If your tracks sound boring, narrow, or are lacking in dimensionality, modulation effects are a great way to make them stand out. Modulation lends movement to lackluster tracks, adds depth to flat-sounding tracks, and injects width into mono tracks.
In this tutorial, we’ll explore the three most common types of modulation processors — chorus, flange, and phase effects — and discuss what kinds of sounds you can create with them. We’ll also provide practical examples that you can apply to your mixes.
Low-frequency Oscillators
Before we dive into modulation effects, we need to give you a quick primer on low-frequency oscillators — a.k.a. LFOs.
An LFO, which occurs below the threshold of human hearing, is a carrier waveform that’s used to modify another waveform, and it’s the engine behind most modulation effects.
Modulation effects employ an LFO to alter the pitch, time, or phase of your signal. The intended effect (chorus, flanger, phaser, etc.) is then achieved by mixing a doubled, modulated signal back into the original signal.
Chorus: The Secret to Lush, Shimmering Tracks
Chorus effects double and delay your signal, using a delay time of roughly 20–50 milliseconds, then mixes it back with the original signal. They then apply an LFO to modulate the pitch of the duplicated signal, yielding a subtle detuning effect.
Although chorus detunes the doubled signal, the resulting sound isn’t perceived as being out of tune. Rather, it possesses a symphonic-like character, reminiscent of the sound of multiple instruments playing in unison.
Chorus is also desired because of the rich, shimmering quality it imparts — it can really make a dull track pop!
Some chorus effects, such as the fabled Tri-Stereo Chorus from the 1980s, utilize multiple doubled voices for a thicker, lusher effect. There are also pitch-shifting effects that yield a “static chorus” sound by using a fixed pitch shift (measured in cents) instead of LFO-modulated detuning.
There are a myriad of different chorus effects out there, and each features its own unique design, features, and layout. That said, whether it’s housed in a pedal, a rackmount unit, or a plug-in, standard chorus effects commonly include the following controls:
- Rate controls the modulation speed.
- Depth controls the amount of pitch shift.
- Delay controls the amount of delay time.
- Mix controls how much dry signal is mixed with the chorus effect
When used in mono, chorus is a great way to add brawny thickness, musical movement, and ear-tickling shimmer to an otherwise unremarkable source. You’ll be shocked at how much life a little dab of chorus can infuse into an anemic synth line or a tragically thin guitar part!……….
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