October 2024: Fractal Audio's VP4 Virtual Pedalboard added to the wiki.
Tremolo/Panner block
Contents
Available on which products
- Axe-Fx III: 2 blocks
- FM3: yes @@
- Axe-Fx II: 2 blocks
- AX8: 1 block
- FX8: 2 blocks
Channels or X/Y switching
- Axe-Fx III and FM3: 4 channels
- Axe-Fx II Mk I and II: no
- Axe-Fx II XL and XL+: X/Y
- AX8: X/Y
- FX8: X/Y
Position of the Tremolo/Panner block on the grid
If the Tremolo block is placed before the Amp block and there's a lot of amp gain, the tremolo effect will be less noticeable because of the compression of the signal. Adjust the waveform or the Duty parameter to emphasize the pulse. Or move the Tremolo block to a position after the Amp block.
The Panner pans the signal left and right, just like a ping pong delay. This requires the signal not being summed to mono after the Tremolo/Panner block.
You can make the Panner effect appear “fuller” and “wider” by adding the Enhancer block after it.
Parameters
Parameters table
| Parameter | Axe-Fx III / FM3 | Axe-Fx II | AX8 / FX8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | yes | ||
| Rate | yes | ||
| Tempo | yes | ||
| Depth | yes | ||
| LFO Type | yes | ||
| LFO Duty Cycle | yes | ||
| LFO Phase | yes | ||
| Start Phase | yes | ||
| Crossover Slope, Freq | yes | ||
| Panner — Width | yes | ||
| Panner — Pan Center | yes |
LFO Phase
Set LFO Phase to 0 for mono output, and to any other value for stereo output.
Depth
There's no Mix parameter In the Tremolo block. Depth is the same as Mix, because a tremolo's modulation is volume-based.
"Mix makes no sense in a tremolo as it is the same as reducing the depth." source
Start Phase
You can start the Tremolo on the beat (triggered) by using the Start Phase parameter. This applies to engaging the effect, not to hitting the strings.
To align the Tremolo to the moment that you hit the strings, set Rate to “LFO1 SYNC”, sync LFO1 to a Tempo, and attach the LFO to the Envelope follower.
Duty
Use this parameter to change the character of the tremolo peaks, from a regular tremolo to electronic "blobs".
Tips and tricks
Tremolo in Amp block
The Amp block in the Axe-Fx II and III (not in the AX8 and FM3) provides its own Bias Tremolo.
Ring Modulator as a tremolo
You can configure the Ring Modulator block to operate as a tremolo, by turning down Frequency all the way.
Flanger as a tremolo
You can turn a Flanger block into a tremolo.
