The following FX models may be loaded into the 8 RackUltra FX engines o\n Avantis fitted with the RackUltra FX module.
Spaces Reverb Designer
Capable of accurately reproducing the reverberation patterns of several different types of real environments.
The FX model controls are split across multiple tabs, with the Primary Controls and Quick Setup options being found on the Home Tab. Choosing an option from any of the Quick Setup dropdown menus will automatically configure the settings on the corresponding tab.
The Quick Setup option will turn grey when the settings have been subsequently changed from the Quick Setup preset.
Output EQ controls are also duplicated on the Home Tab. These are the same controls which can be found under the Output section of the EQ Tab.
Pre Delay sets the Delay of the Dry signal entering the Reverb Engine (0-170ms).
Decay sets the total Decay time for the Reverb Engine (0.1s – 60s+)
The Space Tab is where controls for the Reflections engine can be found. The Reflections model loads different Space profiles into the early Reflections Engine.
Each Reflections Model aims to simulate the Reverberation pattern for a specific kind of space.
The Size controls configure the shape of the space the Late Reverb Engine is simulating. These controls can be used to tailor the build up and decay behaviour of the reverb.
The Stereo Spread controls the Stereo Spread of the early Reflections engine, for a subtle widening effect.
Direct Send allows for Dry audio to bypass the Early Reflections Engine to feed the Late Reverb Engine direction. Much like a Dry/Wet control, at 0% the Late Reverb engine is fed exclusively from the Early Reflections Model. At 100% the Late Reverb engine is fed exclusively from the Dry audio.
Early / Late / Sub Level controls allow for mixing the outputs of the Early and Late Engines, along with separate Sub Control. The Sub control is used to affect frequencies below 80hz.
The Echoes Tab has 6 individually configurable Echoes. 3 Left (Blue) and 3 Right (Green). Each can have a discreet Gain value (-40db - +10dB), position in time (0 – 200ms) and can be turned On or Off.
Additionally the entire Echo engine can be switched In or Out using the control in the top right of the Tab.
The Texture Tab contains the controls for the Diffusion of the Reverb. The Impact control configures the Initial diffusion of the Input, with 0% offering minimal scattering like a flat wall, or a high value offering maximum scattering, like a jagged surface.
The Density control selects how many early reflections enter the Late Reverb Engine, simulating the damping properties of the walls of the space, from 0% (highly damped) to 100% (very reflective).
Early / Mid / Late Diffusion controls select the Diffusion properties of the different stages of the Reverb.
Each control can be set from 0 (very low diffusion) to 8 (maximum diffusion).
Modulation can be applied to both the Early and Late Engine to provide chorusing and additional density.
The Damping controls allow for the simulation of absorption of frequencies throughout the late reverb.
Colour controls the EQ within the Decay Engine and can be used to shape the tone of the Reverb as reflections Decay.
The Output EQ offers a quick and easy way to control the output EQ of the Spaces engine. This is in addition to the PEQ offered within the RackUltra FX channel strip and is also shown on the Home Tab.
Plate Reverb Designer
Straightforward, high quality emulation of Plate style reverbs.
Type selects a model of Plate Reverb with different tonal character and transient response.
Plate types:
- Chrome - Vintage “chrome” plate, medium to large with brighter resonance.
- Steel - Vintage Steel plate, some dark resonances.
- Bright - Overly bright medium sized.
- Dark - Overly dark large sized plate with low mid resonances.
- Dark Vox - Large sized Dark plate optimised for vocal intelligibility.
- XL plate - Large ethereal plate with a strong initial attack.
- Vocal Focus - A gritty dense plate designed to cut through a mix.
- Small Plate - Short metallic plate.
- Ambience - Very small ambient plate designed to add air.
- Classic - Classic artificial plate model, medium sized.
- Impact - Strong early dense plate which can bring focus to instruments.
Pre Delay sets the Delay of the Dry signal entering the Reverb Engine (0-170ms).
Decay sets the total Decay time for the Reverb Engine (0.1s – 10s)
The Output EQ offers a quick and easy way to control the output EQ of the Reverb engine. This is in addition to the PEQ offered within the RackUltra FX channel strip.
Diffusion sets the Diffusion applied to the Input to the Reverb Engine. High Diffusion values will cause lush highly complex Reverb patterns, whilst Low Diffusion values will improve intelligibility.
