Put the biggest, baddest analog sounds at your fingertips.

• Sculpt enormous bass and powerful leads that fill out your song with fat analog texture
• Dial in the bold analog-modeled filter from subtle warmth and saturation to all-out sonic destruction
• Get unapologetically lo-fi with vintage modulation effects, spring reverb, and dubby tape echo
• Create evolving sequences with a step sequencer that adds polyrhythms, accents, and generative textures

Make Sounds That Make Statements 

Anthem is built for sculpting thick bass, punchy leads, and expressive sequences — without the need for layering or complex plug-in chains. With its crunchy analog-modeled filter, fat oscillators, and lo-fi effects, you’ll make sounds that make statements.

Fire up Fat Analog Textures

With Anthem, we took inspiration from the most coveted mono-synths of bygone eras, then we went beyond to create something entirely new. With bold, “perfectly imperfect” analog textures and vibey paraphonic chords — you'll add energy and emotion to your modern productions.

Anthem Analog Synthesizer

 

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Overview

Anthem is designed to be fast, fun, and easy to use. All controls are available on the main screen and nothing is hidden in sub menus, so you can quickly adjust your sounds.

Exploring Sounds

• After loading Anthem in your DAW, explore the presets. Click the preset name at the top of the synth to open the presets browser.
• Click some presets while playing your MIDI controller. You can use your computer's up/down arrow keys to step through the sounds, or browse presets tagged by type, genre, or description. If you like the preset, click its star so you can view all your favorites together.
• Play with the controls. For example, adjust the filter cutoff and/or resonance to tweak your sound.
• Play with the sequencer. Pick a preset that has an enabled sequence (when the yellow button next to Sequencer is lit) and start playing. If you’d like to play the sound without the sequencer, just click the yellow button to switch it off. If you’re already familiar with sequencers and want to dive in, click SEQUENCER or the ∨ ∧ symbols to access its controls.

Operating Controls

• Fine adjustment – Hold the Shift key while dragging knobs or sliders for extra precision when fine-tuning a control.
• Return to default – Option-click (Mac) or Alt-click (Windows) controls to reset them to their default setting.
• Knob shortcuts – Click a knob label to quickly jump to that position.
• Concentric knobs – Some controls have inner and outer knobs. This brings related controls (like coarse and fine tune) together in one place and reduces visual clutter. With these controls, the black inner knob and the silver outer knobs are separate controls but each knob still follows the fine adjustment and return to default behaviors described above. 
• Hover – When you hover the mouse over a control, its specific value is displayed. 

Voice Architecture

Anthem’s front panel has clearly labeled sections, such as OSC, MIXER, and LFO. The signals generally flow from left-to-right, top-to-bottom. In other words, your sounds start near the top left (Oscillators 1 & 2) and work their way down and to the right until they reach the main Volume knob at the bottom right.

Signal Flow

The Oscillators, Mixer, Filter and Effects (Chorus, Mod FX, and Space FX) are in the audio path, meaning these sections actually generate or process the sound that Anthem makes.

The Filter Envelope, Amp Envelope, and LFO sections don’t generate sounds, but they let you modulate (change) the sounds in the audio path. Modulations create movement and add emotion to a sound. For example, you can alter an oscillator’s pitch with an LFO to create vibrato, or set the filter envelope to make a slow “wobble” or fast “snap” in your sound.

Finally, the Voice section is at the bottom right. This section contains global controls that affect Anthem as a whole, including overall volume, controls that determine what your MIDI controller’s pitch and mod wheels do, and whether Anthem operates in paraphonic, monophonic or unison mode.

Effects

Anthem's high quality effects are easily-controlled takes on lo-fi classics that give your synth sounds organic modulation, movement, and space.

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Oscillators

Oscillators are where source signals are generated and are the starting point of any synthesizer. Anthem features two primary analog-modeled oscillators (OSC 1 and OSC 2), plus a sub-oscillator, noise generator, and extensive modulation options. 

