Flex FX
Flex FX is part of the Studio Setup bundle, which you may buy online and then download. Flex FX contains 7 easy to use plugins, which can be used for a variety of purposes. They are: the Amplitude Modulator, the Chaotic Lowpass Filter, the Chaotic Highpass Filter, the Ensemble effect, the Stereo Feedback Delay, the Fat Resonator and the Ultra Feedback Flanger. All plugins are available as Audio Units and VST plugins on Mac OS X and VST plugins on Windows.
Here's an MP3 file which illustrates how you may use the effects. In this example a Rhodes piano is being processed by the Flex FX Resonator and one of the Flex FX Filters (for comparison,
this MP3 file illustrates how the piano sounds without the effects).
About the Effects
Each effect can be used as an insert or send effect. All, except the Ensemble and the Delay, have their own dedicated LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator), which can modulate the effect. The LFO can be synchronized with your host (sequencer), provided that it supports sync.
The Ultra Feedback Flanger
This plugin is available in FlexFx version 2.0 only.
The Ultra Feedback Flanger redefines the sound of the flanger. No more whimpy sounding flangers!
Instead, the Ultra Feedback Flanger gives you the flanger sound you've always been looking for:
It can create smooth subtle sweeps
and hard and screaming feedback sweeps. In addition you
may use the random and square shapes of the LFO to create interesting effects, which are usually
not associated with a flanger.
The Ultra Feedback Flanger has the following controls: level, frequency, feedback, depth, rate, phase, shape, sync and volume.
Level sets the dry/wet mix of the dry sound and the wet (flanger) sound. Frequency is the base frequency, or the lowest frequency that will be used when and if the LFO is used to modulate the frequency. The highest frequency is the frequency plus the value of the depth slider.
Feedback determines how much of the effect you want. Higher settings give you a screaming raw sound.
The rate determines how fast the LFO should modulate the frequency. If the sync button is selected, then the LFO is synchronized with the host (sequencer) and then the rate slider will work as a divider.
The phase knob can be used to adjust the LFO's lag. It only makes sense when sync is selected.
The Fat Resonator
The resonator can be used to create sweeping sounds, which are hard to describe in words.
If you have never heard a resonator before, then download the free trial version of Flex FX and check out the resonator and all the other plugins in this effects suite.
The Fat Resonator has the following controls: frequency, feedback, depth, rate, phase, shape, sync and volume.
Frequency is the base frequency, or the lowest frequency that will be used when and if the LFO is used to modulate the frequency. The highest frequency is the frequency plus the value of the depth slider.
Feedback determines how much of the effect you want. Higher settings give a more prominent sound.
The rate determines how fast the LFO should modulate the frequency. If the sync button is selected, then the LFO is synchronized with the host (sequencer) and then the rate slider will work as a divider.
The phase knob can be used to adjust the LFO's lag. It only makes sense when sync is selected.
The fat resonator (and three other Flex FX plugins) have an LFO and a shape knob with three settings: S (Sine), R (Random) and P (Pulse). They represent the shape of the LFO.
The Amplitude Modulator
This effect can be used either to create tremolo or gating effects.
It has the following controls; Amp, Bite, Depth, Rate, Phase, Shape, Sync and Volume.
The LFO has the same functions as the resonator.
Amp adjusts the base volume, that's the lowest volume that will be used when the effect is modulated by the LFO. The highest value is Amp + Depth. So if you want to modulate the amplitude (volume) from zero to max, then you should pull the Amp slider to the bottom (zero) and the Depth slider to the top (max).
Bite clips the sounds making it sound more raw. Zero doesn't result in any bite at all, while pulling the Bite slider to the top will give you max Bite.
The Ensemble
Creating rich sounds is a piece of a cake with the ensemble effect.
The Flex FX ensemble is extremely easy to use, but still very useful. It processes the sound so it seems like there were more than one sounds source (a whole ensemble). It sounds marvellous on clean electric guitar and many synth sounds. The ensemble has three controls; amount, pitch rate and pitch depth.
