WaveTronic Shaper

WaveTronic Shaper is a visual waveshaping processor that turns distortion into something you can design. Instead of abstract controls and fixed algorithms, sound is shaped by transfer curves that map input level to output response — letting you sculpt distortion by drawing it.

The heart of WaveTronic is its dual-curve architecture. A carefully curated Preset Shape selection gives you immediate character, while the Custom Shape view invites hands-on experimentation. Copy, blend, redraw, or start from a blank slate, every curve is a starting point, not a limitation.

Where things really come alive is in the Output stage. Here, the Preset and Custom Shapes interact through a range of mono and stereo modes, merging into a single curve or unfolding into independent left and right shaping paths. Subtle movement, bold contrast, or unexpected spatial behaviour all emerge from how the shapes relate to each other.

As you introduce modulation and CV, the shaping curves begin to move. Lines bend, shift, and evolve in real time, revealing how the sound is being transformed as it happens. It creates a rare kind of interaction, where motion and sound encourage curiosity, experimentation, and play.

WaveTronic Shaper is not about chasing “the right” distortion. It’s about exploring how sound reacts when pushed through shapes you create yourself!

Core architecture

Preset Stage
Select from a curated library of predefined waveshaping transfer curves.

Custom Stage
Draw and sculpt your own waveshaping transfer curve directly in the display.

Output Stage
Defines how Preset + Custom curves are combined and routed to the output (mono or stereo interaction).

Output Shape Display
Shows the final shaping curves actually applied to the audio, including modulation/CV influence.

Global controls

Bypass
Bypasses/engages the entire device.

Filter (bipolar)
Pre-shaper filter: left = low-pass, right = high-pass, center = bypass; includes resonance and an activity LED.

Gain
Drives the shaper engine (pre/post filter gain stages). Center = 0 dB; up to +24 dB total boost / down to −72 dB total attenuation.

Tone
Post-shaping tilt-style tone: left = high-cut, right = low-cut, center = neutral.

Mix
Dry/wet blend (dry is taken before gain and filtering) for parallel shaping.

Level
Final output level (−inf to +12 dB).

Meters
Input meter shows level after gain/filter (pre-shaper). Output meter shows final output level.

Preset Shape

Preset Shape selector
Choose a predefined curve; displayed immediately. Available shapes:

• Flat – Neutral/flat transfer.
• Linear – Linear ramp transfer.
• Bit Reduced – Quantized/stepped transfer.
• Sine – Sinusoidal transfer contour.
• Tanh – Smooth saturation-style transfer.
• Diode – Diode-like asymmetric response.
• 3x Sines – Multi-sine composite curve.
• Sparse – Sparse/irregular curve.
• Random – Randomized curve.
• Weighted – Weighted contour.
• Inverted Weighted – Weighted contour, inverted.

Custom Shape

Direct drawing
Paint the curve in the display; modifier keys change drawing behavior.

Drawing modifiers:

• SHIFT – Snap horizontally.
• ALT – Jitter brush.
• CMD/CTRL – Soften existing points.
• ALT+SHIFT+CMD – Stepped vector line (click-drag between two points).
• SHIFT+CMD – Straight vector line (click-drag between two points).
• CMD+ALT – Curve mode (Bezier / smooth S-curve).
• SHIFT+ALT – Stepped freehand (stepped quantization).

Utilities:

• Clone From Preset – Copies current Preset curve into Custom.
• Mix With Preset – Blends existing Custom with Preset.
• Set Flat – Resets Custom to flat (no shaping).
• Set Linear – Sets Custom to linear ramp (−100 to +100).

Preset & Custom scale

Preset Scale / Custom Scale
Strength/inversion per stage: positive increases shaping, negative inverts, zero = flat.
Technical note: scale is a multiplier; Scale CV is injected during Output Shape calculation so animation appears in the Output display.

Output Shape and modes

Output modes (mono) – Produces one combined curve applied to both channels:

• Add – Preset + Custom.
• Subtract – Preset − Custom.
• Difference – |Preset − Custom|; Morph influences polarity and can introduce opposing polarity between L/R for subtle stereo contrast.

Output modes (stereo) – Independent L/R curves (Preset as Mid, Custom as Side; Morph adjusts width):

• M/S – Mid/Side interaction with Morph controlling Side amount.
• Pan – Preset feeds left, Custom feeds right; Morph cross-pans.
• Shift – Shapes shift horizontally in opposite directions; clamped at edges.
• Wrap – Like Shift, but wraps around instead of clamping (continuous).
• Stereo Cross-Feed – Shapes feed into each other across channels for more complex interaction.

Morph control – Defines shape interaction; function depends on mode (crossfade, stereo balance, or shift/mod amount).

Rear-panel CV inputs

• Preset Shape Scale CV – Modulates Preset scale (injected at Output stage).
• Custom Shape Scale CV – Modulates Custom scale (injected at Output stage).
• Morph CV – Modulates Morph interaction parameter.