Synth block

Synth block

Axe-Fx III: 2 blocks, 4 channels
FM9: 1 block, 4 channels
FM3: 1 block, 4 channels
VP4: 2 blocks, 4 channels

Axe-Fx II: 2 blocks, no X/Y
AX8: 1 block, no X/Y
FX8: 1 block, no X/Y

Tips, tricks and troubleshooting

Monophonic input only

The Synth block handles single notes only (monophonic input), which means that you have to play VERY clean and avoid overlapping notes. If you don't, you'll hear ugly chirps.

FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES

---

[1] The Synth block is a very simple monophonic synth. It doesn't compare to the polyphonic capabilities of something like the FTP and it can't control outboard MIDI synths.

[2] The chirping is due to the pick attack being interpreted as a high pitch. One approach I've tried is dynamic filtering (i.e. alpha-beta trackers, etc.) for the pitch but that introduces other problems with the pitch sliding between notes. It's a limitation of the technology. Real-time pitch detection is simply limited in what it can do. The best solution is to alter your technique to minimize pick attack.

The Synth block is showcased in a few factory presets. Search the Factory presets page for synth.

Forum members such as Simeon, Swedish Chef, and Admin M@ have created synth presets. Search the forum or visit Axe-Change.

No Global blocks

The Synth block doesn't support Global blocks.

Lowering CPU usage

The Synth has three voices. Turn off voices that you don't use to save CPU.

Frequencies versus notes

The synth uses frequencies in Hz instead of musical notes. A handy workaround is to set FREQUENCY to 440Hz and use SHIFT to alter the notes.

See the Sound On Sound chart at the bottom of the EQ page for a handy note to frequency reference.

Warm up the tone

To warm up / soften the sound of the synth, add a Drive block before or after it. Try the RAT model.

Feedback simulation

Simeon created a way to simulate musical feedback, demonstrated here by Leon Todd.

Fatter Synth

To fatten the Synth sound, use at least two voices and detune them slightly. [3]

Drone note(s)

To create a drone note:

1. Turn off Voices 2 and 3
2. Switch off Tracking for Voice 1 and adjust pitch with the FREQUENCY parameter

Tips:

• Try the sawtooth waveform
• Make the sound fatter by using two Synth voices set to the same frequency
• Make the sound less boring by adding a low-pass Filter with LFO-controlled frequency
• Make the sound wider by adding a 100% wet Multi-Delay or Plex Delay set to detuning
• Change the pitch of the drone note, by switching the Synth between channels or by using Scene Controllers, attached to the PITCH or SHIFT parameter of the voice(s). Or just send the Synth into a Pitch block (changes the pitch of all voices)
• Use the Sequencer controller to have the Synth block play lines

Try this factory preset: FREMEN'S DRONE

Pink or white noise

The Synth block can generate white noise and pink noise.

Siren

To create a siren, select a square waveform and attach an LFO to the FREQ parameter of a single voice. Add a lot of reverb.

Test tone

If you want to make sure that the hardware is capable of generating sound, create a simple test tone:

1. Add a Synth block and connect it to the grid output
2. Select the sine waveform and turn off Tracking

Calibration tone

FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES

---

[4] Set the synth block to a 1K sine wave at -12 dB. Turn OUTPUT 1 to the maximum level position.

[5] There's actually a hidden calibration tone that is used during functional test. The Synth block is reference quality. I use it all the time to generate test tones. The output is spectrally purer than my $2000 Stanford Research Systems Synthesized Function Generator.

[6] The Synth block is measurably better than our Stanford Research Systems generator (which cost $2000).

Metronome

Read Tempo and Metronome for more information about using the Synth to create a metronome.