You might want to use the ensemble in combination with other plugins, for example a synthesizer or chain it with another plugin on your effects send bus.
The amount slider sets the amount of processing you want. Pull it to the right if the effect should be more prominent and to the far left if you don't want any effect at all.
The pitch rate and depth sliders can be used to add vibrato to the sound. The vibrato function helps to create an even warmer sound than the ensemble effect on its own would do. Subtle amounts of vibrato are most useful, but weird effects can of course also be achieved by experimenting with the rate and depth sliders.
The Chaotic Highpass Filter
There are two filter plugins in Flex FX. This is a highpass filter, with an interesting sound, because the character of the highpass filter changes slightly the higher the cutoff frequency is.
It has an LFO with phase, sync, shape, rate and depth controls. The LFO can be synchronized with the host and it has three shapes. When the plugin is synced, the rate slider works as a tempo divider.
The cut (cutoff) slider sets the frequency of the filter and res can be used to adjust the resonance.
The Chaotic Lowpass Filter
The lowpass is very similar to the above filter, except that its a lowpass filter.
All the controls are basically the same as the Chaotic Highpass Filter. The cut slider adjusts the cutoff frequency for the lowpass filter. Thus pulling it to the bottom filters away all sound. Pulling it to the top doesn't filter the sound at all. The lowpass filter also has a resonance slider, which may be used to add characer to the sound.
The Chaotic lowpass and highpass filters are 4th order, 24dB per octave, filters.
Note that the chaotic filter plugins are not the same filter as in the Space Synth, Space Effect or Fatsondo synthesizer.
These have a slightly different, more raw, sound.
Stereo Delay with sync
The stereo delay can easily be synchronized with the host. Just click on the sync button.
The plugin has 9 controls, left and right time, feedback and mix, plus the volume control.
The time slider selects the delay time in seconds. Feedback sets the amount of feedback to the delay. More feedback will give you more echoes. If the left or right sync button is selected, then the time slider will divide the time according to the host's (sequencer's) tempo, provided that your host supports sync of course.
Flex FX - Online and Slightly Shortened Version of the Manual
NOTE: This is a slightly shortened version of the manual and it's for
version 1.0. Current version of Flex FX is 2.0. The PDF version
(for v2.0) is included when you install the software.
Overview
Flex FX is a set of VST plugins for Windows or Audio Units on Mac OS X. They
can be
used with VST compatible programs on Windows, such as Cubase DX, Acid Pro,
Logic and other programs, which can execute VST plugins. Or they can be used
with
AU compatible programs on Mac OS X, such as Emagic Logic etc.
THE AMPLITUDE MODULATOR
The FlexFx Amp Modulator was added in version 1.2 of FlexFx. It can be used
to
process the amplitude (or volume) of anything.
It can be used with great success to create gating effects by setting the
shape of the
LFO to square. Or set the LFO shape to sine and feed a clean electric guitar
through
it, to create that “twin peaks” type of sound.
The plugin has the following controls.
Amp
Amp is the lowest volume. It’s the value that the change in volume should
start with,
when it’s low. Depth (see below) adds to amp, so if amp is set to zero and
depth is set
to max, then the change in volume will be between zero volume to max volume.
Depending on the setting of the shape control (see below) the change from
zero to
max and down to zero again, will be shaped either as a sine curve, random
or square.
Bite
This is one of the most interesting controls ot the amplitude modulator.
It clips the
sound slightly to create a raw sound. The clipping is more noticable when
the volume
is high than when it’s low. If the bite slider is set to max, then maximum
“bite” will be
added to the sound when the volume is high. If the bite slider is set to
zero, then no
“bite “ at all will be added to the sound.
Rate
The volume can be modulated by an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator). The LFO
changes the volume according to a certain shape, e.g. sine (see shape below).