Anthem’s OSC 1 and OSC 2 controls are mostly identical. The bottom controls are slightly different between the oscillators to give you broader sonic options.

• OCTAVE – Both oscillators can operate in three different pitch ranges. Zero is the standard pitch of the oscillator. If you want to shift the oscillator’s pitch up or down by an octave, select +1 or -1. 
• TUNE – These concentric knobs set the pitch of each oscillator. The inner black knob adjusts coarse tuning in semitones, and the outer silver knob adjusts fine tuning in cents. Set to zero (center position) for standard pitch.
• SHAPE / MOD – These concentric knobs set the shape of the waveform for the oscillator and the amount of any modulation that is applied to that shape.
  
  Shape: The black inner knob determines the wave shape, from Triangle to Sawtooth to Square, then from an even square to a narrow pulse. The wave shape is continuously variable, so you are not limited to pure triangle, sawtooth or square wave shapes. You can smoothly morph between shapes to find “in-between” sounds that emerge as you turn the knob, offering many sound design possibilities.
  
  Mod: The silver outer knob sets the amount of modulation applied to the shape by the LFO or Filter Envelope. You can modulate by adding or subtracting with negative (counter-clockwise) or positive (clockwise) amounts.
• SHAPE MOD SOURCE – This switch selects the source, either LFO or Filter Envelope (F.ENV), to modulate the Wave Shape feature for Oscillator 1.
• SUB (OSC 1) – Oscillator 1 has a sub-oscillator that lets you hear a lower-octave copy of the same sound to make it thicker. This knob sets the sub-oscillator amount.
• SUB OCTAVE – The sub-oscillator pitch can be one or two octaves below the pitch of Oscillator 1. This knob sets the sub-oscillator octave value.
• WARP / MOD (OSC 2) – Oscillator 2 can be synchronized to itself (Sync) or ring modulated (Ring), as determined by the WARP MODE switch.
  
  Warp: The black inner knob sets the warp amount. Warp can be increased by up to 36 semitones. Warp is heard when the knob is above zero, or if warp modulation is applied with the MOD amount knob.
  
  Mod: The silver outer knob sets the amount of modulation applied to WARP by the LFO or Filter Envelope.
• WARP MOD SOURCE – This switch selects the source, either LFO or Filter Envelope (F.ENV), for modulating the Warp feature for oscillator 2.
• WARP MODE – The Warp feature for oscillator 2 can be set to Sync (oscillator sync) or Ring (ring modulation) with this switch.

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Pitch Mod

This knob controls the amount of LFO or Filter Envelope or modulation that is applied to the pitch of both oscillators.

• PITCH MOD SOURCE – This switch selects LFO or Filter Envelope (F.ENV) as the source of pitch modulation for both oscillators. 

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Mixer

The mixer blends the signal volumes of the two oscillators and the noise generator before routing to the filter.

• OSC VOLUME – Increase these knobs above zero to hear the oscillator signals.
• NOISE VOLUME – Increase this knob above zero to hear the noise signal. 
• NOISE COLOR – Use this switch to choose pink noise (softer) or white noise (brighter) from the noise generator.

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Filter

The filter is one of the most important sound-shaping components of any synthesizer. It receives the output of the mixer and filters out high frequencies while letting low frequencies pass through. Anthem also features a high pass filter that you can use to further sculpt your sounds.

• DRIVE – Boosts the output of the mixer, which changes saturation, increases growl, and makes it harder for the filter to self-oscillate.
• CUTOFF – The largest knob in the filter section adjusts the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter. By adjusting the filter cutoff you can brighten, darken, and otherwise alter your sound.
• RES / GROWL – These concentric knobs control the filter resonance and growl amount. The controls are off when at zero.
  
  Resonance (RES): The inner black knob adjusts the amount of feedback into the filter, which emphasises frequencies near the cutoff frequency. At higher settings, the filter can self-oscillate (create its own pitch) at the cutoff frequency.
  
  Growl: The outer silver knob adds a specific flavor of grunge to the filter, by slightly modulating the cutoff frequency with the incoming soundwave. Growl is most obvious when Resonance is set to high values.

