The Kastle 2 Wave Bard is an experimental, patchable stereo sample player that lets you explore new rhythms and riffs through modulation and modularity.

• Samples are organized into banks, which can be selected and sequenced using knobs or CVs from the built-in Pattern generator and LFO.
• Reverse your sounds with the LENGTH knob and the Wave Bard’s unique reversing envelope.
• Play melodic samples in quantized scales, and enhance the sound with built-in filter, delay, or chorus/flanger effects.
• You can load not only your own samples but also rhythms and scales with the web-based app

Perfect portability

The Kastle 2 Wave Bard is a compact, portable instrument that runs on 3 AA batteries or USB-C, so it can inspire you anywhere, anytime. It loves to jam with your other portable gear—sync it with the sync in/out ports, and use the audio input to mix external signals with the Wave Bard’s output or run them through its built-in effects.

Modulate everything

All main parameters can be modulated and tightly sequenced by the surprisingly powerful CV and GATE pattern generator. Create groovy off-grid beats using the built-in LFO, which can be synced, reset, or left to run freely.

Follow the sound

Don’t make beats—let them naturally emerge! The Wave Bard is a semi-autonomous companion that keeps surprising you with fresh ideas. Get instant inspiration from the carefully crafted factory sound bank by the one and only Oliver Torr, or load your own samples and remix on the fly.

Features

• 8 samples per bank (adjustable from 3 to 32 samples in the editor)
• 6 factory-loaded banks (up to 32 banks in the editor)
• User samples can be loaded via web-based app
• 89 seconds sample limit (mono), 44s (stereo) at 44kHz, or combination
• Even more sample time available at lower sample rates
• Stereo audio processing at 44kHz/16-bit
  
  
• PITCH knob with range of ± 2 octaves (4 octaves total)
  — PITCH MOD attenuverter knob for modulating pitch
  — NOTE input: quantized pitch with selectable scales (updates on trigger)
  — FREE input: continuous, unquantized pitch modulation
  — User-defined scales via web-based app
  — BANK+PITCH MOD to change quantizer scale
  — BANK+SAMPLE MOD for root note adjustment
  — BANK+LFO MOD for fine tuning
  — BANK+PITCH to change and preview octave
  
  
• SAMPLE knob to select 1 of 8 samples
  — Press the SHIFT button to trigger the selected sample
  — TRIGGER input to trigger sample playback
  — SAMPLE MOD input with attenuation and two modes:
  — PLAY: CV modulation directly triggers samples
  — CUE: CV targets samples and playback waits for a trigger
  
  
• BANK input with attenuation to change sample banks using CV
  
  
• LENGTH envelope knob
  — Turn right to adjust decay
  — Turn left to reverse samples and add attack
  — During attack, samples don’t retrigger
  — LENGTH MOD input with attenuverter
  — LENGTH MOD updates only at trigger
  — Patchable ENV output of the envelope
  
  
• Stereo delay or chorus/flanger effects
• Resonant FILTER with Lowpass/Highpass modes
  
  
• LFO with triangle and pulse output, reset input, attenuverting modulation, synced or free
• Tempo generator with tap tempo, divider, and external clock input
• Pattern generator (tempo synced) with GATE and CV output, patch-programmable
• GATE generator contains RHYTHM patterns user-programmable via web-based app
  
  
• Stereo input with input gain (up to +12dB), accepts up to 6 Vpp signal
• Input can be mixed at the output or run through the built-in effects
• Stereo output capable of driving headphones up to 250 Ohm
• Analog sync input
• Analog sync output
• Modular I/O connections via right channel of the sync jacks

What’s in the box

• Kastle 2 Wave Bard unit
• Quickstart guide
• 10 patch cables
• Sticker
• For environmental reasons, batteries are excluded from the package

Technical Details

• USB-C (firmware updates, power)
• 3x AA battery power (both rechargeable and non-rechargeable)
• Power consumption approx. 100-150 mA, should last up to 15-18 hours on 3x AA batteries.