If you
move the rate slider up, then the movement is carried out faster. Pull the
slider down
and the movement is done slower. If the sync button is selected, then the
movement is
carried out in speed with the host software. Then the rate selecteds how
much the
LFO should be divided with the host software’s tempo.
Depth
The depth slider decides how much the movement, described above, should affect
the
volume. Depth is added to Amp. If depth is set to its min value, then there’s
no change
in volume at all because the volume will be the setting of the amp slider.
If depth is
pulled to the top, then the movement goes from the current setting of the
amp slider to
the max value.
Sync (with the host software)
The LFO can be synchronized to the host software’s tempo. In that case, the
rate
slider works as a tempo divider. If the sync button isn’t selected, then
the plugin’s own
clock will set the tempo.
Phase
The phase knob decides the lag of the LFO with respect to the host software’s
tempo.
This is only useful if sync is selected.
Shape (SRP)
When the LFO is used to modulate the volume (amp), then the shape knob selects
which shape the modulation should have. The knob can be used to select one
of the
following three LFO modes.
1. Sine (S)
2. Random (R)
3. Pulse (P)
Sine makes the LFO sweep up, down, up, down etc. It creates a traditional
tremolo.
Random picks random values for the LFO. It can be used to process anything
and
make it sound slightly chaotic or just weird.
Pulse has the shape of a square and can be used to create gating effects.
THE CHAOTIC HP FILTER
The FlexFx Chaos HP Filter is a resonant 4th order highpass (HP) filter.
The filter changes character slightly as the cutoff frequency is adjusted
and becomes
slightly “chaotic” or “distorted” in character the more the sound is filtered.
The plugin has the following controls.
Cutoff Frequency
There’s a slider to adjust the cutoff frequency. When you pull it up, the
sound gets
highpass filtered. When the slider is crannked fully down, the sound is not
filtered at
all.
Res (Resonance)
The resonance can be adjusted with the slider that is labelled Q. Resonance
is a
phenomena, which amplifies the frequencies near the cutoff frequency. It
can be used
to creat a certain type of sounds. Experiment with it and you’ll notice quickly
how it
changes the sound.
Rate
The filter can be modulated by an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator). The LFO
moves
the cutoff frequency according to a certain shape, e.g. sine (see shape below).
If you
move the rate slider up, then the movement is carried out faster. Pull the
slider down
and the movement is done slower. If the sync button is selected, then the
movement is
carried out in speed with the host software. Then the rate selecteds how
much the
LFO should be divided with the host software’s tempo.
Depth
The depth slider decides how much the movement, described above, should affect
the
cutoff frequency. IIf it’s set to its min value, then there’s no move at
all. If it’s pulled to
the top, then the movement goes from the current setting of the cutoff slider
to the max
value.
Sync (with the host software)
The LFO can be synchronized to the host software’s tempo. In that case, the
rate
slider works as a tempo divider.
Phase
The phase knob decides the lag of the LFO with respect to the host software’s
tempo.
Shape (SRP)
When the LFO is used to sweep the cutoff frequency, the shape knob selects
which
shape the sweep should have. The knob can be used to select one of the following
three LFO modes.
1. Sine (S)
2. Random (R)
3. Pulse (P)
Sine makes the LFO sweep up, down, up, down etc. Random picks random values
for
the LFO and pulse has the shape of a square.
THE CHAOTIC LP FILTER
The FlexFx Chaos LP Filter is a resonant 4th order lowpass (LP) filter. Its
controls are
identical to the chaotic HP filter (see above).
THE STEREO DELAY
The FlexFx Stereo Feedback Delay can be used to add slap back delay or other
effects to any sound, such as a guitar, a synth, drums or other VST or AU plugins.
Drum loops can sound very interesting if you use the plugin’s sync function.
Just click
on the sync button and the delays are perfect in sync with your host software
(provided that your host supports sync using VstTimeInfo).
Left and Right Delay time
The time sliders adjust the delay time for the left and right channel delays
respectively.
