User Manual

Wavefield is a revolutionary audio processing plugin that applies wavetable morphing technology directly to your audio's frequency content, and continuously modulates the wavetable position automatically. Unlike traditional EQs and filters that adjust static frequency bands, Wavefield creates continuously evolving spectral transformations by morphing through 128-frame wavetables, enabling complex filter movements, formant shifts, and harmonic evolution impossible with conventional processing.

What Makes Wavefield Unique

Traditional EQs and filters cannot create smoothly morphing spectral curves across hundreds of frequency bands simultaneously. Even with extensive automation, conventional EQs and filters can only adjust fixed bands. Wavefield morphs through 128 different spectral shapes, each containing unique frequency response curves, creating complex sweeps, resonant filter movements, and harmonic evolution that no amount of EQ/filter plugin automation can replicate.

Supported Platforms

• Windows: Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
• macOS: macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later
• Processor: Intel or Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)

Plugin Formats

• VST3 (Windows & macOS)
• Audio Units (AU) (macOS only)
• AAX (Pro Tools)

Performance Specifications

• Sample Rates: 44.1kHz – 192kHz
• Bit Depth: 16-bit to 32-bit float
• Latency: Medium to high latency processing, not optimized for real-time use
• RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
• DAW: Compatible host required (Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Pro Tools, Cubase, Gig Performer, Unify, etc. ) 
   

Installation Process

1. Download the Wavefield installer for your platform from your account
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions
3. Select the plugin formats you wish to install (VST3, AU, AAX)
4. Complete the installation

License Activation/Deactivation

First-Time Activation

1. Launch your DAW and load Wavefield on a track
2. The License Dialog will automatically appear
3. Choose one of the following options:
   • Enter License Key: If you've purchased Wavefield, paste your license key
   • Start 14-Day Trial: Try all features free for 14 days

License Key Format: License keys follow the format: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. Copy and paste from your purchase confirmation email.

Deactivation

1. Click the "D" button inside Wavefield in the status bar
2. Go to https://fineincrements.com/user/login and log in to your user account
3. In your license area, deactivate the license from the selected machine within 5 minutes of clicking the "D" button
4. Reactivate the same license on a new machine of your choice

License Types

Trial License

• 14-day evaluation period
• Full feature access
• Online validation required
• 3 day grace period for network issues

Perpetual License

• One-time purchase, lifetime access
• No expiration date
• Two device activations included
• No periodic online validation required after initial activation

Time-Limited License

• Testing and other special cases only
• Periodic online validation required
• 7 day grace period for network issues

Basic Setup

1. Load Wavefield on an audio track or bus
2. License the plugin (or start trial)
3. Choose a preset: Click the preset name to open menu or navigate with arrow buttons

Simple Processing

1. Set Depth to control effect intensity (start at 100% to hear the full effect)
2. Adjust Speed for modulation rate (lower speeds work best for general use)
3. Set Skew to adjust mapping to the frequency range 
4. Experiment with different wavetables to hear variations
5. Adjust Output gain to compensate for gain introduced by the effect

The Technology

If you're familiar with wavetables in synthesizers - where waveforms morph to create evolving sounds - Wavefield applies the same concept to frequency processing. Each frame in a wavetable becomes a spectral filter shape. As the wavetable plays through its frames (128 total), your audio's frequency content morphs accordingly, creating motion and modulation across the entire spectrum.

