User manual · Objects & Properties

FX

FX objects are audio effect processors that live in the 3D world alongside the physics objects. Each FX object applies one of sixteen effect types to the audio that is routed through it: Reverb, Delay, Grain Delay, Distortion, Filter, 3-Band EQ, Noise Gate, Compressor, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Ring Modulator, Frequency Shifter, Formant Filter, Vocoder, and Broadcast.

An FX object can be added by dragging it from the FX tab of the Object Palette into the 3D view, or by pressing the "F" hotkey with the mouse over the 3D view.

Routing Audio Through FX#

Audio flows into and out of FX objects via Delay Line links. An FX object sums the audio from all of its incoming Delay Lines, which can come from Mics or from other FX objects, together with the optional external input channel. Its processed (wet) output can then be sent onward via Delay Lines to other FX objects or to Audio Input exciters, and/or to an external output channel.

This means FX can be chained in series: for example, a Mic feeding a Distortion, feeding a Delay, feeding a Reverb, with the Reverb's output going to the external output channel. FX output can also be routed back into the physics simulation through an Audio Input exciter for feedback-based instrument designs.

FX Properties#

All FX types share the following parameters. Each type's own parameters are documented on its page.

Type: The kind of FX processing to apply. Each type has its own behavior and parameters. Changing the Type keeps the object in place and remaps any compatible Modulator Links to the corresponding parameters of the new type.
Ext. Input: External host audio input channel(s) summed into this FX's dry signal alongside any Delay Line links. Set to "<none>" to disable external input, in which case the FX will only receive audio from upstream Mics or other FX via Delay Lines. Note that the Vocoder is special: instead of summing the external input into the dry signal, the Vocoder treats the external input as the modulator (vocal) signal, and the Delay Line signal as the carrier (synth) signal.
Ext. Output: External host audio output channel(s) that the wet output of this FX will be sent to. Set to "<none>" to disable external output if this FX is only feeding other FX or Audio Input exciters via internal Delay Lines.
Input Gain: The amount of gain applied to the FX's summed input signal before processing.
Input Delay: An additional delay applied to the input signal before processing.
Dry/Wet: The output mix between the unprocessed "dry" input signal (value of 0) and the fully processed "wet" signal (value of 1).
Output Gain: The amount of gain applied to the FX's output signal after processing.
Orientation and Position: Where the FX object sits in the 3D world and how it is rotated. For FX objects these are purely cosmetic; unlike physics objects, they cannot be modulated and have no effect on the sound.