Kontrast
by Dawesome · Synth · Nonlinear wavetable synth
Not rated yet
Kontrast is a Dawesome wavetable synth that scans wavetables nonlinearly, aiming for organic, evolving sounds.
It pairs analog filters, deep modulation and an effects suite with MPE support, for $149.
Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic.
Keywords: wavetable, MPE support, evolving, randomize, sequencer, simple, analog, cinematic, deep, drones, leads, macro controls, organic, pads, preset-driven, sound design, subtractive.
What it does
Kontrast is a Dawesome wavetable synth, sold by Tracktion, that treats a wavetable as terrain to move through rather than a strip to scan from left to right. In the developer's words, "sound becomes terrain."
- Nonlinear scanning: a scanline traces shapes such as circles, spirals and flowers across the wavetable, like moving over a relief map. Position, Shape, Phase, Rose, Noise and Form controls set the path.
- Oscillators: two wavetable oscillators with unison and phase modulation, plus a blendable extra oscillator with its own shapes and octave settings.
- Wavetables: around 200 included; you can drag in your own wavetables, audio files or images, which are converted to greyscale terrain.
- Filters: two independent filters with Drive modes, a 40-resonator Modal filter, an Inharmonics shifter and a Chainsaw stage.
- Modulation: up to 12 sources at once, including envelopes, LFOs, function, random and keyboard sources, three macros and MPE expression.
- Sequencer: 16 steps with per-step probability, pitch, velocity and gate.
- Effects: five slots drawing on reverbs, delays, modulation effects, distortions and utility modules.
- Workflow: patch randomization, and drag-out of played notes as audio into the DAW or back into Kontrast as a new wavetable.
It ships with over 350 factory presets, sorted by type, timbre and author. A 90-day unlimited trial is available.
When to use it
Kontrast is the better pick when you want wavetable sounds that move and evolve on their own. Compared with Serum 2 and Vital, its scanline paths give more motion from a single knob, while those synths scan in a straight line and rely more on modulation for movement. It also adds a Modal filter and image-to-wavetable import that neither offers in the same way. On the other hand, Serum 2 and Vital have a far larger supply of third-party presets and tutorials, and Kontrast's onboard reverbs and delays are less deep than dedicated effect plugins.
- Best for: moving pads, textured leads, evolving drones and expressive MPE playing.
- Genres: electronic, ambient and cinematic.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a huge third-party preset ecosystem; Serum 2 has it.
- Tip: load INIT and move each scanline slider one by one to learn what it does, and switch off reverb and delay when auditioning presets to hear the raw wavetable.
What producers say
Early reviews praise Kontrast as a fresh take on wavetable synthesis that rewards experimenting.
- Audio Plugin Guy (Charlie Hatton, October 2025) gave it 5 out of 5, praising the streamlined workflow, "extensive and intuitive modulation" and an excellent manual; he found the sequencer controls a little cramped.
- Wavepusher (Kristian West, October 2025) gave it 4.5 out of 5, praising the morphing playhead, MPE support and randomizer.
- Criticisms: Wavepusher found many presets sound alike due to heavy reverb and delay, and said finding new sounds takes time to learn the scanline controls.
Where to buy
- Tracktion: $149
Tutorials and reviews
- Dawesome Kontrast: Overview, review, and tips 'n' tricks... Wavetables gone WILD?!
- First look at Kontrast by Dawesome
- Dawesome Kontrast Sound Demo - A Wavetable Synthesizer Plugin Like No Other
- Kontrast by Dawesome
- KONTRAST: The Future of Wavetable
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