Waldorf Attack 3

What Waldorf Attack 3 Plug-In Is For

Waldorf Attack 3 is a virtual instrument dedicated to the creation and sound design of electronic drums. It targets producers of EDM, techno, house, hip-hop, drum and bass, and synthwave as well as sound designers seeking original, punchy, and malleable percussion. Thanks to the combination of synthesis and samples, you can start from a ready-to-play kit and then deeply transform it, or alternatively design each drum element (attack, body, noise, saturation, space) to achieve a unique sonic signature.

Main Features

24 Sounds per Kit and a Very Complete Per-Sound Architecture

Each kit includes 24 percussion sounds, and each sound features two oscillators capable of virtual analog synthesis and multi-samples. This approach allows you to go from a precise synthetic kick to a more organic snare, or layer textures to create hybrid percussion. The possibilities of frequency modulation and ring modulation bring metallic harmonics, digital claps, aggressive toms, or glitch effects depending on your settings.

Character and Impact: "Crack", Filters, and Dynamics

To enhance attack and presence in the mix, Attack 3 includes a "Crack" module particularly useful for adding bite to transients (snappy kicks, sharper snares, more cutting percussion). The filter offers an extensive palette: 12/24 dB low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass, as well as shelf, bell, and notch, plus comb modes plus/minus and redux to dirty, thicken, or radically alter the texture. For shaping, you have two envelopes (ADSR and ADBDSR modes) to precisely control attack, punch, decay, sustain, and release.

Movement and Modulation: 2 LFOs per Sound

Two LFOs per sound allow subtle (or strong) timbre animation: pitch variations, wobble, tremolo, filter sweeps, rhythmic effects. Shapes, phase, and speed are adjustable, and delay and fade parameters facilitate progressive movements, perfect for builds, transitions, or lively grooves.

Built-In Effects and Multiple Outputs for a True Studio Workflow

At the sound level, Attack 3 offers EQ, compressor, and one assignable effect slot, with a selection including delay, drive, phaser, flanger, chorus, and reverb. For advanced production, you benefit from 6 stereo outputs: each bus has its own EQ, compressor, and 3 assignable effect slots. The effect mix is adjustable per sound, helping to place each drum element in the space without losing punch control.

Presets, Ergonomics, and MIDI Control

The included bank offers 36 kits and over 850 sounds, accessible via a preset browser to quickly load a full kit or pick a single sound. The graphical interface is resizable to fit your screen and DAW. There is also a handy global tuning to match the entire kit to the track's key, as well as MIDI learn to assign parameters to your controllers. Finally, sounds 12 to 24 can be played polyphonically via MIDI channels, an asset for performing certain percussion like real instruments (rolls, noise chords, layered textures) or for more expressive performances.

Technical specifications

Type

Full software

Downloadable

Yes

Polyphony	64 voices	Available effects	delay, drive, phaser, flanger, chorus, reverb
Per sound	2 oscillators (virtual analog synthesis and multi-samples)	Outputs	6 stereo outputs
Modulations	frequency modulation and ring modulation	Per output bus	EQ, compressor, and 3 assignable effect slots
Filter	12/24 dB high-pass, low-pass, band-pass, shelf, bell, notch, comb plus/minus, redux	macOS	VST3, AudioUnit, AAX
2 envelopes	ADSR and ADBDSR modes	Windows	VST3, AAX
2 LFOs	adjustable shapes, phase, and speed, with delay and fade