The WT-01 RED is a virtual analog synthesizer that brings a new twist to vst softwares. The software has two different sections. Besides the high quality sound, RED is also easy to manage, because the two sections can be effected separately, but the program remains comprehensible. With the help of separate sections, the software is capable of creating complex tunes.
Oscillators
There are four wavetable oscillators in the software, two on the left and two on the right side. There are 221 different wavetable types in all of them. If the user wishes to switch the sounds, they have to use the arrow knobs above the oscillator, or left click on the oscillator’s graphic display, and choose the adequate sound from the menu. Oscillators „A-B” and „C-D” are separate from one another, just as creating effects for, and modification them.
Layered mode
The user can switch oscillator „A” into layered mode.
Push the knob „simple” between the two oscillators to switch oscillator „A” into layered mode.
There are four oscillators in layered mode. The user can have five different oscillators in section „A-B” by mixing these. This gives the user a chance to create an especially unique sound. If the user clicks on the layered oscillator’s graphic display, the setting for layered oscillators can be changed.
Oscillators C-D
There is no layered mode when it comes to oscillators „C-D”. Oscillator „C” generally uses wavetable, but by clicking on the „W” knob, full sample based Wav can be used, which has different capabilities than the wavetable. Left click on the graphic display and you can select the sounds from a drop-down list. With the right click on the graphic display the user can load any wav file from the HDD.
With sample based sounds, the user can repeat the sign, by activating the loop knob.
Custom wavetable can be loaded into oscillator "B" and „D” if „Custom” knob is activated. The difference between using custom or Wav based sounds is that wavetable based sounds are shorter, and need to be played by looping to get a continuous sound. Wav based sounds, on the other hand, can be long Wav files, and looping is not necessarily needed. Simple Wav based sounds are more detailed, but they need a lot of CPU, so the software offers sample based sound play for one oscillator. The maximum bit depth for custom wavetable is 24 bit.
Volume A,B,C,D
Controls the oscillator's volume. M button: This knob mutes "A-B" and "C-D" oscillators.
Other functions:
Transient: creates a dynamic, snappy sound for the first few milliseconds of the sound.
Phase: The „B” oscillator shift the oscillator in time. With this function, the speed of the shift can be changed.
Overdrive: this function distorts the voice of oscillators. If distortion has a negative result, change the octave value of the oscillators or change the wavetable sound to another one.
Unison: at 1, only the base oscillators play. At 2, the sounds of the oscillators triple. The multiplied sounds have minimal differences, therefore the result is a more fat and massive sounding. At 3, the base oscillator’s sound multiplies by 5. This function controls oscillators „A-B” and „C-D” at the same time.
Amplitude Envelope (ADSR)
The sound created by the oscillators and filters can be shaped using the amplitude envelopes. These are common ADSR envelopes, with Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release parameters. You can use these to make the sound fade in and out, or add a punch to it.
Envelope filter
The cutoff frequency can be changed using the Cutoff knob, and the Resonance knob sets the amount of filter resonance at the cutoff frequency. This procedure restarts every time a midi sign controlled by Attack, Decay or Sustain functions is played. It’s similar to the „ADSR” function that deals with amplitude, but in this case the „ADS” isn’t used for handling the volume, but instead used to control when and with how much intensity should the filter start.
Filters
Pan sequencer
The sound coming from the oscillators can be controlled by a 16 step sequencer, to be able to separate the two sides of the stereo sound. The top row belongs to the left side, and the bottom to the right. As it can be seen on the picture, the sound moves back and forth between the left and right sides.
Smooth: at 0 position the inactive knobs completely turn down the sound played at the time. At higher value, though, it can’t be done completely. Changing length and Smooth together results in either slow and mild, or aggressive change.
Gate sequencer
Gate sequencer mutes or shortens the sound of a given step, in maximum 16 steps; therefore the values of each step can be raised or lowered. Not the volume, but the length of the given step is changed in this case. All steps can be used to force all voices to start at the exact same location on the waveform every time a new step is played. It is like a retrigger.
When Gate Sequencer is active, it controls Amplitude Envelope. Decay, Sustain, Release will be inactive until Sequencer is active.
The user can set the number of steps; the maximum is 16. The user can also set the length of each step.
LFO filter
LFO filter uses a filter separate from the envelope filter. There are two switch on knobs on the panel. One activates the sequencer, the other activates the filter; therefore the filter can be used even without the sequencer.
Using the sequencer, the functioning of the filter can be automatized on the timeline. Each step’s values can be randomized with the random knob, but standard waveform can be chosen as well.
The LFO belonging to the other oscillator pair can be copied.
The length of the steps can be set.
If LFO filter is active, but the function isn't working, the filter belonging to it needs to be activated as well. If there's no change, check Smooth function; if it's at maximum value, that's the most likely cause of the inactivity.
Pitch
The pitch of the oscillators can be changed while they play with the Pitch function, which allows the user to decide whether the pitch should get higher or lower, and the speed of the change.
