Tremolo/Panner block

Available on which products

• Axe-Fx III: 2 blocks
• FM9: 2 blocks
• FM3: 2 blocks
• Axe-Fx II: 2 blocks
• AX8: 1 block
• FX8: 2 blocks

Channels or X/Y switching

• Axe-Fx III and FM9 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

Tremolo/Panner types

• Tremolo
• Panner — Stereo panning between left and right.
• Bias Trem — Tube emulation algorithm to replicate the bias tremolo used in vintage tube amps. As the FM3 does not support the Amp block’s Bias Tremolo, use this instead.
• Harmonic Trem — Recreates the famous sound of the tremolo circuit in the old “Brownface” amplifiers. This effect splits the spectrum and applies modulation to the two frequency bands. The Crossover Slope parameter selects the filter order for the crossover. The original circuit used a 6 dB/octave crossover. Higher slopes can give a more intense effect. The crossover frequency can be changed with the Crossover Frequency parameter. Note: unlike most implementations, the Axe-Fx III version is full stereo and can be used before or after the Amp block without losing stereo separation. Additionally, the effect supports the LFO phase for the left/right which can be used to achieve unique sounds. Furthermore, the effect supports LFO types other than Sine for even more unique sounds.
• Optical Trem

The Bias and Harmonic types use nonlinear processing techniques and, as such, may add distortion to the audio signal, just as their tube-based counterparts would.

"I like the Harmonic Trem on clean and light crunch before an amp. It takes on a slight phaser vibe. Another cool thing to try is to put it near the end of the chain and set the LFO Phase to 180. Funky stereo tremolo." [1]

See the forum discussion "The Flint Tremolo Done Right" about harmonic tremolo, and Strymon's "Amplifier Tremolo Technology White Paper" on tremolo types for more information.

Position 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.

Factory presets

The Tremolo/Panner block is showcased in many factory presets. Search the Factory presets page for "tremolo" or "panner" or "panned".

Parameters

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. Use Depth instead, because a tremolo's modulation is volume-based.

"Mix makes no sense in a tremolo as it is the same as reducing the depth." [2]

Triggering the Tremolo

To trigger the Tremolo when engaging the block: use the Start Phase parameter.

"You can adjust where in the waveform it starts with the Start Phase control." [3]

To trigger the Tremolo when hitting the strings (synchronize the Tremolo to your playing): turn up the Trigger Threshold parameter. When the Tremolo is triggered, it will start and the LFO phase will start at the Start Phase value. Turn Trigger Threshold all the way down to defeat the trigger.

Cooper Carter: Perfectly Timed Tremolo

In firmware without Trigger Threshold, 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 and FM9 provides its own Bias Tremolo.

Widen the Panner

Make the Panner effect appear fuller and wider, by adding the Enhancer block.

Fade-in when engaged

Firmware 21.02 for the Axe-Fx III and later: the Tremolo engages and bypasses with a gentle fade instead of rapid on/off.

Alternative to Panner: LFO

As an alternative to using the Panner block, attach an LFO to a panning parameter in a block.

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.

Tremolo as an On/Off switch

Set the Tremolo's LFO to Square with Depth at 100%.

Shuffle tremolo

Create a "shuffle" tremolo.

Vox Percussion Tremolo

To simulate the Percussion Tremolo effect on old Vox guitars, set LFO Type to Saw Down.

Sync tremolo to Metronome

Synv the Tremolo to the Metronome.