Brainworx Knifonium User manual
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
Developed by Brainworx Audio in partnership with Knif Audio and distributed by Plugin Alliance.
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The Knifonium is a 26 tube monophonic synthesizer with two oscillators,
a 4th order ladder filter, and a ring modulator. It is handcrafted in small
batches by Jonte Knif with a devoted sense for detail. But the Knifonium
is not just eye-candy or capable of „making weird noises“. It is a very
musical and inspiring instrument with many possibilities for modulating
and shaping sound.
The Knifonium is a very carefully designed synth for many purposes and
no-one sums it up better than Jonte: „It sounds like nothing else.“
In an in-depth process, we have modelled the complete circuits including
all 26 tubes applying our Tolerance Modelling Technology (TMT). TMT
introduces the variations caused by tolerances in electrical components
to the software reproduction of a synthesizer, allowing for the slight
variations in envelope parameters, pitch, LFO speed, and many other
characteristics.
Adding 8 independent voices to the plugin version opens a new universe
of possibilities.
Since we have a huge, well-proven arsenal of effects and effect algorithms,
we decided to add miniature versions of some of the best sounding ones
to Knifonium, giving you a range of effects you will actually want to use.
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
VCO 1 & 2
1Octave
Sets the VCO‘s octave in terms of organ stop. 8‘ equals native pitch, 4‘ = one
octave above, 16‘ = 1 octave below etc.
2Type
Sets the VCO‘s oscillator type. The pulse oscillator is available on VCO1 only.
3Pulse Width (VCO 1 only)
Sets the pulse width of the pulse oscillator.
4Pulse Width Modulation Source (VCO 1 only)
Switches the modulation source for the pulse width.
5Coarse Tune
Sets the VCO‘s coarse tuning in semitones.
6Fine Tune
Sets the VCO‘s fine-tuning in cents.
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
1Keyboard (KB)
Switches if the VCO‘s pitch is influenced by the keyboard‘s CV. If set to off, the
keyboard‘s CV is ignored and the pitch is determined by the tune parameters
and modulations only. The keyboard‘s Gate output is not changed by this
parameter and will still influence the VCO per the envelope settings.
The plugin is referenced to the global tune A4 (default 440 Hz) with Octave set
to 8‘, Coarse Tune and Fine Tune set to 0.
However, the KB tracking is referenced to the note C3 like in the hardware.
2Mod Amount
Sets the general amount of modulation that is applied to the VCO‘s pitch. This
needs to be set above 0 to enable S&H pitch modulation.
3Mod Source Env1
Switches how the CV of envelope 1 influences the VCO‘s pitch.
+: a positive Env1 CV raises the pitch
-: a positive Env1 CV lowers the pitch
Off: the Env1 CV does not modulate the pitch
4Mod Source LFO
Switches how the CV output of the LFO influences the VCO‘s pitch.
+: a positive LFO voltage raises the pitch
-: a positive LFO voltage lowers the pitch
Off: the LFO voltage does not modulate the pitch
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
1Mod Source Aftertouch
Switches how the aftertouch intensity influences the VCO‘s pitch.
+: a higher aftertouch intensity raises the pitch
-: a higher aftertouch intensity lowers the pitch
Off: aftertouch does not modulate the pitch
2Mod Source Ext1
Switches how the external signal Ext 1 influences the VCO‘s pitch.
+: a higher ext signal raises the pitch
-: a higher ext signal lowers the pitch
Off: ext signal does not modulate the pitch
3Spread
A plugin-only feature, this adjusts the stereo width of each oscillator separately.
A handy feature to add width to your sounds.
4Osc Sync (On/Off)
Switches oscillator sync on or off. VCO 2 is the master, VCO 1 is the slave
oscillator.
5Sync Mod Source
Switches the modulation source for the sync.
If set to AT or MW, a certain Aftertouch resp. Mod Wheel threshold must be
exceeded to engage the sync.
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
1FM Mod
Switches frequency modulation (FM) on or off. If engaged, the sine output of
VCO 2 (Master) modulates the pitch of VCO 1 (Slave). The amount of modulation
can be set via the FM Level parameter.
2FM Level
Sets the amount of frequency modulation (FM). VCO 1 pitch is always modulated
by the sine output of VCO 2 independent of the selected VCO 2
waveform and VCO 2‘s level in the mixer section.
This only has an effect if FM Mod is engaged.
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
Osc MIXER
1VCO 1
Sets the VCO 1 output level.
The mixer stage is tube-based and depending on the overall input level(s), it
can slightly saturate or even distort the signal. We modelled this interactive
behaviour according to the hardware unit, thus giving it a non-linear type
character.
Tip: Dial back VCO1, VCO2, Noise, RingMod to get an overall cleaner sound
whilst raising level via the Master Vol. output.
2VCO 2
Sets the VCO 2 output level.
3VCO 2 Mod Source
Switches the modulation source for the VCO 2 output level. Mod source can be
Mod Wheel, Aftertouch or disengaged (Off).
4Noise
Sets the noise generator output level. An Excellent tool for percussive sounds,
layering etc.
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
1Noise Mod Source
Switches the modulation source for the noise generator output level.
Mod source can be Mod Wheel, Aftertouch or disengaged (Off).
2Noise Type
Select between White, Pink, and Red noise.
3Ring Mod
Sets the ring modulation output level.
There will be no audible output if Drive Vols or Ring Mod Level are set to 0.
4Ring Mod Mod Source
Switches the modulation source for the ring mod output level.
Mod source can be Mod Wheel, Aftertouch or disengaged (Off).
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
Ext CV
1Ext 1
Sets scaling of the external sidechain signal.
The fullscale sidechain signal (the digital range -1 to +1) will be scaled up to -10
to +10 volts.
2Ext 2
Sets scaling of the external sidechain signal.
The fullscale sidechain signal (the digital range -1 to +1) will be scaled up to -10
to +10 volts.
Tip: Make sure you have the volume turned down on your monitors or
headphones for this example.
Load the Knifonium in its default state on an instrument track. Create another
track and add another synth modulating a Sine tone. Try the lowest octave
possible for this example (inaudible, please be careful with your volume here),
select the sidechain in on the Knifonium track and route the tracks.
Next, go to VCO 1 and switch the Ext 1 parameter to ‘+‘. Increase the VCO 1 ‘Mod
Amount’1 to 10. Now slowly turn up Ext 1 under the Ext CV section.
Now you should start hearing the external input modulating the OSC. You can
also increase the second synth’s frequency (in other words go up higher)
and see how this changes the character of the Knifonium to FM like sounds.
You can then start combining Ext 2 and route it to OSC 2 or VCF with LFO etc.
The key is to experiment and try different sound sources for your input as well.
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Knifonium
Plugin Manual
LFO
1Type
Sets the LFO type.
Available waveforms are Triangle, Pulse and Sine. The forms can be further
modified via the Symmetry parameter. For example, the Triangle can be
morphed between a sawtooth, triangle and falling ramp.
2Speed Coarse
Switches the LFO speed by a factor of approx. 10 per step.
In sync mode: 4/1, 2/1, 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32
3Speed Fine
Sets the LFO speed in combination with the Speed Coarse parameter.
Given frequencies are approximate values.
Slow: 0.2 Hz to 3.5 Hz
Medium: 2 Hz to 35 Hz
Fast: 20 Hz to 350 Hz
4Speed Fine Mod
Switches the modulation of the LFO speed on or off. If engaged, it can be
modulated by the Mod Wheel.
Mod Wheel Dest must be set to „LFO Gain“ to enable the modulation.
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