How It Works

1. Input audio is analyzed using FFT (Fast Fourier Transform)
2. Wavetable frames are interpolated based on current position
3. Spectral processing applies the wavetable shape to frequency content
4. Output audio is reconstructed with evolved harmonic content

Applications

• Vocal Processing: Filtered gate effects and vowel morphing
• Synthesizers: Subtle evolutions and creative timbre morphing
• Guitars: Novel modulation effect – alternative to chorus/flanger/etc.
• Drums: Timbral variation and tempo synced filtering
• Sound Design: Unique evolutions and textures impossible with traditional tools
• Mixing: Interesting transitions, making dull sounds more interesting, creating stereo width in a unique way

Layout

The Wavefield interface consists of four main sections:

Header Section

• File picker browser
• Preset name display and menu
• Arrow button menu navigation
• Processing mode selector (Magnitude / Spectral IR)
• Stereo and Smooth knobs
• Tempo sync button and beat division dropdown
• Playback mode selector
• Wavetable editor and preset Save buttons

Waveform Visualization

• Real-time display of current wavetable frame
• Parameter Lock button
• dB visualization button

Trim Visual

• Shows the active portion of the wavetable
• WT Start and WT End range indicators

Control Sections

• Top Row – Processing Controls: Depth, Floor, Phase Speed, Skew

   

• Middle Row – Wavetable Trim Controls: WT Start, Pin, WT End

   

• Bottom Row: Safe Bass, Dry/Wet, Output, Limiter

Status Bar

• License status indicator
• Deactivation Button (when valid license is active)
• Purchase and Activation buttons (when applicable)

Loading Presets

Click the preset name in the header to open the preset menu. Factory presets are organized by category. User presets appear in a separate section.

Navigating Presets

Use the left/right arrows next to the preset name to step through presets sequentially.

Saving Presets

Click the save icon to save your current settings. Enter a name and the preset will be saved to the User folder.

Importing Wavetables

Wavefield can import standard .wav wavetable files. Drag and drop a .wav file onto the plugin, or use the folder icon to browse.

Saving Wavetables

Default Save Location:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Fine Increments/Wavefield/Presets/User/
• Windows: C:/ProgramData/Fine Increments/Wavefield/Presets/User/

Depth

In Magnitude mode, Depth controls the intensity of the spectral effect. At 0%, no processing occurs. At 100%, the full wavetable shape is applied.

In Spectral IR mode, Depth controls the phase rotation amount, adding harmonic coloration to the sound.

Floor

Stretches negative gain values toward silence for sharper filter-like cuts. At 100% (default), negative portions of the wavetable create moderate cuts. At 0%, cuts become much deeper, approaching silence.

Phase

Offsets the starting position of the wavetable cycle. At 0°, the cycle starts at the beginning of the trim range. At 180°, it starts halfway through. Useful for fine-tuning where modulation begins relative to your audio.

Note: Phase is disabled when PIN mode is active.

Speed

Controls the rate at which the wavetable position cycles through frames. Lower values create slow, evolving changes. Higher values create faster modulation.

Note: Speed is disabled when Sync is enabled or when PIN mode is active.

Skew

Controls how wavetable position maps to frequency bins:

• Negative values (-1 to 0): Logarithmic mapping - spreads wavetable detail across low frequencies
• Zero: Balanced blend between logarithmic and linear
• Positive values (0 to +1): Linear mapping - direct 1:1 bin mapping

Stereo (Stereoize)

Splits frequency gain changes between left and right channels to create stereo width. The left channel uses a slightly earlier wavetable position while the right uses a later position, creating mono-compatible stereo widening.

Smooth

Smooths sharp discontinuities in the wavetable frame shape, creating gentler spectral transitions.

• 0%: No smoothing - preserves exact wavetable shape
• 25-50%: Light smoothing - softens sharp edges while preserving character
• 50-100%: Heavy smoothing - creates broader, more gradual spectral curves

Technical Note: This can also help reduce any spectral artifacts if they ever occur with particularly aggressive wavetable shapes.

Safe Bass

Range: OFF to 400 Hz

Bypasses processing below the specified frequency to protect bass content. When enabled, frequencies below the threshold pass through unprocessed, with a smooth crossfade in the transition zone.

Dry/Wet

Blends between the original (dry) signal and the processed (wet) signal. Use lower values for subtle parallel processing effects.

Output

Final output gain adjustment. Use to compensate for any level changes introduced by processing.

