Joranalogue Audio Design’s Warp 1: Analogue Power Curves for the Patch-Hungry

Joranalogue’s Warp 1 enters the Eurorack ecosystem as a new breed of waveshaper, one that’s unapologetically analogue and mathematically precise. The video opens with a simple demonstration: a basic triangle wave is fed into the module, and the resulting transformation is immediately audible and visible. The front panel proclaims its identity as a power curve waveshaper, and the host is quick to clarify that every bit of signal processing happens in the analogue domain—no digital trickery in sight.

At its core, Warp 1 implements a mathematical power function, allowing users to morph input signals in ways that go well beyond traditional distortion or saturation. This is not just about adding grit; it’s about sculpting the very relationship between input and output voltages. The module’s approach is refreshingly direct, with all key parameters accessible from the front panel, inviting both experimentation and precise control.

The video dives into the heart of Warp 1’s controls, starting with the exponent knob. Turning this control alters the curvature of the output: to the left, exponents between 1 and 10 yield a concave, sharper shape; to the right, values between 1 and 0.1 produce a more saturated, rounded response. The centre position leaves the signal untouched, effectively bypassing the power function. This knob alone offers a broad palette of timbral changes, from subtle thickening to radical reshaping.

Next up is the symmetry control, which introduces an offset to the input signal. This isn’t just a static tweak—CV can be patched in for dynamic modulation, opening the door to evolving waveshapes and voltage-controlled asymmetry. The scale knob, meanwhile, adjusts the function’s linear points. Depending on its setting, it can make the output track the input at specific voltages (like 5V), but its behaviour is context-dependent, interacting with the exponent and symmetry for nuanced results. It’s not a simple attenuator, but a deeper transformation of the shaping curve.

The interplay between these three controls is where Warp 1 really shines. As demonstrated, adjusting one parameter influences the response of the others, inviting hands-on exploration. The module’s design encourages users to dial in precise shapes or throw caution to the wind for more experimental fare, all while keeping the process tactile and immediate.

Joranalogue’s demo doesn’t stop at basic waveshaping. The clip knobs allow for independent adjustment of positive and negative voltage limits, enabling asymmetric clipping. This means you can squash just one side of the waveform, yielding harmonically rich and sometimes unpredictable results. The video shows how these settings interact with the exponent and scale, making it clear that this isn’t a one-trick pony.

A particularly interesting feature is the direct/hyper switch, which inverts the exponent to a negative value. This flips the shaping behaviour on its head, drastically altering the output and enabling effects like voltage-controlled pulse width modulation. The host demonstrates this by modulating symmetry with a sine wave and sequencing, resulting in animated, PWM-like textures from a source that’s not a square wave at all.

Full wave rectification is also on offer via the absolute switch, letting users transform any input into a strictly positive waveform while retaining all the other shaping options. Additional outputs include an inverted signal and a polarity gate, the latter acting as a comparator that tracks whether the output is above or below zero. These features extend Warp 1’s utility beyond mere waveshaping, making it a flexible tool for both audio and control voltage processing.

One of Warp 1’s standout features, as highlighted in the video, is its extensive CV control over every parameter. This isn’t just for slow modulation—audio-rate CV is fair game, allowing for complex, dynamic transformations that can keep up with the most frenetic modular patches. The host repeatedly emphasises that all switches and knobs can be voltage controlled, making the module a true modulation playground.

This level of control means Warp 1 can serve as a centrepiece for evolving textures, rhythmic gating, or even as a voltage-controlled comparator. The ability to patch in CV everywhere transforms what could be a static effect into a living, breathing part of any modular system. For those who thrive on patching and repatching, the possibilities are vast.