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Electronic Ruminations

Warps Symbiote

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.

The current beta (v0.4.0-beta) reshuffles the algorithm slots, adds a new stereo multimode filter, a dual parallel filter sub-mode, an ensemble voice, and fixes the Chebyschev waveshaper. The older releases (0.1.0 → 0.3.0-beta) shipped a Moog-style Ladder Filter, a Dual State Variable Filter and four reverbs and are documented further down on this page.

Here is the original demo overview of the symbiote effects (still valid for the unchanged algorithms in the lower half of the panel):

 

Contents

Symbiote 0.4.0

Installation

Download the firmware .wav file version 0.4.0-beta and follow the usual update procedure stated in the Mutable Instruments Warps manual.

Interface

The first two algorithm slots have changed, and a few other algorithms have shifted position to make room. The new left-to-right algorithm list is:

  1. Stereo Filter (with Dual Parallel Filter as a sub-mode).
  2. Ensemble Voice.
  3. Reverbs.
  4. Frequency Shifter.
  5. Bitcrusher.
  6. Chebyschev Waveshaper (now oversampled).
  7. Doppler Panner.
  8. Delay.
  9. Meta.

Reverbs, Frequency Shifter, Bitcrusher, Doppler Panner, Delay and Meta keep the same behaviour described in the legacy section below — only their slot numbers have shifted. The Ladder Filter is no longer available; the Dual State Variable Filter has been folded into the new Stereo Filter slot as the "Dual Parallel Filter" sub-mode.

The internal-oscillator button now also doubles as a sub-mode latch on slot 1: hold the button and turn the MODULATION knob to choose between the Stereo Filter (knob CCW) and the Dual Parallel Filter (knob CW). The choice is saved to flash and survives a power cycle.

Stereo Filter

A stereo multimode SVF with four filter shapes selected with the internal-oscillator button:

  • Unlit: Low-pass (4-pole, both channels).
  • Green: High-pass.
  • Yellow: Band-pass.
  • Red: Notch.

Both channels share the same cutoff (ALGORITHM knob) and the same resonance (MODULATION knob). Resonance follows an exponential taper that pushes the filter all the way into self-oscillation territory at the top of the knob's travel. LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 continue to act as the per-input drive amount, with the LEVEL 1&2 CV inputs modulating the VCAs as in stock Warps. The filtered stereo output is sent to OUT 1 (left) and AUX (right).

Dual Parallel Filter

The Dual State Variable Filter from earlier releases is still here, but now lives as a sub-mode of slot 1. To enter it, hold the internal-oscillator button and turn the MODULATION knob fully clockwise. To return to the Stereo Filter, hold the button again and turn MODULATION fully counter-clockwise.

Inside this sub-mode the two filters are independent again:

  • ALGORITHM knob → Filter 1 cutoff (Left / OUT 1).
  • MODULATION knob → Filter 2 cutoff (Right / AUX).
  • LEVEL 1 knob → Filter 1 resonance.
  • LEVEL 2 knob → Filter 2 resonance.
  • Internal-oscillator button cycles the layout: LP / HP (unlit), LP / BP (green), BP / HP (yellow), BP / BP (red).
  • LEVEL 1&2 CV inputs become the per-input drive CV, like in the legacy Dual SVF.

Resonance calibration has been tightened for v0.4.0 so the dual filter's distortion sweet-spot is easier to land on.

Ensemble Voice

A stereo ensemble / chorus effect, layered on top of a stereo low-pass filter and Warps' internal oscillator — handy for instant pad-like textures from a single audio input or from the internal oscillator alone.

  • ALGORITHM knob → cutoff of the front-end stereo low-pass filter (no resonance).
  • MODULATION knob → ensemble amount and depth (one knob, taper-linked so the effect smoothly opens up from a subtle thickening at noon to a full chorus swirl fully CW).
  • Internal-oscillator button → enables Warps' internal oscillator as a voice. When unlit, the algorithm processes the external inputs only; when lit, the oscillator is mixed in and LEVEL 2 controls its amplitude. The colour selects the oscillator waveform, matching the existing internal-oscillator behaviour (sine, triangle, saw, square).
  • LEVEL 1 → external input drive.
  • LEVEL 1&2 CV inputs → VCA CV control.

The ensemble engine uses three chorus taps per channel driven by two LFOs (a slow 0.75 Hz movement and a faster 6.57 Hz shimmer), cross-fed between the left and right outputs to widen the stereo image. Wet output goes to OUT 1 (left) and AUX (right).

Chebyschev Waveshaper (oversampled fix)

The Chebyschev Waveshaper now runs oversampled and uses the latest Parasites v1.01 algorithm. This fixes the aliasing / glitchy high-frequency artefacts that the older release tried to tame by downsampling the input — those workarounds are no longer needed. As of v0.4.0 the algorithm has moved from slot 4 to slot 6 (between Bitcrusher and Doppler Panner).