Limiter

Output limiter ("L" Button). Lookahead peak limiter that transparently prevents the output from exceeding 0 dB without altering dynamics.

WT Start / WT End (Trim Range)

Range: 0-100%

Define the active portion of the wavetable that will be used for processing. Narrowing the trim range focuses modulation on specific wavetable frames.

• WT Start: Beginning of the active trim range
• WT End: End of the active trim range

The entire trim region can be dragged in the wavetable display for quick repositioning.

PIN Button (Manual Position Control)

When PIN is enabled:

• Wavetable position is locked and controlled manually
• WT Start becomes WT POS for precise position control
• Speed and Phase controls are disabled
• Perfect for automating wavetable position with full control

PIN and KF Steps are mutually exclusive - enabling one disables the other.

Wavefield offers three distinct processing algorithms, each with unique characteristics:

Magnitude Mode (Default)

The default processing mode. Clean, transparent spectral shaping.

How It Works

Think of it as a modulating EQ or filter, but with far more resolution than any traditional processor. As the wavetable morphs, hundreds of frequency bands shift simultaneously, creating smooth spectral movement that would be impossible to achieve with conventional EQ automation. The result is clean and transparent compared to Spectral IR mode.

Characteristics

• Transparency: Most natural-sounding mode
• Flexibility: Works well on all source material
• CPU: Most efficient processing
• Color: Minimal artifacts, clean processing
• Depth Control: Controls intensity of gain changes

Best For

• General-purpose spectral processing
• Subtle harmonic enhancement
• When transparency is priority

Phase Warp Mode

Similar to magnitude mode but with extra dynamics and phaseyness.

How It Works

Complex multiplication with phase rotation control.

Characteristics

• Coloration: Slightly more dramatic and 'phasey' spectral transformations
• Complexity: Richer harmonic interactions
• Depth Control: Controls the amount of phase rotation applied

Best For

• Otherworldly, unnatural sounds
• Watery, squelchy and misty sounds
• More character than Magnitude can impart

Spectral IR Mode

Spectral-domain impulse response processing.

How It Works

Uses wavetable as convolution impulse response.

Characteristics

• Coloration: More emphasis on filter shape than on wild gain swings
• Complexity: Capable of very complex morphing filters
• Skew Control: Controls the frequency mapping, which amounts to filter "cutoff"

Best For

• Creative sound design
• Imposing complex and dramatic character on sounds
• Morphing the timbre of sounds

Workflow Tip: Start with Magnitude mode for most tasks, then explore Phase Warp and Spectral IR for extra character and transformation.

Control how Wavefield cycles through wavetable frames:

Forward Mode

Behavior: Plays from WT Start to WT End, then loops back to WT Start

• Continuous, repeating cycle
• Predictable, musical results
• Standard for most applications

PingPong Mode

Behavior: Plays forward from WT Start to WT End, then reverses back to WT Start

• Bidirectional movement
• Smooth direction changes
• Twice the effective cycle length
• No sudden jumps at loop points

Reverse Mode

Behavior: Plays backwards from WT End to WT Start, then loops to WT End

• Inverted progression
• Same content as Forward, opposite direction

Random Mode

Behavior: Jumps to random wavetable positions at regular intervals

• Unpredictable, experimental results
• New position each beat (when tempo synced) or cycle
• Creates stepped rather than smooth transitions

Enabling Sync

Click the SYNC button to synchronize wavetable cycling to your DAW's tempo. When enabled, the Speed knob is disabled and the Tempo Sync dropdown becomes active.

Available Divisions

Wavefield supports a comprehensive range of note divisions:

• Fast: 1/32T, 1/32, 1/32D, 1/16T, 1/16, 1/16D
• Medium: 1/8T, 1/8, 1/8D, 1/4T, 1/4, 1/4D
• Slow: 1/2T, 1/2, 1/2D, 1T, 1, 1D
• Very Slow: 2 Bars T, 2 Bars, 3 Bars, 4 Bars T, 4 Bars, 6 Bars, 8 Bars T, 8 Bars, 12 Bars

Understanding Triplet and Dotted Divisions

• Triplet (T): Divides the beat into three equal parts. 2/3 the duration of the straight division.
• Dotted (D): Extends the note by 50%. 1.5x the duration of the straight division.

