Warps Symbiote

2023-07-02 19:09

Warps Symbiote firmware is built on top of the Warps Parasites firmware and is my attempt to bring new life to the Mutable Instruments clones available from other manufacturers, let's try to preserve such an important legacy. It adds three new algorithms:

Ladder Filter: ported from an implementation of the improved Moog Ladder Filter
Dual State Variable Filter: implemented a dual filter based on Emillie's State Variable Filter
Reverbs: added 4 reverbs based on the implementations found in Rings, Clouds and Elements.

Here is a demo overview of the new effects:

Installation¶

Download the firmware .wav file version 0.2.0 and follow the usual update procedure stated in the Mutable Instruments Warps manual.

Interface¶

The interface of this firmware is the same as the one implemented in Warps Parasites. From left to right, the algorithms are:

Ladder Filter.
Dual State Variable Filter.
Reverbs.
Chebyschev Waveshaper.
Frequency Shifter.
Bitcrusher.
Doppler Panner.
Delay.
Meta

Ladder Filter¶

A ported implementation of the Moog Ladder Filter model:

This model is based on a reference implementation of an algorithm developed by Stefano D'Angelo and Vesa Valimaki, presented in a paper published at ICASSP in 2013. This improved model is based on a circuit analysis and compared against a reference Ngspice simulation. In the paper, it is noted that this particular model is more accurate in preserving the self-oscillating nature of the real filter.

References: "An Improved Virtual Analog Model of the Moog Ladder Filter" Original Implementation: D'Angelo, Valimaki

Dual State Variable Filter¶

Two independent SVFs, arranged in default configurations. This is implemented using the code from Mutable Instruments State Variable Filter. This filter drives the resonance up to distortion levels, sounding pretty close to an MS-20 filter model. The Low Pass is a two pole filter while the Band Pass and High Pass are one pole.

Reverbs¶

Compiled several Mutable Instruments reverbs implementation, based on their configurations in Rings, Clouds and Elements modules. Added control over parameters that were not available in the original implementations for an extra twist. Playing with the difussion knob is highly recommended. The four available reverbs are:

Caveman: found in Rings disastrous peace mode.
Rings: found in the additional resonator model KarplusVerb.
Clouds: close enough configuration based on the beloved reverb.
Elements: close enough configuration with reverb freeze (timbre knob completely CW) and added input gain control for dramatic and cinematic effects.

Parameters¶

Algorithm	Algorithm Knob/CV	Timbre Knob/CV	Internal Oscillator Button	Level 1 Knob	Level 2 Knob	Level 1&2 CV	Output 1+2	Aux
Ladder Filter	Cutoff frequency	Resonance	Warps internal oscillator	Input 1 level/ oscillator frequency	Input 2 level	Inputs 1&2 VCA CV control	Filter summed output	Sum of 1+2 or internal oscillator out
Dual SVF	Filter 1 cutoff frequency	Filter 2 cutoff frequency	Toggles between different combinations: LP/HP (unlit), LP/BP (green), BP/HP (yellow), BP/BP (red)	Filter 1 resonance	Filter 2 resonance	Inputs 1&2 VCA CV control	Filter 1 output	Filter 2 output
Reverbs	Diffussion	Reverb time	Selects reverbs: Caveman (unlit), Rings (green), Clouds (yellow), Elements (red)	Reverb amount, reverb gain for Elements	Filter LP filter, feedback for Clouds	Inputs 1&2 VCA CV control	Left output	Right output
Chebyschev Waveshaper	Order	Gain	Warps internal oscillator	Input 1 level/ oscillator frequency	Input 2 level	Inputs 1&2 VCA CV control	Out	Sum of 1+2 or internal oscillator out
Frequency Shifter	Frequency shift	Crossfade between up/down outputs	Warps internal oscillator	Feedback	Dry/Wet	Feedback and Dry/Wet CV control	Up	Down
Bitcrusher	Bit crushing amount	Cross modulation: dry, AND, XOR	Warps internal oscillator	Input 1 level/ oscillator frequency	Input 2 level	Inputs 1&2 VCA CV control	Out	Sum of 1+2 or internal oscillator out
Doppler Panner	X Coordinate	Y Coordinate	Space size: from smaller (unlit) to larger (red)	LFO frequency	LFO Amplitude	LFO amplitude and frequency CV control	Out	Out symmetrical on axis
Delay	Delay speed/direction	Delay length	Selects modes: open fb loop (unlit), dual (green), analog (yellow), ping-pong (red)	Feedback	Dry/Wet	Feedback and Dry/Wet CV control	Out 1	out 2

For Meta mode see Mutable Instruments stock firmware documentation

Graphical Quick Reference¶

A quick reference guide is provided. A ton of gratitude to epijdemic who volunteered to create such a great visual aid for the firmware. You can download the PDF here.

Change Log¶

Symbiote 0.2.0¶

New features:

Replaced Parasites Vocoder with Doppler Panner, find it in position 7 in the interface.
Replaced pulse train oscillator with square wave oscillator.
The internal oscillator options for the ladder filter are now: Triangle (green), Saw (yellow), Square (red).
Improved cutoff frequency calibration for the ladder filter.

Symbiote 0.1.0¶