Pitch block

Manual

• 5.24 Pitch Shifter (PIT)
• 8.3 Custom Scales

User contributions

What is pitch shifting

• Wikipedia

Pitch developments

• Firmware 8.00: "New IMART (Intelligent Maximum-Likelihood Adaptive Real-Time) pitch detectors provide greatly improved pitch detection. Pitch detectors can now track complex chords. The Pitch Source parameter in the Pitch blocks has been changed to simply “Global” or “Local”. In either mode the tracking performance is the same, only the source of the pitch data is changed. The Pitch blocks benefit significantly from this improvement. Many presets that previously only worked with single notes now work with chords, even complex chords. Note, however, that intelligent pitch shifting is necessarily only single notes, by definition."
• Firmware 12.03: "Added “Mono” tracking mode to Pitch block Fixed and Whammy types. The Pitch Track parameter now selects “Off”, “Poly”, and “Mono”. Poly tracking works best for shifting chords and/or lower amounts of shift. Mono tracking works best for shifting single notes and/or larger shift amounts."

Pitch Learn feature

• The Pitch block has a Learn function. Turn it on, play a note, hold it: the Axe-Fx II sets the key according to the note you played.

Arpeggiator

• The Arpeggiator uses 16 steps. Here's a trick to expand that to 32 steps.

Pitch detune effect

• In general: detune up and down the same amount, between +/-5 and +/-10, delay the voices for more width (7ms), set mix at 25% or lower, place the block after the Amp block but before the Cab block, pan the voices L/R for stereo. Check for phase cancellation when running a mono rig.

Octaver effect

• If you need an Octaver effect (1 octave down voice):
  • set the pitch shifter to Fixed Harmony, 1 octave down, or
  • use the Ring Modulator (block) in tracking mode, or
  • set the Pitch block to Octave Divide.

Whammy pedal

• Go to Controllers and modifiers#Modifier curves for tips about optimizing the curve of the expression pedal.
• You can engage a Whammy on the fly without using Auto Engage. Go to Auto-engage a controller:
  1. Put a Pitch block in line, set to Classic Whammy. Source = Global. Bypass Mode = Thru.
  2. Assign the Control parameter to your pedal's external controller.
  3. Assign the same external controller to the Mix parameter. Set Mix at zero. Modifier menu: Start 40, Mid 100, End 55, Slope 0, Scale 10, Offset 100.
  4. Make sure the Pitch bock is engaged and save the preset.

Position of the Pitch block

• Cliff: "When going direct, pitch shifting often sounds best when placed BEFORE the cab block. The factory presets may have the block doing the shifting (pitch or multidelay) after the cabinet block. Try moving the pitch before the cabinet block for smoother results." Background (source: Bakerman): "The pitch block basically shifts the entire cab freq. response up/down if it's after cab. A slight detune might sound about the same either way but with a half step, whole step, etc. the difference becomes more apparent."

Harmony scales

• The manual contains a table with the harmony scales, see Harmony scales.

Dropped tuning simulation

• Use a Pitch block at the start of the grid and set it to Fixed Harmony. Select the desired voice. Set Mix to 100%, Tracking to On and adjust Track Adjust if necessary.
• If you can't stand the latency (there always will be some latency), try Simeon's neat trick, explained here and here.

Shimmer

• The Shimmer effect raises the pitch of notes and reverberates them. Nice for ambient sounds and used a lot by U2’s The Edge. You can use the Plexi Shift mode of the Multi Delay or the Pitch Shifter's Crystals mode (reverse feedback). Low-passing the shifted notes helps to keep the main signal clear. There are examples among the factory presets.

Dive bomb

• The Axe-Fx II can simulate an automated dive bomb or rising pitch effect.
• On the Axe-Fx:
  1. Create a preset with a Pitch block after the Amp block.
  2. Set Pitch mode to Classic Whammy, Up|Dn 2 Oct., Pitch Track off, Global source, 100% mix.
  3. Enter the Modifier menu of the Control parameter in the Pitch block. Set Source to an external. Set Damping to 750, for starters.
  4. Enter the Modifier menu of the Bypass parameter in the Pitch block. Set Source to the same External controller as above.
  5. Save the preset.
• On the floor controller:
  1. Program a switch switch to send the External controller's CC.
  2. The switch can be latching or momentary, whatever works for you.
• To operate: select the preset. Press the switch (press and hold if it's a momentary switch) for the effect to kick in. Press again (or release) to stop, and bypass the Pitch block.
• You can also use your expression pedal instead of a switch. Use the corresponding External controller.
• Instead of a switch, you can also use Auto engage.
• You can adjust the length of the dive through the Damping parameter, use another Whammy mode, make it even more dramatic by adding a flanger, etc.