Click the EDIT button to open the built-in wavetable editor. This powerful tool lets you create and modify wavetable frames directly within the plugin.

Overview

The editor uses a keyframe-based workflow where you define key spectral shapes, and Wavefield interpolates between them to create smooth transitions. The editor panel contains drawing tools, transform operations, playback controls, and a preset sidebar.

Keyframe System

• Keyframe Slots: Up to 20 keyframes that define key spectral shapes
• Selection: Click a keyframe slot to select it for editing
• Add Keyframe: Click the + button to add new keyframes
• Remove Keyframe: Right-click a keyframe to remove it (minimum 2 required)
• Drag to Reorder: Drag keyframes to rearrange their positions
• Playback Indicator: Active keyframe pulses during playback to show current position

Drawing Tools

The main canvas shows the currently selected keyframe's waveform. The vertical axis represents amplitude (-1 to +1), which maps to spectral gain when processing.

Brush Mode

• Default drawing mode - freehand drawing with adjustable brush size
• Click and drag to draw shapes
• SIZE knob controls brush width

Line Mode

• Click to place vertices - lines connect automatically between points
• SNAP toggle enables 8x4 grid snapping for precise placement
• Right-click removes last placed vertex
• APPLY button commits lines to waveform
• CLEAR button removes all placed vertices

Transform Tools

• FLIP H: Flip waveform horizontally (reverse time)
• FLIP V: Flip waveform vertically (invert amplitude)
• PHASE Knob: Rotate the waveform phase (0-360°)

Copy/Paste

• COPY: Copy current keyframe's waveform to clipboard
• PASTE: Paste clipboard waveform to selected keyframe

Loop Crossfade

Toggle LOOP X-FADE to enable smooth crossfading between the last and first frames at the loop boundary. This eliminates potential clicks when the wavetable cycles and creates seamless looping.

Fill Frames

The FILL button opens a dialog for automatically generating multiple keyframes:

Phase Fill Mode

Creates keyframes with progressively rotated phase. Set target phase (0-360°) and number of keyframes to fill forward or backward from current position. Great for creating smooth morphing sequences.

Spectral Sweep Mode

Creates keyframes with spectral shifts. The waveform is progressively shifted across the spectrum, creating filter sweep-like transitions.

KF Steps Mode

Toggle KF STEPS to enable keyframe stepping mode:

• Wavetable position jumps between keyframes rather than interpolating
• Creates rhythmic, stepped spectral changes
• Perfect for trance gate and glitch effects
• KF Steps and PIN are mutually exclusive

KF Gate

When KF Steps is enabled, the KF GATE knob controls the gate amount - the percentage of each keyframe step's duration that plays before going silent. At 0%, audio plays continuously. At higher values, audio is gated between keyframe transitions.

Chain Offset

The Chain Offset control (Δ) compensates for upstream plugin latency when Wavefield is not the first plugin in a serial insert chain on the same track. When other plugins with processing latency are placed before Wavefield, the DAW does not adjust the reported transport position to account for the audio delay those plugins introduce. This causes all of Wavefield's tempo-synced behavior to drift off the beat grid — including wavetable position cycling, KF Steps frame selection, and gate timing.

To fix this, set the Chain Offset value (in milliseconds) to match the total latency of all plugins placed before Wavefield in the chain. Most DAWs display each plugin's latency in their mixer or plugin management view. Leave at 0 when Wavefield is the only plugin on the track or the first in the chain. This setting is saved per-instance with the DAW session but is not included in preset files.

Undo/Redo

Full undo history for all editing operations. Use UNDO to reverse changes and REDO to restore them. The undo system tracks waveform edits, keyframe additions/removals, preset applications, and transform operations.

