RE4ORM FX gives you 20 different effects organized into 8 different effects panels. Each of the 8 effects panels has a dedicated Free4orm LFO for real-time manipulation of its effects parameters.
You don’t have to use the Free4orm LFO to modulate your effects. Any effect parameter will operate without modulation. In this way, you have up to 20 different effects available to work with.
The signal path for the audio flows from left to right, i.e. first the audio runs through the compressor, then Filter 1, then Distortion, etc.
To hear the effect of the Free4orm LFO on your effect parameters you must click one of the modulation buttons above the effects parameter knobs. (Note, make sure the Free4orm LFO and the effect you are working with are also enabled.) Doing this tells the associated Free4orm LFO to modulate this parameter. The left-pointing mod link button will modulate the parameter with inverted polarity.
Detailed information for working with the Free4orm Shapes LFO can be found here.
FX Panels
Effects On/Off Buttons
You may enable or disable any of the effects panels by clicking the bypass button to the left of the effect panel name. When disabled the audio bypasses that effect.
Input Panel
The input panel gives you control over the level of your audio input into RE4ORM FX. Raise or lower the vertical slider to increase or decrease the input level. You may also pan the input left or right using the pan knob. The meter will reflect any changes you make.
Compressor Panel
The compressor is a useful effect for leveling out the volume of your audio signal before running it through other RE4ORM FX effects. It has three parameters.
- Threshold (THRESH) sets the level at which the compressor will take effect.
- The ratio sets the amount of compression when the audio reaches the threshold.
- Attack sets the time for the compression to take effect.
Filter 1 Panel
Filter 1 includes the following 10 effects which are selectable via the two dropdown menus.
- 2-pole Low Pass Filter with frequency and resonance control
- 2-pole High Pass Filter with frequency and resonance control
- 2-pole Bandpass Filter with frequency and width control
- 2-pole Notch Filter with frequency and width control
- 2-pole Peak Filter with frequency and width control
- 4-pole Low Pass Filter with frequency and resonance control
- 4-pole High Pass Filter with frequency and resonance control
- 4-pole Bandpass Filter with frequency and width control
- 4-pole Notch Filter with frequency and width control
- 4-pole Peak Filter with frequency and width control
The 2-pole filters utilize a 12db slope at the corner frequency you select. The 4-pole filters utilize a 24db slope. It’s easy to hear the difference but in general, the 4-pole effects will be more dramatic and the 2-pole effects more subtle.
Distortion Panel
RE4ORM FX distortion panel includes 2 distortion effects, Drive Shaper and Wavefolder, which are selectable via the dropdown menus.
The Drive Shaper distortion and Wavefolder distortion have different sonic characteristics. Try them both to see which is better for your sound.
For each distortion effect, there are Input Gain, Output Gain, Drive, and Mix parameters. All of them can be modulated by the Free4orm LFO.
Formant Panel
The formant panel is a great effect for giving your sound a vocal or talking quality. The two dropdown menus select vowel sounds and the balance knob sets the balance of the two. The top dropdown menu selects the left side of the balance control and the bottom menu selects the right side of the balance control. The Mix knob sets the wet/dry mix of the formant filter. All parameters are available for Free4orm modulation.
Pipe Model Panel
RE4ORM FX’s Pipe Model effect models the effect of a sound going through a pipe or tube. It is one of the more unique effects as it can cause any non-pitched sound to have pitched characteristics. For this reason, it works very well on drums, but certainly, try it on any audio source.
The Pitch parameter sets the perceived pitch of the effect. This parameter has a very wide range so small adjustments can make a big difference in the sound.
- Damping (DAMPNG) will dampen the high frequencies of the effect. Open the damping circuit to allow more high frequencies through.
- Feedback (FDBK) sets the amount of the output signal sent back into the input.
- Coupling (COUPLNG) is a second parameter for setting the amount of the output signal sent back into the input.
- The Limiter controls the level of the Pipe Model output. The limiter is there to prevent the Pipe Model resonance from getting too loud.
- The Mix parameter sets the wet/dry mix of the Pipe Model.
Filter 2 Panel
Filter 2 includes three additional filter effects which are selectable via the two dropdown menus.
- Tarabbia Low Pass Filter with frequency, resonance, drive, and wet/dry mix control
- Tarabbia High Pass Filter with frequency, resonance, drive, and wet/dry mix control
- Lowpass Drive Filter with frequency, resonance, drive, and wet/dry mix control
The Butter Filter is a modified Butterworth filter designed by Patrice Tarabbia, a 2getheraudio engineer. Sometimes referred to as the Tarabbia Filter, this filter is smooth as butter. Two versions, low pass, and high pass are available.
The third filter is a Driven Low Pass, essentially a low pass with some extra drive and distortion characteristics.
Stereo Delay Panel
RE4ORM FX Stereo Delay panel is a very nice sounding delay for traditional delay effects. It can also be used as an additional effect for unusual sounds given the Free4orm modulation capabilities.
- Left and Right set the time of the delay panned hard left or right. Delay times are always synchronized to the DAW tempo.
- Damp will add a low pass filter to the delay signal to dampen high frequencies, making the delay repeats darker in timbre.
- Feedback (FDBK) sets the number of delay repeats or the length of the delay tail.
- Mix sets the wet/dry mix of the stereo delay.
Reverb Panel
RE4ORM FX Reverb panel is an algorithmic reverberation effect. It can be used to add room ambiance to a sound, but can also create unusual effects given the Free4orm modulation capabilities.
- Time sets the length of the reverb.
- Size sets the size of the room.
- Damp will dampen high frequencies of the reverb signal.
- Pre-Delay (PRE DLY) will set the time of the first reverb reflection.
- Pre-Delay Mix (PD MIX) will set the level of the pre-delay.
- Mix sets the wet/dry mix of the reverb effect.
Output Panel
RE4ORM FX Output panel will raise or lower the volume of the effect. There is also a pan knob which is available for modulation by the Free4orm LFO.