User Manual

Before You Start
Although these instruments are intuitive and easy to play “out-of-the-box”, getting excellent results
requires a certain amount of practice and experience. Please read this user manual carefully. It
contains very important information that will help you achieve the best results in a much shorter time.
Also listen to the demos on the Audio Modeling website https://audiomodeling.com and on our
YouTube channel https://audiomodeling.com/youtube
The latest version of all SWAM manuals can be found at https://audiomodeling.com/manuals
All SWAM instruments are designed to be PLAYED in real time by shaping the sound like a real
instrumentalist would. They will function on any modern computer (see System requirements), by
using a suitable host such as a sequencer (Cubase, Logic, Pro Tools, etc.), DAW (digital audio
workstation) or a host application supporting the plugin format VST, Audio Units or AAX. These
instruments use Audio Modeling's proprietary SWAM (Synchronous Wave Acoustic Modeling)
technology conceived by Stefano Lucato, and provide an exceptional playability and realism. These
are not samples, using pre-recorded articulations, but complex virtual instruments, capable of
shaping almost any kind of articulation and phrasing in real time. They can be played using any MIDI
device such as a keyboard, breath or wind controller. (It is, however, essential that the instruments
are suitably controlled using an appropriate MIDI device, as described in this manual). Direct
programming via a sequencer (without any MIDI devices) is also possible.
Note: As with a real musical instrument, all of our SWAM instruments allow continuous
transition across the full range of dynamics — from pp to ff — free from any phasing artifacts.
To accomplish this, it is absolutely necessary to use a suitable continuous physical MIDI
controller such as an expression or volume pedal (CC11 or CC7), a breath or wind controller
(CC2) or any other expressive MIDI controller.
WITHOUT SUCH A CONTROLLER, THE INSTRUMENT WILL NOT WORK, if played in
realtime. Instead, it will display the warning “Expression controller not received. Please move
your expression controller.”
Other physical MIDI controllers, like sliders, knobs or a mod wheel, though not
recommended, can be used for this purpose. Please refer to other sections of this manual
for further details.
When used for studio production, it is necessary to provide either a MIDI Expression curve
or Automations.
Note: the MIDI note naming convention we use is based on the Yamaha standard: Middle C
= C3, corresponding to MIDI note number 60.