WhispAir

Name: WhispAir
Author: Full Bucket Music

by Full Bucket Music · Synth · Wavetable synth

Not rated yet

WhispAir is a free wavetable synthesizer with three wavetable oscillators, a stereo filter, three modulation generators and four envelopes, all on one page.

It has unison and chorus, TUN/SCL/KBL and MTS-ESP micro-tuning, and third-party preset packs; it is free.

Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic, Pop.

Keywords: wavetable, free, basses, pads, fat, thick, classic, CPU-light, leads, plucks, preset-driven, sound design.

What it does

WhispAir is a free wavetable synth from Full Bucket Music, laid out so every parameter fits on a single page. It won the KVR Developer Challenge 2021.

Oscillators: three wavetable oscillators, each with many wave groups and variations and an adjustable start phase; oscillators 2 and 3 can be frequency-modulated by the others, and hard sync is available.
Wavetables: built-in tables, plus loading of your own wavetables.
Filter: the developer's classic resonant stereo filter, with 24 and 12 dB/oct lowpass and 24 dB/oct highpass.
Modulation: three modulation generators, including two LFOs with six waveshapes, and a vibrato section, reached through pull-up menus on the main page.
Envelopes: four envelope generators: one each for filter and amp, plus two assignable.
Width: unison mode and a chorus; there are no other built-in effects.
Tuning and control: TUN/SCL/KBL micro-tuning import, MTS-ESP, and MIDI Learn for every parameter.
Presets: free packs from Kraftraum (114 presets) and Warkyuu (64 presets and 15 wavetables).

The current version is 1.1.5 (17 Nov 2024). It is a free download; the developer accepts donations. Manuals are in English and French.

Source: Full Bucket Music product page

When to use it

WhispAir is the pick when you want wavetable sounds from a quick, single-page synth that costs nothing and uses little CPU. Compared with Serum 2, it has no wavetable editor and no effects rack, but everything is visible at once and it is far faster to learn. Against Vital, also free, it is much smaller in scope, with fewer modulation sources and only one filter design, while trading depth for a lighter, more direct workflow. Its raw character suits fat basses and thick pads that you finish with your own reverb and delay. If you need complex modulation routing or built-in effects, Phase Plant or Pigments 7 go much further.

Best for: wavetable pads, squelchy basses, plucks and leads with a quick, single-page workflow.
Genres: electronic, ambient, techno and pop.
Look elsewhere if: you want to draw or edit wavetables in depth or need many filter types; Vital (also free) or Serum 2 do much more.
Tip: add reverb and delay in your DAW, since the synth only has chorus built in.

What producers say

Reviewers like it as a capable, efficient free wavetable synth with an unusually compact layout; the main wishes are more wavetables and filters.

KVR users rate it 4.8 out of 5 from 5 reviews, praising the one-page layout, raw sound, low CPU and custom wavetable loading; one wrote "i cannot beleive that this is free!"
Simon Thompson Music found the single-screen design unusual for a wavetable synth and heard "fat, squelchy bass sounds" and thick pads, though mastering the oscillators takes time.
Criticisms: one KVR reviewer wanted more included wavetables, more than one filter type and an EQ.

Where to buy

Full Bucket Music: Free

Tutorials and reviews

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