warps

warps · effects · schema v1

Meta-modulator / signal masher (Mutable Instruments Warps archetype, Émilie Gillet, 2014, MIT-licensed). Clean-room pure-TypeScript port — four cross-modulation algorithms (0=XFADE equal-power crossfade, 1=RING-MOD digital ring modulation with TIMBRE drive, 2=XOR 16-bit bit-mash crossfaded against a 0.7-sum, 3=COMPARE Warps' direct/threshold/window comparator suite). An internal carrier oscillator (sine / triangle / saw / square selectable via the SHAPE knob) drives the carrier path when carrier_in is unpatched, so the module is usable as a one-input ring modulator or with no inputs at all. PITCH is V/oct on the internal carrier; NOTE is a ±60-semitone offset. LEVEL 1 / LEVEL 2 scale the carrier and modulator inputs. Output is mono softclipped through x/(1+|x|). FOLD / ANALOG-RING / FREQUENCY-SHIFTER / DOPPLER / VOCODER algorithms deferred to a follow-up PR.

A meta-modulator after Mutable Instruments' Warps: it cross-modulates two audio signals — a CARRIER and a MODULATOR — through a chosen modulation algorithm. ALGORITHM picks the cross-mod type (XFADE = equal-power crossfade between the two; RING-MOD = ring modulation for metallic/bell tones; XOR = a 16-bit bit-mash for digital grit; COMPARATOR = waveshaping comparison modes), TIMBRE sets that algorithm's intensity/mix, and LEVEL 1 / LEVEL 2 set the carrier and modulator input gains. When nothing is patched into CARRIER IN, an internal oscillator takes over — SHAPE morphs its waveform, NOTE offsets its pitch, and the V/OCT input plays it — so WARPS doubles as a playable cross-mod synth voice, not just an effect on two external sources.

the faceplate

8 inputs · 1 outputs · 6 params

about this module

Hover a control, or open the patch panel and hover a jack.

inputs

id	cable	what it does
`carrier_in`	audio	External carrier audio. When patched it is the carrier the algorithm modulates; when left unpatched the internal oscillator (set by SHAPE / NOTE / V/OCT) takes its place so WARPS becomes a self-contained voice. audio signal
`modulator_in`	audio	External modulator audio — the second operand of the cross-modulation. Unpatched, the modulator side is silent (so e.g. RING-MOD with no modulator passes the carrier through). audio signal
`pitch`	pitch	V/oct pitch input for the internal carrier oscillator. Summed with the NOTE offset; only audible when CARRIER IN is unpatched (the internal osc is in use). V/oct pitch CV
`algorithm_cv`	cv	CV (discrete) that displaces the ALGORITHM selector, switching the cross-mod type live — step it with a sequencer to jump between XFADE / RING-MOD / XOR / COMPARATOR. control voltage (CV); modulates algorithm (integer buckets — CV selects a discrete step)
`carrier_shape_cv`	cv	CV that displaces the SHAPE knob, morphing the internal carrier waveform. control voltage (CV); modulates carrier_shape (additive offset — ±1 CV sweeps the full range, centered on the knob)
`timbre_cv`	cv	CV that displaces the TIMBRE knob, modulating the active algorithm's intensity — the main "wiggle this" input for evolving cross-mod textures. control voltage (CV); modulates timbre (additive offset — ±1 CV sweeps the full range, centered on the knob)
`level_1_cv`	cv	CV that displaces the LEVEL 1 knob, modulating carrier input gain (and the crossfade weight in XFADE mode). control voltage (CV); modulates level_1 (additive offset — ±1 CV sweeps the full range, centered on the knob)
`level_2_cv`	cv	CV that displaces the LEVEL 2 knob, modulating modulator input gain. control voltage (CV); modulates level_2 (additive offset — ±1 CV sweeps the full range, centered on the knob)

outputs

id	cable	what it does
`out`	audio	The mono cross-modulated result of the carrier and modulator through the selected algorithm at the chosen TIMBRE intensity. audio signal

params

id	label	range	default	curve
`algorithm`	Algorithm	0..?	0	discrete
`carrier_shape`	Shape	0..1	0	linear
`timbre`	Timbre	0..1	0.5	linear
`level_1`	Level 1	0..1	1	linear
`level_2`	Level 2	0..1	1	linear
`note`	Note	-60..60st	0	linear

controls

control	what it does
Algorithm	Cross-modulation algorithm selector (discrete): 0 = XFADE (equal-power crossfade between carrier and modulator), 1 = RING-MOD (ring modulation — metallic, inharmonic tones), 2 = XOR (16-bit bitwise XOR mash — harsh digital grit), 3 = COMPARATOR (waveshaping comparison sub-modes). The card shows the current name.
Shape	Internal-carrier waveform morph (0..1): sweeps the built-in oscillator's timbre (only in play when CARRIER IN is unpatched).
Level 1	Carrier input gain (0..1) — and, in XFADE mode, its crossfade weight. Turn down to attenuate the carrier going into the cross-mod.
Level 2	Modulator input gain (0..1): how hot the modulator drives the cross-modulation.
Note	Internal-carrier pitch offset in semitones (-60..+60). Sums with the V/OCT input to set the internal oscillator's frequency (used when CARRIER IN is unpatched).
Timbre	The active algorithm's intensity / mix (0..1): in XFADE it's the carrier↔modulator balance; in RING-MOD/XOR/COMPARATOR it scales how aggressively the modulation is applied. The primary expressive control.

source

warps.ts on GitHub.