Filter Mods

• ENV – Adjusts the amount of Filter Envelope modulation applied to the filter cutoff frequency. Negative and positive values are available, for reducing or increasing the cutoff frequency. At zero (center), envelope modulation is off.
• LFO – Adjusts the amount of LFO modulation applied to the filter cutoff frequency. Negative and positive values are available, for reducing or increasing the cutoff frequency. At zero (center), LFO modulation is off.
• KEY – Keyboard tracking increases the brightness of your sound as higher notes are played, mimicking the sound of instruments that sound brighter at higher pitches, by increasing the filter cutoff frequency with the note pitch. When set to 100%, keyboard tracking is linear, so when a played note is an octave higher than the previous note, the filter cutoff frequency is doubled.
• HIGH PASS (HP) – Sets the cutoff frequency of the high pass filter, for reducing the sound's bass frequencies.
• TO HP – When enabled, the high pass filter cutoff frequency follows the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter, so the combined filters behave as a bandpass filter.

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Envelopes

Envelopes control how a sound dynamically changes (modulates) over time. When you play a note, the envelope rises (attack), falls (decay), sustains, and when you release a key, falls again. Envelopes are used to modulate various synthesis functions such as volume, pitch, and timbre to shape the sound over time.

Anthem features two envelopes (FILTER and AMP) with identical controls. Each envelope slider has an LED that lights to indicate which ADSR stage is active. The VEL (velocity) slider LED indicates incoming MIDI note velocity.

• FILTER ENV – The Filter envelope is typically used to control the filter cutoff, but it can also be assigned to control oscillator shape mod, pitch mod, and warp.
• AMP ENV – The Amp envelope controls the amplitude (volume) of your sound over time. 

Envelope Sliders

• ATTACK (A) – Adjusts the time before the envelope reaches its maximum level.

• DECAY (D) – After attack, adjusts the time before the envelope reaches the sustain level.
• SUSTAIN (S) – After decay, adjusts the level of the sustain stage. If Sustain is set to 100%, there is no decay.
• RELEASE (R) – Adjusts how fast the envelope level falls to zero after the note is off.
• VELOCITY (VEL) – Scales the incoming note velocity from 0 to 100%. Increase for more velocity sensitivity, or decrease for less sensitivity.
  
  Tip: Older synths don't have velocity-sensitive keyboards. For a more vintage feel, set VEL to zero.

Envelope Examples

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LFO

The LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) generates a wavering/oscillating source that you can use to modulate wave shape, pitch, warp, and filter cutoff. 

• SYNC – Synchronizes the LFO to the tempo of your music software. When on, the button is lit and RATE snaps to the nearest musical time subdivision (1/4, 1/8, 1/16, etc.) When off, the RATE knob turns smoothly and its values are displayed in Hertz.
• RETRIG – Switches retriggering on and off. When switched on, the LFO restarts from the beginning each time you play a note. When switched off, the LFO runs freely and does not restart when you play a note (i.e., when you play a note, you hear the LFO in whatever position it happens to be in at that time).
• RATE – Sets the speed of the LFO. The nearby LED pulses in time with your selected LFO rate.
• TILT – Introduces asymmetry into the LFO shape. The default 0% setting (center position) generates a pure wave, while rotating the knob clockwise or counter-clockwise will shift the "center" of the waveform left or right. You can use TILT to create sawtooth waves, adjust the duty cycle of square waves, or add a bit of swing to the stepped random and smooth random wave shapes.
• SHAPE – Choose the LFO waveform with this control. Triangle, square, stepped random, and smooth random wave shapes are available.

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Voice

Controls in this section affect how incoming notes are handled by Anthem.

• MODE – Anthem can operate in three different modes:
  
  Para (Paraphonic): Plays up to four voices through the same filter and amplifier envelopes. Anthem’s filter and amp envelopes are always monophonic, but in paraphonic mode, the oscillators are polyphonic. When legato mode is off in paraphonic mode, adding a new note to a held chord retriggers the envelopes. When legato mode is on in paraphonic mode, adding a new note to a held chord does not retrigger the envelopes.
  
