Essential Information About the Waldorf Attack 3 Plug-In Upgrade from Waldorf Edition 2
- Official upgrade to Attack 3 to enjoy the modern successor of the famous Waldorf percussion synthesizer, with a workflow designed for current production.
- Powerful kits and comfortable polyphony: up to 24 percussion sounds per kit and 64 voices of polyphony to layer kicks, snares, hats, and percussion without cluttering your arrangement.
- Highly creative hybrid engine: per sound, 2 oscillators (virtual analog synthesis + multi samples), frequency modulation, ring modulation, and a "Crack" module for sharp transients.
- Advanced multi-output mixing: 6 stereo outputs, with bus processing (EQ, compressor, and effects) to integrate Attack 3 as a true drum section in your DAW.
Requirements Depending on License Type
This version is an
upgrade (UPG): it requires
already owning Waldorf Edition 2 to be eligible for the upgrade. Make sure you have access to your corresponding license/account before installation and activation.
What Waldorf Attack 3 Is For
Waldorf Attack 3 is a plug-in dedicated to
creating electronic drums and percussion, ideal for beatmaking, techno, house, synthwave, EBM, modern pop, or any context where you want
sculpted drums rather than simple loops. Its "kit" approach allows you to quickly build a coherent palette, while its synthesis engine and integrated processing facilitate sound design ranging from very clean punch to dirtier, saturated, or experimental textures.
Main Features
A Complete Kit: 24 Sounds, Each Fully Editable
Each kit includes
24 percussion sounds. For each sound, Attack 3 offers an architecture designed for rhythmic synthesis:
2 oscillators capable of combining
virtual analog and
multi samples, allowing you to achieve everything from round and stable kicks to more organic claps, hybrid toms, or detailed hats. The
frequency modulation and
ring modulation options open the door to metallic attacks, complex overtones, and percussion with a more "machine" character.
Transients, Dynamics, and Movement: Effortless Punch
The
"Crack" module enhances attack impact and helps sounds cut through dense mixes. For modulation, you have
2 envelopes with
ADSR and
ADBDSR modes to precisely shape dynamics, sustain, and release. The
2 LFOs (adjustable shapes, phase, and speed, with
delay and
fade) add groove and animation: subtle pitch variations, controlled wobble, tremolo, or intentional instability for livelier textures.
Musical Filtering and Character: From Finesse to Experimental
The filter includes several modes covering a wide sound design spectrum:
High-pass,
Low-pass,
Band-pass, as well as
Shelf,
Bell, and
Notch at
12 dB or
24 dB. To go further, you also have
Comb plus/minus and
Redux, very useful for creating resonant percussion, aggressive comb effects, or a more lo-fi and edgy grain.
Built-in Effects and Multi-Output Routing for a "DAW Ready" Mix
For each sound, Attack 3 offers
EQ,
compressor, and an
assignable effect slot to quickly finalize a kick, carve out a snare, or widen hats. Available effects include
Delay,
Drive,
Phaser,
Flanger,
Chorus, and
Reverb, with an
adjustable effect mix per sound to precisely control space and color.
For professional integration in production, Attack 3 provides
6 stereo outputs. Each output bus has its own
EQ,
compressor, and
3 assignable effect slots. You can thus process kick, snare, percussion, and cymbals separately or send certain elements to dedicated buses in your DAW for parallel processing and clean automation.
Library, Navigation, and Playability Comfort
Attack 3 includes
36 percussion kits totaling
over 850 sounds, with a
preset browser dedicated to kits and individual sounds to speed up selection during composition. For playing and control, the interface offers convenient
resizing, a
global tuning to tune the instrument to your project, as well as
MIDI learn to quickly assign your controllers. Finally,
sounds 12 to 24 can be played
polyphonically via
MIDI channels, useful for layering textures or playing more "instrumental" percussion.
Technical Specifications
Sound Engine and Synthesis
- Successor to the Attack percussion synthesizer
- 24 percussion sounds per kit
- Polyphony: 64 voices
- Per sound: 2 oscillators (virtual analog synthesis and multi samples)
- Modulations: frequency modulation and ring modulation
- "Crack" module
- Filter: 12/24 dB High-pass, Low-pass, Band-pass, Shelf, Bell, Notch, Comb plus/minus, Redux
- 2 envelopes with ADSR and ADBDSR modes
- 2 LFOs with adjustable shapes, phase, speed, delay, and fade
Effects and Processing
- Per sound: EQ, compressor, and 1 assignable effect slot
- Effects: Delay, Drive, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Reverb
- Adjustable effect mix per sound
Outputs and Mixing
- 6 stereo outputs
- Each output bus: EQ, compressor, and 3 assignable effect slots
Presets and Included Content
- 36 percussion kits included
- Over 850 sounds included
- Preset browser for kits and individual sounds
Additional Features
- Sounds 12 to 24 can be played polyphonically via MIDI channels
- Resizable graphical interface
- Global tuning
- MIDI learn
Supported Plug-in Formats
- macOS: VST3, AudioUnit, AAX
- Windows: VST3, AAX
System Requirements
- Windows: Windows 10/11, Intel or AMD processor (64-bit only)
- macOS: macOS 10.14.x or higher, Intel or Apple Silicon processor
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