User Guide / Owners Manual

4
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THE BASICS - ABOUT TREMOLATOR
Tremolator — Version 5
Tremolo, the effect of oscillating a sound’s volume, is one of the most
popular tricks in the audio world. Tremolo (often used interchangeably
to describe vibrato), is a positively ancient effect, first applied to pipe
organs in the 16th century (a device known as a Tremulant).
Coinciding with the advent of recorded audio, the popularity and
potential of mechanical tremolo units grew exponentially. Mechanical
tremolo evolved from its initial application as an effect for the organ
to become a need-to-have effect in live performance as well as just
about anything laid to tape or acetate. Tremolator builds upon this
long pedigree by bringing together the sound of classic mechanical
tremolo along with added features and flexibility that no piece of classic
hardware could have ever been capable of.
To achieve this inside the digital framework of Tremolator, first we had
to start with those classics. From vintage Fender vibrato amps to the
tremolo found in the Wurlitzer electric piano, we analyzed and examined
what was actually happening inside these units in order to accurately
recreate the properties they imparted onto audio passed through them.
What we found by analyzing the waveform changes from unit to unit
was very interesting and solidified just how unique each of these pieces
were. Coupled with the software’s Analog Styles, which emulate the
saturation and distortion profiles of various analog circuits, Tremolator
gives you every aspect of the sound of classic hardware.
However, a lot of this classic technology is just that, pretty “classic”
in comparison to what can be achieved in the modern age. While the
knobs on a 1950s Fender Vibrolux did give you control over depth and
speed, that was it: just two parameters. Tremolator on the other hand
allows you to take that characteristic sound but utilize MIDI to lock the
effect into sync with your project. Or use Tremolator’s programmable
Rhythm Editor to customize patterns, turning classic tremolo into
modern rhythmic auto-gating. With Tremolator you can control accents,
shuffle/swing to fit the groove, select waveform shape, or dive into the
advanced Tweak Menu to control all dynamic aspects of the tremolo
effect.
If you can’t tell by now, we’re very proud of Tremolator and know that
this plug-in will find a home in many of your productions. As with
all Soundtoys plug-ins, Tremolator comes with a cornucopia of very
useful presets to get you up and running, ranging from the tame to
the positively out-of-this-world. If this is your first interaction with
Tremolator, we urge you to try it on a variety of source material to get a
feel for how this effect can inspire and enhance.
Let’s get Tremolating!