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

• 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

• VCA Trem (previously: Tremolo) — Regular tremolo, based on a voltage-controlled amplifier topology
• 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 Bias Tremolo in the Amp block, 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 - 3 types, described below

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.

Tremolos have been improved in firmware 23. Release notes:

• The optical tremolo algorithm has been completely rewritten.
• There are now three types of optical tremolo:
  • Optical Trem 1: This type is based on optical pedal tremolos where depth controls the intensity of the LED.
  • Optical Trem 2: This type is based on optical pedal tremolos where depth controls a “mixer” pot. This type has more “throb” than Optical Trem 1.
  • Neon Trem: This type is based on the optical tremolo in classic “Blackface” amps which used a neon bulb to illuminate the LDR.
• The Tremolo type has been renamed “VCA Trem” and is based on a voltage-controlled amplifier topology.
• An LFO waveform monitor has been added for appropriate types.

Tremolo/Panner block 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.

Parameters

LFO Phase (mono/stereo)

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]

Duty

Use this parameter to change the character of the tremolo peaks from a regular tremolo to electronic "blobs".

Tips, tricks and troubleshooting

Factory presets

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

Trigger 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.

In firmware without the Trigger Threshold parameter, set Rate to “LFO1 SYNC”, sync LFO1 to a Tempo, and attach the LFO to the Envelope follower.

Bias 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.

Panning alternative

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.

Tremolo as an On/Off switch

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

Shuffle tremolo

Forum thread: Create a "shuffle" tremolo.

Vox Percussion Tremolo

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

Syncing to the metronome

Forum thread: Sync the tremolo to the metronome