The delay time is shown in a display next to the slider. Note that is the
sync button is
selected, the display shows how much the time is divided with respect to
the host
sequencer’s tempo.
Sync
When this button is clicked, the delay is locked to the host software’s tempo.
Just click
this button to sync the delay time with the host software’s tempo (e.g. the
tempo in
Cubase VST). When you move the time slider, the time is divided with the
tempo in
the host software.
Left and Right Feedback
This is how much of the delay that should be fed back again. Higher values
result in
more echoes, but no longer time between the echoes, just more echoes. The
time
between the echoes is adjusted with the left and right delay time sliders.
Left and Right mix
This is the wet/dry setting for the left and right delay respectively.
THE ENSEMBLE EFFECT
The ensemble is used to make the input sound like there are many sound sources.
The ensemble is NOT a chorus effect. Instead, the ensemble has more of a
“symphonic” sound.
You can process anything through the ensemble, for example synth sounds and
sampled instruments, such as piano (can sound great with some vibrato) or synth
plugins in general. A
clean
electric guitar sounds great when it’s processed by the ensemble. Drums can
also be
enhanced.
Amount
The amount adjusts how much of the ensemble should be applied to the sound.
Vibrato Rate
Vibrato can be added to the ensemble to make the sound more human and less
cold.
The rate slider sets the rate of the vibrato. When the amount slider is set
to zero, then
the rate slider will have no effect on the sound.
Vibrato Depth
The depth slider select how much vibrato that should be applied to the ensemble.
When the amount slider is set to zero, then the depth parameter will have
no effect on
the sound.
THE FAT RESONATOR
The FlexFx Fat Resonator creates a certain type of rich sweeping sounds,
which can
be used to create powerful pads or to process guitars. In fact, it’s useful
on many
different types of audio and instruments.
The plugin has the following controls.
Frequency
The frequency slider selects which frequency the resonator should resonate
at. The
resonator is usually modulated by its LFO. In that case, the frequency slider
selects
the base frequency. The LFO then adds from that position, depending on the
depth.
Feedback
Feedback adjusts how much of the resonator’s output that should be fed back
to its
input. More feedback creates an accentuated and more powerful effect while
low
settings create a subtle and less noticable effect. NOTE that if use crank
the feedback
slider all the way up, the resonator might go wile and you can get some nasty
distortion, because you’re simple feeding too much back.
Rate
The resonator can be modulated by an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator). The
LFO
moves the resonator’s frequency according to a certain shape. If you move
the rate
slider up, then the movement is carried out faster. Pull the slider down
and the
movement is done slower. If the sync button is selected, then the movement
is carried
out in speed with the host software. Then the rate selecteds how much the
LFO
should be divided with the host software’s tempo.
Depth
The depth slider decides how much the sweep should affect the frequency.
IIf it’s set
to its min value, then there’s no move at all. If it’s pulled to the top,
then the movement
goes from the current setting of the cutoff slider to the max value.
Sync (with the host software)
The LFO can be synchronized to the host software’s tempo. In that case, the
rate
slider works as a tempo divider.
Phase
The phase knob in the resonator section, decides the lag of the LFO with
respect to
the host software’s tempo.
Shape (SRP)
When the LFO is used to sweep the resonator’s frequency, the shape knob selects
which shape the sweep should have. The knob can be used to select one of
the
following three LFO modes.
1. Sine (S)
2. Random (R)
3. Pulse (P)
Sine makes the LFO sweep up, down, up, down etc. Random picks random values
for the LFO and pulse has the shape of a square.
The Studio Setup - 12 VST or AU Plugins
All Flex FX plugins are available as VST plugins on Windows and Audio Units on Mac
OS X. You may test drive the 30 days free trial. When the trial time has expired,
the software cannot be used unless you register. Registered users of Flex FX obtain
not only Flex FX, but also the other plugins you can read about on this site.
November 20, 2006
