Using Fx 2&3 Templates - Tips and quick tutorials

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Using Fx 2&3 Templates - Tips and quick tutorials

Post by spacef »

Hi all,
In addition to what's in the manual, a few tips and ideas.

Templates: what are they?

- Templates are like presets for Insert 2 and 3 of the new Fx channels.
- They allow to "fast-load" a combination of inserts + the routing in use.
- They don't recall the internal parameters of each insert loaded.
- They are exchangeable between channels and master bus. Also between mono and stereo channels (they are the same presets, but named differently due to the very different set of routings in mono and stereo channels).


What are they used for ?
They mainly allow 2 or 3 things:
- 1/ to save a few seconds when loading inserts combinations: no need to browse through your insert list for the rest of your life.
- 2/ to save the routing configuration applicable to such and such effect combination: useful for organizing yourself, and to avoid confusion due to the sound of effects not compatible with a routing setup or another (refer to the manual for possible sources of confusion).
- 3/ to serve as an inspiration by recalling combinations of effects that you don't always think about.


How to use them ?
Use Banks: :
- My experience tells me that the best way is to create a Bank where effects are organized by type, or by routing. For example, the Factory preset list contains only 1 Bank, which is only for Scope Stock effects (that every user has). They all load in the parallel-Quad(*) routing (#6). From there, it is of course possible to change the routing, but the one saved with each template is one that works fine with this kind of effect.
- In the mono channels, you can load stereo effects too. I would create a Bank in the Mono Templates, called "Stock effects Stereo", with rounting number 4 (quad).
- You can do the same with BlackBox Filters and RD filters. (each one its bank); this will be a huge time-saver for all your future sessions.
- and as you can mix all types of effects I would create another bank just for those hybrid combination (named "hybrid" or "freestyle" or "for routing number ....".

Make Templates: :
- Take 15 minutes one day, and begin to load pairs of effects. You are not looking for a great sound here (the templates don't save insert parameters, so no need for tweaking). What you want to do is a maximum of different combination of effects, and you do it for the future. Just make sure the rounting you have selected is compatible with the effect that you are loading, and that you are saving the template in the right bank.
- Name the preset in a way that mirrors fx 2 and 3. For example: "Chorus+Flanger"; now I know that chorus is on fx 2 and Flanger on Fx 3 . It is n ot the same as "Flanger+Chorus". And effects don't have to be different. Why not a quad chorus by loading Chorus+Chorus, or Eq+Eq for a dual mono eq in mono channels....
- When you are fed up loading effects and saving templates, save the preset list and quit Scope: when you load Scope again, your preset list will be available through all channels modules and Master Bus.
- Enjoy the Templates from now on and in all your future sessions!

(*) Quad refers to 2 "true" stereo effects in parallel (2 pairs of L/R=4 channels). Remember that, by using the "dry" level of one of the insert, it is like mixing 3 stereo channels together (fx2+fx3+dry).
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Re: Using Fx 2&3 Templates - Tips

Post by spacef »

Stereo Routing #3
=======================

(4 minutes tutorial)

Routing #3 is one of my favorite and is typical of "Mono to Stereo" effects. It's simple to visualize and produces nice results.
Do the following
- Load a modulated Stereo filter in insert 2: (example "4-poles" or "Interpole") . Check that its input is "L" or "Mono" . Make it modulate, possibly in stereo modulation.
- Load a Stereo delay in insert 3. Put the effect in mono (input = L or Mono).
--> If both effects have wet/dry parameters: Put one of the dry parameter to zero, and keep the dry of the other one to add the dry signal (dry is whatever comes from insert 1, ie just before insert 2 & 3) (**).

As the dry sound is generally stereo, you don't really loose the stereo content of the source sound, even in this "2 mono-to-stereo" setup. Moreover, as both effects are stereo and modulate sound in the stereo field, adding more stereo information is generally the least of your worries at this stage :-) . In fact, using Routing #3 - where fx 2 and 3 both have mono inputs - often allows a more defined result than routing #4, where insert 3 has stereo inputs. And to try that, you just need to click and drag the routing or use page up/down to check routing #4, and the many other ones.

(**) In the Master Bus Channels, a crossfader allows to mix te wet and dry signal: put all dry levels to zero. Just unnder inserts 2 & 3, you can select the dry signal from various sources. With the crossfader, you modify the balance between the "wet" and "dry" signals.
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Re: Using Fx 2&3 Templates - Tips

Post by spacef »

Simple and efficient: frequency based stereo-panning on mono channels
=====================================================
(2 minutes tutorial)

Mono Routing #3 brings stereo to mono channels, by using simple mono effects in parallel.
The following effect is great for mono instruments like guitars and synths.

- Load the Factory Template #12 “Eq+Eq” : it loads 1 PeQ4M in each insert 2 and 3, in a Routing #3 configuration.
- Activate one band of one equalizer and set it to Low-Pass
- Activate one band of the other equalizer and set it to Hi-Pass

You now have a stereo crossfaders with more bass one one side, and more Hi on the other side. It gives a panning effect that is a little bit like two microphones recording a piano in stereo (one mic for lows, another for high freq).

- Set to taste by modifying the Frequencies of the Low Pass and Hi Pass filters,
- Activate more bands of both PEq4 if necessary, to fine tune each side as you wish.
- If desired, add effects in insert 1 (mono) and in insert 4 (stereo).


Note that routing #4 allows loading 2 stereo or mono-to-stereo effects. If you do so, do not forget to set the stereo effect inputs to “L/Mono” (otherwise, you may hear signals on the left channels only, or to hear incoming modulations on the right channel).
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Re: Using Fx 2&3 Templates - Tips and quick tutorials

Post by Liquid EDGE »

Thanks.
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Re: Using Fx 2&3 Templates - Tips and quick tutorials

Post by dawman »

Nice.
This make Black Box II most valuable....again.
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