Waves Flow Motion

Looking like the control panel for a nuclear
reactor, Waves’ new plugin synthesiser takes
an unorthodox approach to UI design. Despite
its ‘science lab’ visuals, Flow Motion (VST/AU/
AAX/standalone) is actually remarkably friendly,
serving up a novel take on FM synthesis that
does away with the usual modulation matrix in
favour of a more intuitive hardwired system.
Let it flow
Flow Motion’s interface is divided into two pages
– Flow and Motion – with a column of
modulation sources ever-present on the right,
and the innovative Snapshot Sequencer at the
bottom (see Snap judgement). The synth is
capable of up to 32 voices of polyphony and
four unison voices, for a maximum total of 128
voices. It’s pretty resource-intensive, particularly
when the Snapshot Sequencer is brought into
play, and all those voices do, in the end, take
their toll.
The Flow page is home to the synth’s four
oscillators. These can be deployed as regular
analogue-style signal generators, their outputs
mixed with their volume and pan knobs, or set
to modulate each other’s phase or frequency in
any and all possible combinations via the
modulation path ‘cables’ joining every oscillator
independently to each of its three siblings. This
Waves
Flow Motion $99
This zippy new FM synth puts operational luidity to the fore, and backs it
up with an edgy, mod-heavy sound and real-time snapshot sequencing
“Flow Motion serves
up a novel take on FM
synthesis that does
away with the usual
modulation matrix”
MODULATION
PATH INSERT
Plumb in one of the
four mod sources
OSCILLOSCOPE
The mixed output
of the oscillators is
visualised here
SNAPSHOT SEQUENCER
The beating heart of
Flow Motion
MOD INSERT
Many of Flow
Motion’s parameters
can be modulated
FEEDBACK
Modulate the
oscillator with its
own output
P M/FM
Switch between phase
and frequency modulation
RATIO
Multiply the
oscillator pitch for
extreme FM
ARP/NOTE SEQUENCER
Onboard pattern generators
ENVELOPE
…or a loopable
ADSR envelope
LFO
Each modulator can
work as a low-
frequency oscillator…
MOD PATH
Apply PM or FM between
oscillators via these ‘cables’
modulation is dialled in using the amount knobs
at the start of each cable, and the cable itself
becomes brighter as the modulation increases.
It’s certainly one of the more straightforward
FM/PM systems we’ve come across, and made
more powerful by the two modulation insert
points on each path, which we’ll come back to.
The four oscillators are identical in their
architecture, ofering a choice of sine, triangle,
saw, square and noise waveforms. Tuning
controls comprise Octave, Tune and Fine knobs,
for up to ive octaves and 100 cents of
adjustment up or down, and a Ratio parameter
for multiplying the oscillator pitch by anything
from 1/4 to 36. This last is primarily intended for
achieving super-fast modulation rates in order
to elicit clangourous tones and FX from a target
oscillator, but proves handy with regard to
audible output, too.
The PM/FM button switches modulation of
the oscillator between frequency and phase,
92 / COMPUTER MUSIC / March 2019
> reviews / waves flow motion
CMU266.rev_flowmotion.indd 92 1/8/19 9:26 AM