  Mono (Monophonic): Plays one voice at a time.
  
  Unison: All voices play the same note for a thicker sound.
• LEGATO – When Legato is on and a note is held, a new note does not retrigger the envelopes. Instead, the new note uses the envelopes of the original note. Legato is available in Paraphonic and Monophonic modes.
  Tip: For classic acid-style basslines, enable Legato when steps in the sequencer's gate panel are also set to legato.
• DETUNE – When in Unison mode, this knob produces a thicker sound by detuning the voices.

Wheels

• MOD (Modulation) – This slider mirrors the position of the MIDI controller's modulation wheel. You can also use this slider to manually adjust the mod wheel position.
• BEND AMT – Adjusts the pitch range response of the MIDI controller's pitch bend wheel, in semitones.
• DEST (Destination) – Selects which parameter the modulation wheel on your MIDI controller will affect. You can choose Vibrato, Filter Cutoff, or LFO Rate.
• AMT (Amount) – Adjusts the range of the mod wheel destination. Increase the value for more mod wheel effect.

More

• GLIDE – Sets the portamento rate. Instead of discrete notes when a new note is played, with Glide the pitch of the previous note smoothly transitions to the pitch of the new note. When Legato is on, Glide is only heard if a new note is played while the previous note is held. 
• TUNE – Changes the overall pitch. Set to zero cents (center) for standard tuning.
• VOLUME – Sets the overall output level of the synthesizer.

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Effects

Anthem's high quality effects are easily controlled takes on lo-fi classics that give your synth sounds organic modulation, movement, and space.

Chorus

• ENABLE – The upper button toggles chorus on and off.
• STEREO – The lower button toggles between mono and stereo modes.
• INTENSITY – Adjusts the strength of the chorus effect.

Mod FX

• ENABLE – Toggles the modulation effect on and off.
• MODE – Choose from four classic modulation effects: Phaser, Flange Positive, Flange Negative, and Warble (wow and flutter).
• RATE – Adjusts the speed of the modulation effect.
• INTENSITY – Sets the strength of the modulation effect.

Space FX

• AMOUNT – Adjusts the effect intensity. Set to zero to disable Space FX.
• SYNC – When Mode is set to Echo, this button synchronizes the effect's delay time to the BPM tempo of the DAW.
• MODE – Choose from classic Echo, Spring Reverb, and Hall Reverb effects. 
• TIME – Adjusts the effect duration. When Echo is selected and Sync is on, sets the subdivision of the DAW tempo. 
• FEEDBACK / TONE – Adjusts the sound of the selected effect. When Echo is selected, controls the amount of delay feedback. When Spring or Hall is selected, controls the brightness of the reverb. 

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Sequencer

Anthem's sequencer is an inspiring way to add movement and rhythmic excitement to your sounds, come up with new compositions, or simply let you adjust other controls while the sequencer plays notes for you. This creative tool lets you program looping patterns for gate, pitch, and velocity that start playing when you press a key.

Tip: The sequencer tempo is always synchronized to the DAW tempo. 

Navigation

• Enable sequence – Toggle the sequencer on and off by clicking the yellow button at the top left of the sequencer display.
• Accessing controls – To open the sequencer panels, click SEQUENCER, the ∨ symbol, or the lane labels that appear when hovering over their colored bars. When open, you can adjust the sequencer’s three lanes and global controls. To close the panels, click SEQUENCER or the ∨ ∧ symbols. 
• Selecting lanes – The sequencer has individual lanes to change gate, pitch, and velocity. To access each lane, click the GATE, PITCH, and VEL tabs at the top of the panel.

