The tremolo effect, sound sample stuttering

There are some texture methods onto shaping a specific sound. There are all kinds of different ways to shape a specific instrument. One could for instance go heavy on the reverbs, or just go for a simple Scream 4 sounds destruction unit. Yet, on of its most classic methods on making something "interesting" are effects like tremolo or tremolando (as it is also called). The old school version of this effect is usually handled by making the volume go up and down really fast. However, in the modern days there are different methods to create the same effect (going heavy on the cutoff frequencies, or making the lower frequencies go on and off making it also barely noticable).

Let's start easy with a tremolo effect

In most cases, I start of with something "simple" just to show the idea on what this whole story is going to be about. Later on, I will go more complexed on things using all kinds of different method to shape the whole tremolo effect. The easiest way is probably using an NN-XT patch, go inside the LFO, and make the LFO tempo sync. If you are going to use an LFO with out any modulation controls (eg: modwheel or external controller from the NN-XT) then make sude the either "W" and "X" located at the LFO1 AMT(=lfo 1amount) is turned off by default.

At this point the tremolo effect will kick in at the first glance the note is being triggered. Yet, while putting a little bit attack on the amplitude envelope will make the tremolo effect come in more subtle in some way, yet this is no the ideal 'approach' yet. Just for demonstration purposes here is the initial tremolo effect based on a superstring inside the NN-XT:

RNS Download: Tremolo effect inside Reason 4 using the NN-XT

Yet, to make things a bit more interesting in this case, we could turn the LFO amount on, and use the modulation wheel to control it. In this case I am using the amount on 97%, which means that the tremolo effect by default is marely going to be noticable. However, when we go wild on the modulation wheel (using edit automation), we can create these tones which come in 'normal', yet start trembling during the sequence.

RNS Download: Tremolo effect inside Reason 4 using the NN-XT

We could stick with just a few different LFO patterns to make the tremolo effect, however that would be rather limited in some way, since we have 32 lfo patterns inside the malstrom 6 different patterns inside the NN-XT, a somewhat similar LFO patterns inside thor, and lets just forget the subtractor... since those patterns are basicly the same as inside the NN-XT.

Making a custom tremolo effect

When we look up the rear of the NN-XT (in this case I am going to stick with the NN-XT to start with, we'll go heavy on the synths soon ;)) we have a couple of cv-plugs that we can use as an input. The once that are going to make things interesting for us right now are the filter cutoff or either resonance. Most important parts are probably the master volume and the pan cv input. Since these last two will create most of it when it comes to the tremolo effect. So, that is our input... Next thing we need is something to "trigger it". The easiest one would probably being the Malstrom in this case... Since this one has a lot of different "interesting" lfo's which come with it (32 in total, like I have mentioned before). Yet, another "gizmo" will be ideal in this case. I present you: the Matrix! What is the matrix!? The Matrix is often used for creating monotomic basslines where we will be using it as our 'customizer' tremolo in this case. Since the matrix has an interesting CV shaper and can create any CV signal we desire.

Default the matrix pattern sequencer is routed to the Gate and CV, which will make the notes trigger on pitch and volume. This is not what we want. So we will either "disconnect" all the wiring when adding the matrix or press and hold "SHIFT" while adding the matrix.

There are 2 things we'll be using the matrix for. One is the Curve Cv. We can basicly plug the curve cv into anything... as long as it is an CV input. Second there is Bi-Polar/ UniPolar (default set on unipolar). Sometimes Bi polar is needed when we want to trigger negative values with the CV (eg: panning would be a good example for this). For the volume, we will stick with the Uni-Polar.

Next setting we need to change is the Key/ Curve toggle. Default it is set to Keys, which means that output we are changing is the Note Cv and the Gate CV. We don't need this... However, I also like to point out that you could also use all 3 (gate, note and curve that is) of them if you like ;)

The curve tells how "hard" a cv signal will be triggered.In this case we haven't setup anything yet but we could make the curve be connected to a master level trigger, or a panning cv input or.. However, there is another setting which tells "how hard" a cv is being triggered. And that is the little knob that tells how "sensitive" the cv input is going to be.

Those little rotaries next to CV input signal tell how much impact the signal has. Since we are basicly controlling everything using the Matrix Pattern sequencer (max value is 127 anyways ;)) I would suggest putting them all the way up (most of the time). It will probably depend on the flavor of your style and methods. But, since we can control the hardness by using the matrix pattern sequencer it won't make much sense if we don't use the full 'scale' in this case. So last part we need is the marriage of a Master Volume and a Curve Cv... Which results into a happy couple:

I couldn't resist using the same method of displaying the routing stuff using a similar method as Meowsqueak (check out his blog btw, in case you have missed it. Some interesting stuff going on there). But anyways, The curve will basicly tell how hard the level of the master volume is going to be. So, in this setup we could recreate a similar Triangle shaped waveform, just like the LFO, inside the Matrix pattern Sequencer.

