 EQ The EQ section is a 4-band fixed frequency graphic equalizer with high-pass and lowpass filters. At high boost levels, the EQ saturates with different tonal qualities than the Distortion module. HiPASS controls the high-pass filter frequency. Range: 20–20,000 Hz LoPASS controls the low-pass filter frequency. Range: 10–20,000 Hz 100 controls equalization at 100 Hz. Range: -30 to +30 dB 600 controls equalization at 600 Hz. Range: -20 to +20 dB 1500 controls equalization at 1500 Hz.
3.2.11 GLOBAL AND OUT SECTIONS TEMPO displays the current tempo. Range: 1–300 SOURCE determines the clock source. Options: Host, Internal VOICES determines the number of voices which may be played simultaneously. Range: 1–16 BEND determines how far the pitch-bend controls will increase/decrease the pitch in semitones. Range: 0–12 GAIN sets Element 2.0’s overall output volume, after all generators and processors. Range: -80 to 0 dBFS METER displays Element 2.0’s overall output energy. Waves Element 2.
CHAPTER 4 – STANDALONE APPLICATION The Element 2.0 application can be used as a standalone instrument. It requires ASIO drivers for Windows or Core Audio for macOS. Element 2.0 .exe (Win) or Element 2.0 .app (Mac) loads the Element 2.0 instrument and configuration preferences dialogs. Set up the standalone application from its File menu: • All Notes Off Sends an All-Notes-Off MIDI command to the Element 2.0 synthesizer. This is useful in cases of “stuck” sustaining notes.
CHAPTER 5 – ELEMENT 1 AND ELEMENT 2 MODES 5.1 Element 1 Mode Waves Element 2.0 includes a fully features version of its predecessor, the original Element synth. A dedicated control at the top left corner of the interface, labeled Element 1 and 2, lets you freely switch between the two versions. Projects saved with Element 1 will automatically load the plugin in Element 1 mode. Waves Element 2.
5.2 Element 1 vs. Element 2 Element 2 uses a vastly improved synthesis engine, which can result in highly audible differences between the two modes. There are also functional differences between Element 1 and Element 2 modes: 1. Element 1 has a single Unison mode, rather than the more sophisticated selectable 2- or 4-voice Unison of Element 2. 2. Unlike the 4 LFOs in Element 2, Element 1’s LFOs are arranged in two pairs.
CHAPTER 6 – WaveSystem Toolbar Use the bar at the top of the plugin to save and load presets, compare settings, undo and redo steps, and resize the plugin. To learn more, click the icon at the upper-right corner of the window and open the WaveSystem Guide. Load with Preset – MIDI, Arp/Seq and Tempo The Load with Preset filter is a Element-exclusive custom toolbar that lets you choose whether or not to load certain preset characteristics such as MIDI assignments, arpeggiator/sequencer settings, and tempo.