Size allows for fine adjustment of the Plate Size as selected by the Type. As this is a fine adjustment, it should be noted that some Types set to “10” will be smaller than other Types set to “10”.
Position is a balance control between the Early and Late Reflection engines. A very low Position value will reduce the level of the Late Reflections and will sound very “immediate” in the mix, whilst a very high Position value will sound further away, with less focus on early reflections.
The Shape influences the build up of reflections within the Plate. With a lower Shape value reducing the density and improving intelligibility, or a larger Shape value increasing density for a “thicker” reverb tone.
Width allows for simple Stereo Width control ranging from 100% full stereo down to 0% Mono Summing of the Output signal.
Modulation can be applied to both the Early and Late Engine to provide chorusing and additional density.
Echoes Control opens a pop up window for control of 6 individually configurable Echoes. 3 Left (Blue) and 3 Right (Green). Each can have a discreet Gain value (-40db - +10dB), position in time (0 – 200ms) and can be turned On or Off.
Additionally the entire Echo engine can be switched In or Out using the control in the top right of the window.
Return to the main Plate Reverb Designer window by pressing the “X” in the top right hand corner of the Pop Up.
Vocal Shifter
Advanced Vocal Pitch Shifting with formant correction and modification.
Vocal Shifter uses voice detection to correct or manipulate the formant of the human voice across a range of shifted pitches. The RackUltra FX unit is split into controls for the Left and Right side of the Stereo FX send. Each side is otherwise identical and can be linked using the link control in the centre if desired.
Semitone shifts the pitch up or down by 12 semitones.
Formant changes the tone of the voice, a lower Formant setting ‘ages’ the voice as if coming from deeper within the throat, whilst a higher Formant setting “de-ages” the voice as if coming from higher in the throat. With the formant control set to 0, the Formant is corrected for the selected Pitch shift value. You can adjust the formant up or down from the corrected value to manipulate the Formant of the voice.
Delay adds up to 80ms of delay to the output from the unit.
Gain attenuates the output level from 0dB to -40dB.
Precision when enabled allows fine control of all parameters in 0.1 increment steps (otherwise 1.0 increment steps).
Vocal Tuner
Low latency Vocal Pitch correction with minimal audible artefacts.
Global Key when enabled, Vocal Tuner will follow the Global Key of the console rather than the Key and Scale settings for the unit.
Key & Scale will pre define which notes are available to tune to, based on either the Major, or Minor scale for the selected Key. When in Chromatic mode, Vocal Tuner will always tune to the nearest note, regardless of the key.
Range will improve the performance of the pitch detection of the Vocal Tuner by focusing on a specified vocal range. The options are Default (no vocal range focus), Baritone (E2 to A4), Alto/Tenor (C3 to F5), and Soprano (A3 to C6).
Reference Pitch can be used to set the frequency in Hz of A4. For use in styles of music with alternative Reference Pitch.
Bypass sets the correction value to 0%, configurable as a Softkey, Action or via MIDI control. To avoid tuning when not required.
Correction limits the Tuner correction, when used in conjunction with the Retune and Transition speed, can be used to create a more (or less) natural sounding Pitch Correction.
Retune sets the speed at which Vocal Tuner should correct to the correct note.
After Vocal tuner detects a change in the note being sung, Transition controls how soon to begin correcting the note.
Very fast Retune and Transition speeds will sound “robotic” and “choppy” whilst slower speeds will sound more natural but may never finish correcting the pitch before the next note.
Tracking is an internal threshold of the pitch detection circuit. Turning this parameter down will decrease the sensitivity of pitch detection, blocking background sound from being re-tuned.
The Keyboard shows the “legal” and “illegal” notes for the current Key and Scale. These can be further customised by touching each note. There are five possible options for each note.
Blank – This note is valid and will be both corrected and corrected into.
– – This note is invalid, if detected any notes sung here will be corrected up or down to the nearest valid note.
← – This note is invalid, if detected any notes sung here will be corrected down to the nearest valid note.
→ – This note is invalid, if detected any notes sung here will be corrected up to the nearest valid note.
× – This note is valid, however any notes detected here will not be corrected.
MIDI can be used via MIDI control to remotely trigger this FX unit. Sending a Note On message will ‘snap’ Vocal Tuner to a specific note, as if all other notes on the keyboard were set to “Invalid”. Sending a Note Off message will release this “snap”.