Export

Click EXPORT to save your wavetable as a standard .wav file. This creates a compatible wavetable file that can be used in other synthesizers and plugins that support wavetable import.

Preset Sidebar

Toggle the sidebar arrow to show/hide the preset browser:

• Gray presets: Single frame shapes - loads to selected keyframe only
• Blue presets: Full wavetables - replaces entire wavetable with all keyframes

For Beginners

• Start with factory presets
• Use Magnitude mode at first
• Keep Depth moderate (40–60%)

For Experienced Users

• Import your own wavetables
• Explore Spectral IR mode for dramatic effects
• Use Pin mode for manual control and automation
• Create custom wavetables in the editor

Genre-Specific Techniques

Electronic Music

• Use tempo sync for rhythmic effects
• Low Floor setting for deep spectral cuts
• Random mode for glitch effects
• Use KF Steps and Gate for trancegate style effects

Ambient/Drone/Cinematic

• Choose smooth waveforms
• Slow Speed (0.01–0.05x) or long tempo divisions (4–8 bars)
• Moderate Depth for subtle movement
• PingPong mode or X-Fade for smooth evolution

Speed knob is erratic or jumps around

Switch off Transport Link. When enabled, the wavetable position syncs to DAW playback position, which can cause unexpected jumps when scrubbing or looping.

Effect is not intense enough

Turn down the Floor knob. At 100% (default), negative portions of the wavetable create moderate cuts. Lowering Floor stretches those cuts deeper toward silence for more dramatic filtering.

I want to audition different wavetables without changing my settings

Enable Parameter Lock (the lock icon). This preserves all your current knob positions when loading new wavetables or presets, so only the wavetable data changes.

Effect only registers in the high frequencies, not in bass

Turn down the Skew parameter toward negative values. Positive Skew concentrates wavetable detail in high frequencies. Negative Skew spreads the wavetable across low frequencies using logarithmic mapping.

I'm hearing ringing artifacts from steep wavetable shapes

Increase the Smooth setting. This softens sharp discontinuities in the wavetable frame shape, creating gentler spectral transitions.

It's way too loud and blowing up my headroom

Turn down the Output knob to compensate. Some wavetable shapes can boost overall level significantly. Use Output to bring the processed signal back to a manageable level.

Bass sounds weak or gets modulated unexpectedly

Enable Safe Bass and set it to an appropriate frequency (60-120Hz is typical for most material). This bypasses processing below the threshold to protect your low end.

Wavetable cycling doesn't match my track tempo

Enable Sync and select the appropriate note division from the dropdown. This locks wavetable cycling to your DAW's tempo grid.

I want static filtering without any movement

Enable PIN mode. This locks the wavetable position so you can manually set exactly which frame to use with the WT POS knob. Automate WT POS for precise control.

Keyframe steps are clicking or popping on wrap-around

Enable Loop X-fade in the wavetable editor. This creates smooth crossfades at loop boundaries. You can also try turning off the KF Gate.

I can't find the AU version of Wavefield

Try using the search bar in your DAW and type in "Wavefield" - there is a known edge case where the AU version shows up under a different company name that I can't fix until v2

Getting Help

Technical Support: support@fineincrements.com

Website: https://www.fineincrements.com

Providing Feedback

Your feedback helps improve Wavefield. Happy to receive feature requests.To report bugs, email support with:

• DAW and version
• Operating system
• Processor Type
• Plugin format (VST3/AU/AAX)
• Detailed description
• Steps to reproduce (for bugs)

Credits

Wavefield Audio Plugin
Developed by Seth Watson

Special thanks to: Stefan Tiedje, Jürgen De Blonde, Edward Clombe, Will B., Karl O., Boris Rumba, Anthony Chiarello, Martin Preussner, Ralf Körner

Manual Version: 1.0
Last Updated: 2026

Copyright © 2026 Fine Increments