Every synth reads wavetables a little differently: the frame size, how many frames fit, the bit depth, the file name and where the file goes. Export starts by asking what the table is for, and that choice takes care of the rest. Open it with ⌘E (Ctrl+E) or the Export button.
Export for
Pick a target from the list on the left. Each one shows its rule in a line, and the right side explains how that synth or device reads the file.
WaveStack & Strata keeps everything: the frame size and, for grids and volumes, the shape in a wt3d tag. Use it to share tables with other WaveStack users or for synths that read wt3d. Other synths read the file as one row.
Synths
| Target | Writes |
|---|---|
| Serum / Serum 2 | WAV, 2048-sample frames, up to 256 |
| Vital | WAV, 2048-sample frames, up to 256 |
| Surge XT | .wt, 2048-sample frames, up to 512 |
| Bitwig Polymer / Grid | WAV, 2048-sample frames, up to 256 |
| Ableton Wavetable | WAV, 1024-sample frames, up to 256 |
| Phase Plant | WAV, 2048-sample frames, exactly 256 |
| Pigments | WAV, 2048-sample frames, up to 256 |
| Hive 2 | WAV, 2048-sample frames, up to 256 |
Hardware
| Target | Writes |
|---|---|
| Disting NT | WAV, 2048-sample frames |
| Disting EX | WAV, 2048-sample frames |
| Deluge | WAV, 2048-sample frames |
| Korg modwave | WAV, 2048- or 256-sample frames, up to 64 |
| MicroFreak | WAV, 2048-sample frames, up to 32 |
| Waldorf Iridium / Quantum | WAV, 2048-sample frames, up to 128 |
| nanobox fireball | WAV, 2048-sample frames, exactly 256 |
| E352 / E370 (WaveEdit) | WAV, 256-sample frames, exactly 1 or 64 |
| Piston Honda Mk III | 8 WAV files, 256-sample frames, 64 in each |
| 4ms SWN | WAV, 512-sample frames, exactly 27 |
| Polyend Tracker | WAV, 2048-sample frames, up to 256 |
Other tools writes a WAV with whatever frame size and format you choose.
The Instruments section has a page for each of these, with how to load the file on the instrument itself.
What Export changes
To fit a target, Export may:
- Resample the frame size when the target doesn’t accept the table’s.
- Pick frames evenly when the table has more frames than the target holds.
- Stretch or squeeze the table when the target needs an exact count, crossfading so the sweep keeps its shape.
- Flatten a grid or volume into one row, in order, for targets that read a single row. A target with a fixed grid, such as WaveEdit’s 8 × 8, reads a matching grid as it is.
- Set the bit depth and tags the target expects, and add a size to the file name where the target reads it from there (Disting NT and Hive).
When any of this happens, Export says so in a warning before you save, for example “Phase Plant needs exactly 256 frames, so this table’s 64 are resampled to 256.” The summary line shows the change, such as “64 frames → 256”. Your table itself isn’t changed.
Saving the file
Name starts as the table’s name; the extension is added for you.
Under Save to:
- Choose a location opens a save dialog.
- Link a folder remembers a folder or SD card for that target, such as Serum’s wavetable folder or the Deluge’s card, so later exports go straight there. The button then reads Save to the target. For the Deluge, Distings and Polyend, Export writes into the folder the device reads from (
SAMPLES/WAVETABLES,wavetablesorSamples). The × next to a linked folder unlinks it; its files stay put. Linked folders are part of WaveStack Pro and aren’t available on the iPad.
A linked folder also checks what’s already there: “12 tables there · 3 need converting”. Convert all rewrites the files that the device would read wrongly, for example with the wrong frame size, too many frames, the wrong bit depth or in stereo.
Export remembers the last target you used and where you saved for each one.
Other tools and WaveStack & Strata options
These two targets let you choose the format:
- Frame size: 256, 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096.
- Bit depth: 16-bit, 24-bit or 32-bit float.
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.
- Tag the frame size (clm) (Other tools): leave it on for tools that read Serum’s tag, such as Serum, Vital and Bitwig. Turn it off for tools where you type in the frame size.
- Include shape (wt3d) (WaveStack & Strata): keeps the grid or volume shape. Off, the file opens as one row everywhere, including WaveStack.
Piston Honda Mk III
The Piston Honda reads a set of eight files, 1.wav to 8.wav, one per Z position, each holding 64 waves of 256 samples. Export writes the whole set into the folder you choose, replacing any files with those names. An 8 × 8 × 8 volume maps one layer to each file; other tables are resampled to 512 frames. To make a table in that shape from the start, use Build for: Piston Honda Mk III in Build.
4ms SWN
The 4ms Spherical Wavetable Navigator reads a sphere of 27 waves in a 3 × 3 × 3 cube. Export normalizes each wave, as the module does when it records, and resamples other shapes to fit: a 3 × 3 × 3 volume maps straight across, and rows and grids are spread over the 27 waves in order.
You can save the file to open in 4ms’s SphereEdit, or send it straight into the module:
- Connect your computer’s audio output to the SWN’s Waveform In jack, with the volume up.
- On the SWN, enter Sphere Recording Mode and press Record. It waits for the signal.
- Press Play into SWN. It takes about 2.5 seconds.
Then turn Browse on the SWN to hear the sphere, and save it on the module to keep it.
On the iPad and in the plugin
On the iPad, Export hands the file to the share sheet, where you can save it to Files, AirDrop it or send it to another app. See WaveStack on the iPad.
The plugin has no Export. Its table is saved with your DAW project; to export a table, open it in the app. See Plugin mode.