Other parameters can be controlled via MIDI by choosing a CC message from the “Show Routing” menu followed by “MIDI Setup”. These are:
- Retune
- Transition
- Correction
- Key
- Scale
- Bypass
ⓘ For further information please refer to the Avantis MIDI over TCP/IP Protocol article.
Vocal Gridder
Vocal Tune with fast pitch detection for hard and fast correction.
Global Key when enabled, Vocal Gridder will follow the Global Key of the console rather than the Key and Scale settings for the unit.
Key & Scale will pre define which notes are available to tune to, based on either the Major, or Minor scale for the selected Key. When in Chromatic mode, Vocal Tuner will always tune to the nearest note, regardless of the key.
Bypass stops Gridder from applying Pitch Correction, configurable as a Softkey, Action or via MIDI control. To avoid tuning when not required.
Reference Pitch can be used to set the frequency in hz of A4. For use in styles of music with alternative Reference Pitch.
Time Tolerance sets how long Vocal Gridder should tune to the current note before tuning to the next note.
Pitch Tolerance sets how far from the current note the Vocal should be allowed to drift before correcting to the next note.
After Vocal tuner detects a change in the note being sung, Transition controls how soon to begin correcting the note.
Very fast Retune and Transition speeds will sound “robotic” and “choppy” whilst slower speeds will sound more natural but may never finish correcting the pitch before the next note.
The Keyboard shows the “legal” and “illegal” notes for the current Key and Scale. These can be further customised by touching each note. There are five possible options for each note.
Blank – This note is valid and will be both corrected and corrected into.
– – This note is invalid, if detected any notes sung here will be corrected up or down to the nearest valid note.
← – This note is invalid, if detected any notes sung here will be corrected down to the nearest valid note.
→ – This note is invalid, if detected any notes sung here will be corrected up to the nearest valid note.
× – This note is valid, however any notes detected here will not be corrected.
MIDI can be used via MIDI control to remotely trigger this FX unit. Parameters can be controlled via MIDI by choosing a CC message from the “Show Routing” menu followed by “MIDI Setup”. These are:
- Speed
- Time Tolerance
- Key
- Scale
- Bypass
ⓘ For further information please refer to the Avantis MIDI over TCP/IP Protocol article.
Dual AutoKey Harmoniser
2 voice vocal harmoniser with sidechain Auto Key detection.
With Manual key enabled a Key and Scale can be chosen by touching the “Key” or “Scale” display.
With Global key enabled the unit will follow the Global key and scale of the console.
With AutoKey enabled the unit will detect the Key from a polyphonic source such as a piano or guitar. The key detection Source is configured by touching “Show Routing” and setting the External Side Chain Source.
The confidence meter will increase over time as the unit becomes more certain of the key. Once the key has been determined this can then be copied to the Manual key if desired.
This can also be used to set the Global Key automatically, if the “Copy Key to Manual” button is touched whilst the Harmoniser is in “Global key”.
The two voices of harmony have identical controls and can be enabled and disabled individually.
Each voice has the following controls:
Interval sets the Internal from the source voice the Harmony should be placed. These can be set from -8 (or one Octave down) to +8 (or one Octave up).
Formant control can be used to either corrected (Formant 0) or from -12 to +12 to modify the formant of each voice.
Gain sets the amount of attenuation for the individual voice from 0dB to -40dB.
Pan sets the relative Left/Right position of the individual voice.
The additional controls effect the entire unit.
Reverb uses the included Plate, without using an additional RackUltra FX slot if not required.
Chorus provides a simple Chorusing affect to the Harmonised voices.
Pitch Variation shifts the harmonised voices up and down slightly to recreate the natural sounds of a group of people singing together. This can be used in conjunction with Time Variation to control how natural (or not) the Harmonies sound.
Time Variation randomises the start and end time of each voice, can be used in conjunction with Pitch Variation to control now natural (or not) the Harmonies sound.
Auto Expand controls the depth of the Voice Detection expander, useful for tuning the Harmoniser to work with varying amounts of stage bleed.
MIDI can be used via MIDI control to remotely trigger this FX unit. Parameters can be controlled via MIDI by choosing a CC message from the “Show Routing” menu followed by “MIDI Setup”. These are:
- Key
- Scale
ⓘ For further information please refer to the Avantis MIDI over TCP/IP Protocol article.
Quad Voice Harmoniser
4 voice vocal harmoniser.