Lane controls

• Adjusting lane controls – Each of the three lanes has 16 programmable steps. The function of each step control depends on the currently selected lane, as detailed below.
• Step on/off – To toggle a lane step on or off, click the number at the top of the step. When enabled, the step is lit and the sequencer adjusts the gate, pitch, or velocity when the sequencer reaches that step. When disabled, the step is dimmed and muted.
• Adjusting step values – The 16 vertical sliders set the value for each step. Drag the colored bars, or click anywhere in the bar, to adjust the step's value. The step's current value is displayed under each slider.
• Lane length – Drag the horizontal slider at the bottom of the panel to set the number of steps in the lane.
• Link lengths – When link length is off, each lane can have its own length for polyrhythmic patterns. This icon has the same function as the Link Lanes button in the global panel.
  Tip: When lane lengths are linked, the length slider in all lanes is white. When unlinked, the slider matches the color of the currently selected lane.

Gate lane

This lane lets you change the duration and envelope triggering of each sequenced note.

• Gate length – The step sliders change the note duration. Set to lower values for shorter notes, or higher values for longer notes.
• Legato (LGT) – When a slider is at the top position (above 100%), the next step doesn't retrigger the envelopes, and instead uses the envelopes of the legato step. Legato steps are indicated by a bracket.
  Tip: For authentic legato steps, be sure to enable Legato in the Voice section. Add some glide for acid sounds!

Pitch Lane

This lane lets you adjust the pitches of each individual step, in semitones and octaves.

• Pitch – The sliders change the pitch for each step. Set to zero (center) for original pitch, or offset the original pitch in semitones.
• Octave (OCT) – You can shift the octave of the original pitch up or down by up to three octaves. To change the octave, vertically drag the OCT number beneath each step.

Velocity Lane

The Velocity (VEL) lane lets you adjust the note velocity of each individual step.

Tip: To hear settings in this lane, the original sound needs to respond to velocity. To make your sounds respond to velocity, increase the VEL slider in the Filter and/or Amp envelopes. 

• Velocity level – The sliders set the note velocity of each step. 

Global

These controls adjust overall sequencer settings.

• RATE – Sets the subdivision of the DAW tempo for notes played by the sequencer. 
• SWING – Adjusts the "feel" of sequenced note timing. Set to 0% for straight time, or for a traditional shuffle feel in 4/4 time, set to 66%.
• GATE SCALE– Adjusts the length of all steps as an offset to the step lengths set in the Gate lane. When set to 100% (center position), the step values in the gate lane are used. Increase for longer notes, or decrease for shorter notes. 
• DIRECTION – This knob sets the ordering of sequencer steps playback. The numbers below represent the step playback order when a lane length is set to four steps.

• Forward: 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4
• Reverse: 4-3-2-1, 4-3-2-1
• Ping Pong 1: 1-2-3-4-3-2, 1-2-3-4-3-2 (first/last steps not repeated)
• Ping Pong 2: 1-2-3-4-4-3-2-1, 1-2-3-4-4-3-2-1 (first/last steps repeated)
• Random: Arbitrary ordering

• LINK LANES – Sets all lanes to the same length. This button has the same function as the link icon in the Gate/Pitch/Velocity lanes.
  Tip: When lane lengths are linked, the length slider in all lanes is white. When unlinked, the slider matches the color of the currently selected lane.
• RETRIGGER – When on, the sequence always plays from the first step when triggered with a played note. When off, the sequence timing is instead always synchronized to the beginning of the DAW's timeline, so played notes can start on other steps. Disable Retrigger when you always want the first step to play on the first beat of a measure.
  Note: To hear disabled retriggering, the DAW transport must be running. If the transport is stopped, the sequence always starts from the first step, even if Retrigger is off.

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MIDI Control & Automation

External MIDI continuous control (MIDI CC) can enhance live performances by, for example, adjusting synth settings with a hardware MIDI controller. Most parameters can also be automated by the DAW, which enables creative sound design possibilities during playback and mixing.

Some Anthem parameters are available for external MIDI control by default, without using UAD's MIDI Learn feature. However, you can override these default assignments with MIDI Learn. The tables below list the parameters and control numbers that are available for external MIDI CC by default.

 

Global

Oscillators

Mixer

Filter and Filter Envelope

Amplifier Envelope

LFO

Effects

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