I WISH Tutorial 1: Basic Parameters and Setup

Create distinctive sounds by controlling pitch and formant

I WISH, introduced in this series, is a pitch-freeze plug-in developed by the artists Infected Mushroom.

By controlling an audio signal’s pitch and changing its formant, which helps determine its timbre, you can create unusual effects or generate completely different phrases.
The possibilities depend on your imagination.

In this first installment, we explain how to apply I WISH and use its basic parameters.

I WISH tutorial video

Product information: I WISH product page

1. 1Overview of basic parameters (this article)
2. 2Animate the parameters

Questions and answers from the YouTube video

I bought this after watching the video. I understood how to set it up in Logic Pro X and got it working, but could you also explain how to set it up in FL Studio? The PDF included with the files was difficult to follow.

We have added FL Studio setup instructions to the following page: https://sleepfreaks-dtm.com/softsynth/iwish-1/ Please take a look.

Is this plug-in paid?

Yes, it is a paid product. The distributor’s product page is available at: https://dirigent.jp/product/polyverse/iwish/ Thank you for your continued support.

Applying I WISH

Setup in Logic and FL Studio is a little different, so those instructions are shown separately.

    
• Other DAWs
• Logic
• FL Studio

Insert I WISH as an effect on the track you want to process.

Create a MIDI track and route its MIDI output to I WISH.
Then program the phrase you want to play on the MIDI track.

Load it as an instrument on a software instrument track.
I WISH is listed under AU MIDI-controlled Effects.

Click the sidechain selector and choose the track you want to process.
The selected track’s audio now enters I WISH.

Lower the original track’s volume to mute it so its sound does not mix in.
Then program the desired MIDI phrase on the track hosting I WISH.

Open I WISH on the channel you want to process.

Open the I WISH settings.

Set Input port to a number of your choice; this example uses port 5.
Choose a MIDI port that is not used by other software.

Open MIDI Out.

Set its port to match the one chosen in I WISH.

Then program the phrase you want to play.
I WISH will play using the specified MIDI phrase.

    
• Other DAWs
• Logic
• FL Studio

The key controls: PITCH and FORMANT

I WISH changes the sound by controlling pitch and formant.

• PITCH: Set the played pitch in semitones.
• FORMANT: Adjust the frequency shift associated with pitch changes independently of pitch.

Enable the link icon in the center
if you want the formant value to follow pitch movement.

What is a formant?

A formant is a frequency component of the human voice that helps determine its character.

It is a frequency peak that moves over time.
There are several such peaks, referred to as the first formant, second formant and so on.

Pitch correction often involves formant adjustment. Changing these components substantially
can alter the character of the voice itself.

Polyphony and GLIDE

The POLY value sets the number of notes that can sound simultaneously from MIDI.
A value of 2 or more lets you play chords. To play more pitches at once,
increase this value.

In Mono mode only the most recently played note sounds, while
Legato can apply glide when notes overlap.
Both are monophonic modes suited to bass and lead parts.

Familiar from synthesizers, GLIDE smoothly transitions between played pitches.
The knob controls the time taken for the pitch transition.

These settings can significantly change the feel of a performance, so experiment to find values you like.
Exploring unexpected sounds can also be rewarding.

DRY/WET

The slider at the lower right controls the DRY/WET mix,
balancing the level of the I WISH effect against the original sound.

At 100% WET (slider fully up), only the sound produced by I WISH plays;
the original sound is not heard.

This is useful when you want to reproduce the programmed MIDI phrase completely.
(Sections without MIDI notes are muted.)

At 0% WET (slider fully down),
only the original sound plays and the I WISH effect is absent.

Values between 0 and 100 blend both sounds for a distinctive effect.
Adjust this control while listening to find the setting you prefer.

The next installment covers ways to animate pitch and formant.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Why control pitch and formant separately in I WISH?

Independent adjustment lets you change vocal character or create distinctive processing without tying formant shifts to pitch. You can also link the two controls with the link icon.

Q2. Does I WISH require special setup in Logic Pro?

Yes. I WISH appears under AU MIDI-controlled Effects. The Logic walkthrough above loads it on a software instrument track, selects the source through the sidechain, and programs MIDI on that track. The original FAQ also refers to routing a separate MIDI track; follow the illustrated Logic procedure above.

Q3. What happens at 50% DRY/WET?

The original and I WISH-generated sounds play together, creating a blend. Fine-tune the balance for a more natural or more creative result.

Q4. When is GLIDE useful?

It smooths transitions between pitches in monophonic bass or lead parts. As on a synthesizer, the knob controls the transition time.