Key/Scale selects a Key and Scale can be chosen by touching the “Key” or “Scale” display.
With Global key enabled Quad Voice Harmoniser will follow the Global key and scale of the console.
Each voice has the following controls;
Interval sets the Interval from the source voice the Harmony should be placed. These can be set from -8 (or one Octave down) to +8 (or one Octave up).
Formant control can be used to either corrected (Formant 0) or from -12 to +12 to modify the formant of each voice.
Gain sets the amount of attenuation for the individual voice from 0dB to -40dB.
Pan sets the relative Left/Right position of the individual voice.
The additional controls effect the entire unit.
Reverb uses the included Plate, without using an additional RackUltra FX slot if not required.
Chorus provides a simple Chorusing affect to the Harmonised voices.
Pitch Variation shifts the harmonised voices up and down slightly to recreate the natural sounds of a group of people singing together. This can be used in conjunction with Time Variation to control how natural (or not) the Harmonies sound.
Time Variation randomises the start and end time of each voice, can be used in conjunction with Pitch Variation to control now natural (or not) the Harmonies sound.
Auto Expand controls the depth of the Voice Detection expander, useful for tuning the Harmoniser to work with varying amounts of stage bleed.
MIDI can be used via MIDI control to remotely trigger this FX unit. Parameters can be controlled via MIDI by choosing a CC message from the “Show Routing” menu followed by “MIDI Setup”. These are:
- Key
- Scale
ⓘ For further information please refer to the Avantis MIDI over TCP/IP Protocol article.
MIDI Harmoniser
4 voices of MIDI controlled Harmony.
Monophonic Mode when enabled the unit accepts a single MIDI note.
Glide sets the speed at which the Harmoniser will transition from one MIDI note to another.
Polyphonic Mode allows up to 4 voices to be played at the same time.
Width controls the stereo spread of the 4 voices of harmony.
In all modes you have the following additional controls.
Reverb uses the included Plate, without using an additional RackUltra FX slot if not required.
Chorus provides a simple Chorusing affect to the Harmonised voices.
Pitch Variation shifts the harmonised voices up and down slightly to recreate the natural sounds of a group of people singing together.
Use Velocity can be used to follow the velocity value of the MIDI note. The higher the velocity value the louder the harmonised voice will be, a smaller velocity value will result in a quieter harmonised voice.
Amp+Cab Distortion
Amplifier modelling and cab simulation.
Amp Type loads the Amplifier Model into the unit. The Amplifier models available are:
Deluxe The classic Californian guitar amplifier powered by 6V6 valves and renowned for its mid-scooped clean and edge-of-breakup tones.
VX30 Legendary copper panelled EL84-powered British amp renowned for its chime and jangle, made famous by the British Invasion of the 1960s.
MPlex The iconic gold-panelled rock amplifier of the 70s, 80s and beyond, capable of smooth overdrive through to high-gain.
BDS1 The orange distortion pedal from 1978 that was pivotal in the harder sounds of rock during the 1980s and 1990s thanks to its hard attack and smooth sustain.
BassVT The definitive all-valve bass amplifier, capable of clean through to overdriven tones, relied on by touring and session musicians since 1969.
Cabinet Simulator loads the cabinet and driver model. The models available are:
FDR 1x12 1x12” open-back Californian combo with American speaker.
FV 2x10 2x10” open-back Californian combo with Italian speakers.
VX 2x12 2x12” copper-panel British combo with AlNiCo speakers.
Cel 1x12 1x12” AlNiCo driver in a closed-back cabinet.
MCel 4x12 4x12” closed-back cabinet with classic UK speakers.
VCel 2x12 2x12” open-back cabinet with vintage UK speaker.
Bass 8x10A First of two flavours of 8x10” US bass cabinets.
Bass 8x10B Second of two flavours of 8x10” US bass cabinets.
Bass 1x15 1x15” Classic closed-back US bass cabinet.
You can also choose to select “None” to run the unit without emulating the effect of the speaker driver and cabinet.
Gain drives signal level into the model.
Output drives signal level out of the model, a low output level can be used in conjunction with a very high gain level to create significant distortion at lower volume levels.
Thicken slightly alters distortion parameters on the Left and Right side of the unit to simulate a second cab. Additionally adds subtle chorus to widen the sound stage.
EQ controls are the same for all models for ease of use.
Saturator
Analog Saturation emulation with EQ controls.