Just keep in mind that you will probably have to do some tweaking with the Resolution knob to speed things up a bit. So, just as an example here goes a little bit of an RNS file where I am using this technique.

RNS Download: Tremolo effect using the pattern matrix sequencer example 1
RNS Download: Tremolo effect using the pattern matrix sequencer example 2

Making a more complexed Tremolo Effect

I personally you will get the idea with this one so far. Now it is time to make things more 'interesting' in some way. Since the effect might come "harsh" from time to time, we could try to 'reshape' the complete curve and make it more subtle again by giving it an additional signal. This signal will basicly 'reshape' the whole curve again, but then making it go out a little bit.

RNS Download: Tremolo effect using the Malstrom

What makes this setup a bit more "unique" in its class is that we are basicly creating a dual layered tremolo effect. Not that something like that "exists" in real life... I just call it that way ;) What will happen is the following:
The Matrix pattern sequencer curve triggers the modulate wheel in this case. So, it is like the modwheel goes up and down constantly, depending on what the 'hardness' of the curve is. The modwheel is connected to the modulator A and modulator B. In this case I have used the volume knob of the modulator B to create a 'tremolo' effect with a hard spike. One could go for a "sine" form, or any other form aswell. Each time the "hardness" goes up, the trembling effect from the Modulator B is slightly increased. Thus, there are 2 different trembling effects going on at the same time. Since the modulator B is also in "sync" mode, it will sound more 'natural' and more 'expected'. Since Modulator B slightly goes up, and down again and repeats this on a 6/4 pattern.

Another option would be using the same effect connected to the Filter of the Modulator B, which makes it a lot more interesting in some way.

RNS Download: Tremolo effect using the Malstrom

Combining Panning, filters and Volume... the UBER tremolo!

If you really get the hang on how the different output gains work, you will probably get 'bored' by it. Heck even beethoven got bored after making his first symphony... so he made a second one. So after our "initial" setup, lets go make things "wild!"

Lets take a group like this.I have already added a little bit of text on top of it, basicly explaining what the settings 'intentions' are going to be like. What the real nice part is with the Curve CV signals and stacking a bunch of Matrix Patterns like these, we can basicly accomplish any tremolo effect with just a simple press of "play", grab a chord and let the pattern matrix do most of the work for us! Another method would be using a lot of edit automation features. But hey, writing music can be hard work! So... we want to make "our work" as easy and simple as possible from time to time.

RNS Download: Tremolo effect using multiple Matrix pattern sequencers

The slow down Tremolo effect

So far we are using pretty much a 'constant' speed on the tremolo effect, since it is all based on a single step, with each step being the same in size. There is a way to control it the hard way. And that is using multiple patterns inside the Matrix pattern sequencer and contstantly fiddle around with the resolution knob. However, there is another beast inside the rack which is going to be our next thingy thing to look into. The step sequencer of Thor!

Here is a modified screen shot of Thor taken from the front view and the rear view. Thor is a great synth to play with. Even though it is just a "synth" we can use this step sequencer just as a "step sequencer". Connect any instrument to the Sequencer CV outputs, we can get some crazy stuff going on! One thing what makes the step sequencer unique in its way is the usage of the Step Duration. Default each step is set on 1 full note. However, we can use this step duration to make the step sequencer (for instance) go fast in the beginning and at the end make it slower. Just as a single example:

RNS Download: The stopping effect using the stepsequencer of thor

So, with that idea in mind, we can also use the thor step sequencer to "trigger" something for us. Just to give a simple thought here:

In this setup I am using curve 1 and curve 2 as outputs. While the step duration of the step sequencer has been alterered in some way, it will create something really drastic as an effect. This is probably not a desired effect as a tremolo... but maybe it will you an idea on how to manipulate the step sequencer to do what you want it to do. It is just the thought that matters.

RNS Download: The stopping effect using the stepsequencer of thor

RNS Download: The constant trembling effect using the stepsequencer of thor

Synths and tremolo

While I have mostly been using the NN-XT sampler for creating a tremolo effect, one could also use most of the synths that are out there and stack em up that high until you get the better tremolo effect. The basic idea is similar as when you would use an NN-XT in this case. The idea is that you use either an LFO connected to the Amplitude envelope or Filter either use a form of step sequencing and connect that to the amplitude envelope or anything else.

This is a patch that I have posted on the "forumboard" recently. So some of you might have seen this one already.

RNS Download: Gated Trance Arp

The basic idea with this setup is about going heavy on the modulator B, with having a bunch of different malstroms in here. Each modulator has a different speed, different detune, and not to mention a different panning. This makes the sound become very spacey, diverse and not to forget, quite full in its class.

To conclude this tutorial

So I think by now, there is alot of 'room' for you guys to play around with... Tremolo effects can be very usefull in pads, either a stuttering vocal. One could go heavy on the effects inside a tremolo making it more 'crazy' at a certain point. Personally I think I could write books about making all kinds of different approaches on using the tremolo effect. However, I think this 'article' is probably as complete as I can get it sofar. Have fun! and happy experimenting with Tremolo effects!