The knob layout is unchanged from the legacy description: ALGORITHM selects the Chebyschev order, MODULATION controls gain, internal oscillator button enables Warps' internal oscillator, LEVEL 1 / LEVEL 2 are input drives, and LEVEL 1&2 CVs modulate the input VCAs.

Parameters (v0.4.0)

Algorithm Algorithm Knob/CV Timbre Knob/CV Internal Oscillator Button Level 1 Knob Level 2 Knob Level 1&2 CV Output 1 Aux
Stereo Filter Cutoff (shared L+R) Resonance (shared L+R) Cycles filter mode: LP (unlit), HP (green), BP (yellow), N (red). Hold + MOD CCW = Stereo, CW = Dual Parallel Input 1 drive Input 2 drive Inputs 1&2 VCA CV Filtered left channel Filtered right channel
Dual Parallel Filter Filter 1 cutoff Filter 2 cutoff Layout: LP/HP (unlit), LP/BP (green), BP/HP (yellow), BP/BP (red). Hold + MOD CCW returns to Stereo Filter Filter 1 resonance Filter 2 resonance Inputs 1&2 drive CV Filter 1 output Filter 2 output
Ensemble Voice Front LP filter cutoff Ensemble amount + depth Toggles internal oscillator voice. Colour selects waveform Input drive Internal oscillator amplitude Inputs 1&2 VCA CV Ensemble left Ensemble right
Reverbs Diffusion Reverb time Selects reverb: Caveman (unlit), Rings (green), Clouds (yellow), Elements (red) Reverb amount, reverb gain for Elements Filter LP, feedback for Clouds Inputs 1&2 VCA CV Left output Right output
Frequency Shifter Frequency shift Crossfade between up/down outputs Warps internal oscillator Feedback Dry/Wet Feedback and Dry/Wet CV 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 Out Sum of 1+2 or internal oscillator
Chebyschev Waveshaper Order Gain Warps internal oscillator Input 1 level / oscillator frequency Input 2 level Inputs 1&2 VCA CV Out (oversampled) Sum of 1+2 or internal oscillator
Doppler Panner X coordinate Y coordinate Space size: smaller (unlit) → larger (red) LFO frequency LFO amplitude LFO amplitude and frequency CV Out Out symmetrical on axis
Delay Delay speed / direction Delay length Modes: open feedback loop (unlit), dual (green), analog (yellow), ping-pong (red) Feedback Dry/Wet Feedback and Dry/Wet CV Out 1 Out 2

For Meta mode see Mutable Instruments stock firmware documentation.

Symbiote 0.3.0 and below

The rest of this page documents the firmware up to and including 0.3.0-beta (the last release before the v0.4.0 layout reshuffle). The Ladder Filter and the standalone Dual State Variable Filter described here have been replaced or repackaged in v0.4.0, but everything from "Reverbs" onward still applies to the current firmware — only the slot numbers have changed (see the v0.4.0 interface section above).

Installation (legacy)

Download the firmware .wav file version 0.2.0 (or the 0.3.0-beta for the Ladder Filter / Chebyschev re-tuning) and follow the usual update procedure stated in the Mutable Instruments Warps manual.

Interface (legacy)

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 (legacy)

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 for the 0.2.0 layout. 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 0.4.0-beta

New features:

  • Stereo Filter: stereo multimode filter (LP / HP / BP / Notch) in algorithm slot 1.
  • Dual Parallel Filter: the previous Dual State Variable Filter is now a sub-mode of slot 1. Hold the internal-oscillator button and turn the MODULATION knob fully CW to enter it; fully CCW returns to the Stereo Filter. The choice is persisted to flash.
  • Ensemble Voice: new ensemble / chorus effect with a stereo low-pass front-end and an optional internal oscillator voice, in algorithm slot 2.

Fixes:

  • Chebyschev Waveshaper now runs oversampled using the Parasites v1.01 algorithm. The earlier downsampling workaround has been removed. The algorithm moved from slot 4 to slot 6.
  • Tightened resonance calibration for the Dual Parallel Filter.
  • Algorithm slot reshuffle: Frequency Shifter is now slot 4, Bitcrusher is slot 5, Chebyschev is slot 6 (the rest are unchanged).

Symbiote 0.3.0-beta

Fixes:

  • Tweaked Ladder Filter calibration so that the filter would open up a bit more.
  • Set the sample rate back at 96 kHz.
  • Down-sampled the audio fed into the Chebyschev Waveshaper to tame the glitchy sounds when high knob values are selected.

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

New features:

  • 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
  • Multi Reverb: added 4 reverbs based on the implementations found in Rings, Clouds and Elements.