wave-bard

name	wave-bard
description	Use when working with the Bastl Kastle 2 Wave Bard — patchable stereo sample player with 8 samples/bank, scale quantization, resonant filter, stereo delay/chorus-flanger, pattern generator, LFO, and full CV/Gate/MIDI modulation. Firmware v1.1+.
version	1.0.0
author	Hermes Agent
license	MIT
metadata	{"hermes":{"tags":["instrument","sampler","kastle2","bastl","cv","midi","patchbay"],"related_skills":["fx-wizard","kastle2-hardware"]}}

Bastl Kastle 2 — Wave Bard

Manufacturer: Bastl Instruments (Czech Republic) — NOT Korg
Platform GitHub: https://github.com/bastl-instruments/kastle2

Wave Bard is a patchable stereo sample player with 8 samples per bank, scale quantization, resonant filter, stereo delay/chorus-flanger, pattern generator, LFO, and full CV/Gate/MIDI modulation.

When to Use

• Triggering and playing audio samples with CV/MIDI modulation
• Building quantized melodic sequences on a Eurorack-compatible platform
• Creating rhythmic patterns with the internal pattern generator and LFO
• Patching custom signal chains using the 3.5mm patchbay
• Loading custom samples via the web app editor

Quick Reference

Control	Function
SHIFT (short press)	Trigger selected sample (on button release)
SHIFT + KNOB	Secondary (silver) function
BANK	Next bank
BANK + SHIFT	Previous bank
SHIFT + PITCH knob	Output volume
SHIFT + PITCH MOD knob	Input gain
SHIFT + BANK (>2s)	Advanced settings
SHIFT + BANK (>10s)	Memory reset
SHIFT + BANK (tap)	Tap tempo

Main Controls (Follow the White Woodpeckers)

Knob	Parameter	Secondary (SHIFT+)
PITCH (top right)	Playback rate ±2 octaves	Output volume
PITCH MOD (top left)	Modulation amount of pitch CV input	Input gain
SAMPLE (middle right)	Select 1 of 8 samples in bank	Filter (LP/HP)
SAMPLE MOD (middle left)	CV modulation of sample select (PLAY or CUE mode)	Delay or Chorus/Flanger
LENGTH (center)	Decay (right) or reverse attack (left)	LENGTH input attenuversion
LFO (bottom right)	LFO speed/sync	Tempo (when SHIFT held)
LFO MOD (bottom left)	LFO modulation amount	Load preset rhythm
BANK button	Next bank	Previous bank (hold SHIFT)

Sample Organization

• 8 samples per bank (adjustable 3–32 in editor)
• 6 factory banks (Oliver Torr)
• Turn SAMPLE knob to browse 8 samples. SHIFT triggers the current sample.
• Each bank has a color. BANK button cycles banks.
• Samples organized as: Bank → Sample index → Sound

Loading custom samples: Via web app → generates .uf2 firmware file → copy to Wave Bard in boot mode (hold SHIFT + power ON).

Pitch & Quantizer

PITCH knob: ±2 octaves playback rate (4 octaves total range). Not quantized by default.

Quantized pitch: Sample pitch aligns to musical scale when NOTE PITCH MOD input changes or when previewing scale (hold BANK + turn PITCH).

Scale Selection

BANK + PITCH MOD → cycles through scales. Default scales:

Scale	Notes (from C)
Chromatic	All 12
Major	C D E F G A B
Minor	C D Eb F G Ab Bb
Pentatonic	C D E G A
Blues	C Eb F Gb G Bb

User-defined scales loadable via web app editor.

Pitch Controls

Action	Control
Change octave	BANK + PITCH (triggers sample on change)
Fine tune ±2 semitones	BANK + LFO MOD (after quantizer)
Set root note	BANK + SAMPLE MOD
Free (unquantized) pitch	PITCH knob directly (no scale)
Quantized pitch CV	NOTE PITCH MOD patch input (updates on trigger)
Free pitch CV	FREE patch input (continuous, unquantized)

Note: All loaded samples should be tuned to tone C for tonal accuracy with scales.

Sample Trigger & Envelope

Trigger

• SHIFT (short press): Triggers selected sample on button release
• TRIG patch input: Trigger sample playback

Length Envelope

• LENGTH right: Sets decay time
• LENGTH left: Sets reverse attack envelope (sample plays backward, then fades in forward)
• During reverse attack: sample does not retrigger
• LENGTH MOD: CV modulation of length envelope (updates only at trigger)
• ENV OUT: Patchable output of the length envelope

Sample Select Modulation (SAMPLE MOD)

Mode	Setting	Behavior
PLAY	Knob left	CV directly triggers samples
CUE	Knob right	CV aims at sample, playback waits for TRIG

BANK input: Patch point for bank selection CV with attenuation.