Vibrato
Vibrato: this function changes the pitch as well, but in this case the change is periodical and always goes back to the original pitch. Speed sets the speed of the periodical repeat, and Depth sets the measure of the change of the pitch.
Bit crusher
The user can lower the sound quality of the sound if this function is on. This function lowers the bit rate of the sound and the quantity of the sample rate per second.
Tremolo
Tremolo periodically highers and lowers the volume of the oscillators.
Depth: at 0 value, the tremolo doesn’t work. At maximum value the tremolo changes the volume between maximum and complete silence.
Graphic display: the user can set the speed of tremolo’s period. In other words, the user can set how quickly the sound changes between quiet and loud. To change from fast change to slow, set the graphic line like it is on the picture above. If the value of vertical slider high, the preiod will be short.
Loop buttons: if the start time of the period is different than its finish time, the user can loop the automation of the period. If the user turns off loop mode, the period changes only once.
Envelope pitch
The pitch can be automatized with the ADSR functions. The functions are similar to the Amplitude Envelope, except this function controls the pitch. Unlike the other panels, this function has only one panel. If the user wishes to switch between „A-B” and „C-D” panels, click on the „C-D” or „A-B” knob.
Delay
Width: At 0 state it functions as a delay mono, at maximum it functions as a ping-pong delay.
Feedback: Changes the lenght of the feedback.
Mix: Changes the volume with this option.
Selector: Sets the repeat time of the Delay
Phaser
Rate: Rhanges the speed of the phase shift.
Gain: Rhanges the intensity of phase shift.
Mix: Regulates the mix of the raw delay and the phaser sign.
Reverb
There are two of most functions, but there’s only one Reverb. Both oscillator groups use this effect. The user can, though, decide which oscillator group’s sign should the function process; use the „A-B” and „C-D” knobs to choose.
Volume: Changes the volume of reverb.
Decay: This function changes the reverb’s decay and fade time.
Low cut: This filter cuts the deep range’s volume to fit the user’s wishes. It’s recommended to use this function in most cases.
High cut: This filter cuts the high range’s volume. It’s not necessary to use it most of the time, but it’s recommended with longer decay values.
Width: Reverb can be changed into both stereo and mono.
Delay: This function delays the reverb compared to the original sign.
EQ.
By clicking on the grey marker points the user can change the values of Low-shelf and High-shelf. Vertical movement changes the Gain’s, horizontal movement, changes the frequency range’s value. The EQ controls the signs of all oscillators.
Compressor
Threshold: Sets the operating level for the knee of the compressor. Threshold is continuously adjustable from -45 dB to 0 dB.
Attack: Controls the quickness of the compressor’s response to changes. Attack is continuously adjustable from 0 ms to 100 ms.
Release time of the master compressor is continuously adjustable from 0 ms to 50 ms.
Ratio sets the ratio of signal level to signal gain, i.e., the compression ratio. Ratio can be switched between 1:1, 8:1.
Make-Up compensates for a change in signal level due to compressor activity.
Arpeggio
The arpeggio changes the pitch of the oscillator with maximum 16 steps. By default, the pitch changed by octaves with the built-in step sequencer.
Within the timeline, with manual settings, the user can change the pitch with one octave up or down. The minimum change is one semitone.
The arpeggio sits on a panel. The number and speed between the steps are the same between oscillators „A-B” and „C-D”, but the pitch can be used separately
Hold: Same as the function in the gate sequencer. When it’s on, there’s no retrigger.
A-B/C-D buttons: Switch between the two Arpeggios.
Smooth knob: Instead of immediate change in the pitch, this function allows it o change gradually. Similar to the portamento.
Master panel
By clicking on „Key/FX”, the software keyboard and a few controls become visible.
By activating the Split knob, the midi keyboard can be separated to two sections. This way, the sounds played on the left side of the keyboard come only from oscillators „A-B”; the sounds played on the right side of the keyboard come only from oscillators „C-D”. This allows the user to play in multiple modes at the same time, with different sounding on the two sides.
M/P button: In Mono mode, only one keyboard plays sound. This is when Portamento function works, where the pitch change doesn’t happen immediately, but happens with the speed set by the knob. In Poly mode, this function doesn’t work, but in this case, more than one key plays at the same time.
Dist.: Distortion on the outgoing channels.
Master volume: controls the outgoing sound’s volume
Oct.: Changes the pitch of all the oscillators by octaves.
Pitch bend wheel: changes the pitch manually.
Preset manager
Using the preset manager, the user can change between programs. There are 210 programs, divided by the following groups:
By left clicking on the program's name, the user can find in the themes in the drop-down menu, in the upper groups. Move between the programs by clicking on the left and right arrows.
Renaming a program: Right click twice on the program's name to change it.
The user can set five settings by clicking on F.
After changing the group names, click on the Save Group Names knob. This is necessary, because the change only shows on the current program name. To show the new group names, change to the next program, then click on the Load Group Names knob. The process needs to be done for all of the programs. When finished, close the window. By clicking on "F" as in, "File" menu, choose Save All Programs, and save the new setting.