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Wwise Synth One

The Wwise Synth One is a source plug-in that you can use to generate a wide range of sounds for your game. Synth One consists of two oscillators. The oscillator signals are generated separately, then combined to form the final output signal.

The image below illustrates the signal path of the Synth One plug-in.

[Note] Note

Unlike many sound editing software applications, the oscillators in Wwise are bandlimited. This not only helps to avoid inharmonicity caused by harmonics that are beyond the Nyquist frequency, but also saves on CPU and memory usage. For very high fundamental frequencies, the tone will have fewer harmonics than its non-bandlimited counterparts.

Synth One requires an input frequency to generate the oscillator outputs. The frequency mode determines how the input frequency is specified:

  • Base Frequency: the base frequency used is specified either in the authoring tool, or by the game at run-time via an RTPC. This mode is best suited for generating one-shot sounds.

  • MIDI Note: the input frequency is determined by the MIDI note Events received by Synth One. This mode is obviously best suited for music, and should only be used when Synth One is part of a MIDI instrument. For more information on how to setup a MIDI instrument, refer to Creating MIDI Content.

Synth One uses the input frequency to generate both oscillators. Each oscillator has the following configuration parameters to generate its output:

  • Waveform - type of waveform used

  • Transpose - transposition of input frequency

  • Invert - invert output signal

  • PWM - pulse width modulation

For the first oscillator, Synth One also offers frequency modulation (FM). If FM is used, then the output of the second oscillator is used to generate the output of the first.

The oscillators are then combined. Each oscillator's level is set prior to combining the signals, allowing you to completely silence one or both of the oscillators. The oscillators are combined in of two ways:

  • Mix: the oscillator samples are added

  • Ring: the oscillator samples are multiplied

Synth One also offers noise generation: pink, white, red or purple. Just as for the oscillators, you can specify the output level of the noise generator.

The final output signal is generated by mixing the combined oscillator signal and the noise generator signal. You can specify the output level of the final signal.

You may notice that certain property values in both the Source Plug-in and Contents Editors have an indicator beside them. This indicator shows if the property value is associated with a control input using RTPCs. The control input may be a Game Parameter or a modulator. For more information on RTPCs and control inputs, refer to Chapter 19, Working with RTPCs.

The following tables describes the two types of RTPC indicators:

Indicator

Name

Description

RTPC - On

A property value that is tied to a control input using RTPCs.

RTPC - Off

A property value is not tied to control input value.


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