Effects

Delay / Chorus-Flanger (SHIFT + SAMPLE MOD)

Position	Effect
Center	No effect
Left	Stereo delay (tempo-synced to 3/8th note)
Right	Chorus + flanger + soft-clipping distortion

Filter (SHIFT + SAMPLE)

Position	Type
Center	Open (no filter)
Left	Lowpass filter
Right	Highpass filter

Tempo Generator

Tempo source priority: USB MIDI clock > SYNC IN > Internal clock

• SHIFT + LFO knob: Set tempo (magenta = internal, cyan = external active)
• SHIFT + tap BANK: Tap tempo

SYNC Jacks:

• SYNC IN (left channel): External clock detection
• SYNC OUT: Outputs master clock; acts as SYNC THRU when SYNC IN is connected

Modulation Sources

LFO

• LFO knob right: Free-running (warm white light)
• LFO knob center: Synced to tempo (cold white light)
• LFO outputs: TRI (triangle), PULSE (high when triangle rises)
• LFO inputs: RESET (rising edge resets to peak), LFO MOD (speed modulation)

Shaping waveforms: Patch PULSE → LFO MOD for ramp/saw; patch TRI → LFO MOD for exp/log.

Pattern Generator

Always tempo-synced:

• GATE: Rhythmic 8-step sequence (75% gate length per step)
• CV: Stepped voltage sequence, 8-step

Patchbay inputs:

• PATTERN G (left): Modifies GATE rhythm
• PATTERN C (right): Modifies CV sequence
• PATTERN R (middle): RESETS both GATE and CV on rising edge

GATE rhythm: SHIFT + LFO MOD knob → cycles through 16 preset rhythms from web app.

Patchbay Summary

Triple Patch Points

Three horizontal points are interconnected. Multiple outputs → single input = combined signal.

Output vs Input

• Outputs: White outline, labeled inside
• Inputs: White text or white arrows (no outline)

Voltage Compatibility

• Inputs: 0–5V | Outputs: 0–5V

Bi-Directional Ports (TRS at back)

Symbol	Description
+	Logic high output (~5V)
−	Logic low output (~0V)
⏚	Direct ground reference

⚠️ When connecting multiple Kastles: connect grounds together. Audio/sync jacks connect grounds automatically; use ⏚ → ground for explicit connection.

Audio Input Routing

SHIFT + PITCH MOD knob: Adjust input gain.

Input routing (Advanced Settings → PITCH knob):

• Right (blue): Mix AUDIO IN with Wave Bard at output
• Left (red): Route AUDIO IN through Wave Bard effects

Mono input mode (Advanced Settings → PITCH MOD knob):

• Left = mono left | Center = stereo | Right = mono right

Advanced Settings

Enter: SHIFT + BANK (>2s) | Exit: Power cycle or SHIFT + BANK (>2s)

Setting	Control	Values
Audio input behavior	PITCH MOD knob	Left=mono L, Center=stereo, Right=mono R
Input routing	PITCH knob	Left=FX through, Right=mix at output
Clock priority	LFO knob	Khaki=ignore MIDI, White=normal, Orange=ignore SYNC IN
Memory reset	SHIFT + BANK (>10s)	—

Patch Recipes

Full cookbook (16 recipes): references/patch-recipes.md

MIDI Implementation

Full CC table, note mapping, and clock sync: references/midi-cc.md

Web App Editor (Sample Loader)

Full editor guide, upload steps, and tips: references/web-app.md

Resources

Document	Source
Quickstart Guide	/home/rjodouin/Downloads/kastle2-stuff/manual-kastle2-wavebard-quickstart-web.pdf
Complete Manual	/home/rjodouin/Downloads/kastle2-stuff/manual-kastle2-wavebard-web.pdf
Cookbook (recipes)	/home/rjodouin/Downloads/kastle2-stuff/kastle2-wavebard-cookbook.pdf
Patch Sheets	/home/rjodouin/Downloads/kastle2-stuff/kastle2-wavebard-patchsheet.pdf
Sample Loader Web App	apps.bastl-instruments.com/wave-bard-sample-loader
GitHub (open-source)	github.com/bastl-instruments/kastle2