Mode selects the model, there are 5 available.
Mode A Triode Valve Preamp Model. Rich in second and third harmonics. This model is the cleanest available on Saturator with low harmonic distortion and a gentle roll-off on frequencies over 10kHz. (Least aggressive).
Mode B Pentode Valve Preamp Model. Rich in second, third and higher order harmonics. Minimal high frequency roll off.
Mode C Late 1960s germanium transistor based Preamp Model. With characteristic roll off on frequencies over 12kHz.
Mode D Channel strip model with vintage bipolar transistor and small signal transistor. Wide high frequency lift at around 8kHz and for air and clarity.
Mode E Tape Drive Preamp model. Accurate low and low-mid attenuation with extremely aggressive levels of distortion when Gain is turned up to maximum. (Most aggressive).
The Bias control simulates a DC offset on the input audio. This can be used to create distortion at low volumes.
The PAD control reduces the Input level to the unit by -30dB for a much more subtle effect. With PAD enabled, a 30dB boost is added at the output stage to maintain relative volume.
Tilt provides a combined LF and HF shelf control with continuous control from “Full Anticlockwise” 20dB high frequency reduction shelved from 3k5Hz, to “Full Clockwise” 20dB low frequency reduction shelved from 100hz.
LF Cut 12dB LPF. 20Hz to 1kHz
LF Punch Adds a low frequency boost around the LF Cut frequency.
HF Cut switchable slope 6/12dB HPF. 1kHz to 24kHz.
Level make-up output gain level -40dB to +10dB.
Rhythm Delay
Pattern Delay with extensive customisation.
Rhythm Delay uses both BPM, Bar and Beat information to create a Delay Unit capable of positioning repeats precisely within a bar of variable length.
Simple Mode
Tempo
BPM shown here can be tapped in via a Softkey on either a Global basis syncing with all of the other Global tap devices on the console. Or individually.
Dotted and Triplet controls set the note type, whilst having neither selected defaults to a normal node.
Rhythm
Interval sets the time between each repeat as a fraction of the bar length.
Number of Repeats – Sets the number of Repeats per bar.
Each repeat will be added from the start of the bar spaced out by the Interval value.
Shape
Amplitude Shape controls the amplitude of the repeats, whilst the % control affects how much this should affect the amplitude of the repeats.
Auto Pan sets the depth of the Auto Pan. The speed of the Auto Pan is tied to ¼ note of the current BPM.
Feedback
Feedback Filters can be used to shape the tone of audio going through the feedback path.
LF Cut – Selectable as a 3dB shelf, 6 or 12dB High Pass Filter.
Resonant – Variable width bell curve filter.
HF Cut – Selectable as a 3dB shelf, 6 or 12dB Low Pass Filter.
Feedback controls the gain of the Feedback path. Can be used with positive values to have a delay get louder with each pass if desired.
Drive adds Saturation to the Feedback Path.
If a parameter has been adjusted in Advanced Mode, this is shown in Simple Mode with a red notice. This can be cleared by adjusting the value in Simple Mode, clearing the Advanced Mode setting.
Advanced Mode
Tempo – As per Simple Mode above.
Feedback Filters – As per Simple Mode above.
Amplitude Shape – Offers all Simple Mode options with the addition of “Custom Mode”.
The main Grid of Rhythm Delay in Advanced Mode shows all the repeats. The currently selected repeat is highlighted in blue, and it’s individual controls shown on the right-hand side.
Add a new repeat by touching Add or Remove a repeat by first selecting it, then touching Remove from the right-hand side.
Repeats may be positioned within the bar by touching and dragging them, or by using the Main Screen encoder.
The Height of a repeat indicates the Gain of the repeat. If the Amplitude Shape is set to Custom this may be adjusted by dragging the repeat on the screen, or by adjusting the Gain value on the right hand side.
The Pan of each repeat may be adjusted by it’s Pan control on the right hand side.
When not selected, each repeat will show a solid White colour to indicate it is panned left, a solid Red colour to indicate it is panned right, or a yellow to indicate it is perfectly centred.
Turning Dry Repeat on will feed the input signal directly to the output of the Delay unit, precisely 1 bar after it is received. This is shown in Green.
The Bar Length can be adjusted for alternative time signatures.
Pattern Tap ARM clears the Repeat Grid to allow a pattern to be tapped on the screen in time with the music.