Modulation effects overview in MainStage

Modulation effects—such as chorus, flanging, tremolo, and phasing—are used to add motion and depth to your sound. Perceived width can be altered with the Spreader effect. Both motion and space can be introduced with the Rotor Cabinet effect.

Modulation effects typically delay the incoming signal by a few milliseconds and use an LFO to modulate the delayed signal. The LFO may also be used to modulate the delay time in some effects.

A low frequency oscillator (LFO) is similar to the sound-generating oscillators in synthesizers, but the frequencies generated by an LFO are so low that they can’t be heard and are therefore used only for modulation purposes. LFO parameters include speed (or frequency) and depth—also called intensity—controls.

You can also control the ratio between the affected (wet) signal and the original (dry) signal. Some modulation effects include feedback parameters, which add part of the effect output back into the effect input.

Other modulation effects involve pitch. The most basic type of pitch modulation effect is vibrato, which uses an LFO to modulate the frequency of the sound. Unlike other pitch modulation effects, vibrato alters only the delayed signal.

More complex modulation effects, such as Ensemble, mix several delayed signals with the original signal. Ringshifter combines a ring modulator with a frequency shifter effect. Modulation Delay allows flanging and chorus effects, emulations of tape speed fluctuations and metallic, robot-like modulations.

If you’re new to using plug-ins in MainStage, see Add and remove plug-ins in MainStage.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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