FX Chain module

The FX Chain module allows you to use FX Chains (see Effects chains) and individual audio effects within the ProChannel signal flow. The FX Chain module can be used as an effects bin that can be inserted between other ProChannel modules.

An FX Chain is a container that can include multiple audio plug-ins. Assignable knobs and buttons can control automatable plug-in parameters in the FX Chain. An FX Chain preset can store up to six assignable knobs and six assignable buttons.

Figure 325. FX Chain module.

A. Clipping LED B. FX Chain enable/disable C. FX Chain name (double-click to edit) D. Input level E. Show Controls page F. Show Effects page G. Assignable button (right-click to assign) H. Output level I. Assignable rotary (right-click to assign) J. Click button to bypass/un-bypass plug-in K. List of effects in chain (double-click to open plug-in; drag to reorder) L. Scroll bar

The FX Chain module contains the following controls:

FX Chain preset name. The name of the current FX Chain preset. Double-click to rename.

Controls page. The Controls page shows the automatable effect parameters that are assigned to the FX Chain knobs and buttons:

Input level. Input level before the FX Chain. This parameter is automatable.

Assignable rotaries. Up to 6 assignable rotaries allow you to control automatable plug-in parameters without having to open a plug-in's property page. For details, see Using assignable controls.

Assignable buttons. Up to 6 assignable buttons allow you to control automatable plug-in parameters without having to open a plug-in's property page. For details, see Using assignable controls.

Output level. Output level after the FX Chain. This parameter is automatable.

Effects page. The Effects page shows a list of all plug-ins that are included in the current FX Chain preset. The signal flows from top to bottom. Drag to reorder plug-ins, and right-click to add/remove plug-ins. You can bypass individual plug-ins by clicking the small bypass toggle to the left of the plug-in name.

Note: Unlike the FX Chain plug-in (see Effects chains), all buttons and knobs in the ProChannel FX Chain module are always visible when showing the Controls page. Buttons and knobs that are not assigned to an automatable effect parameter are disabled.

Tip: Knob and button labels are sometimes truncated. Move the mouse pointer over the control to see the full label in a Tooltip.

 

To add a new FX Chain module

Do one of the following:

Click the Insert Module button in the Inspector and choose FX Chain on the pop-up menu. An empty FX Chain module appears with the Effects page visible.

Right-click a module header or blank space in ProChannel and select Insert Module > FX Chain on the pop-up menu. An empty FX Chain module appears with the Effects page visible.

Drag an audio effect from the Browser to ProChannel. An empty FX Chain module appears with the Effects page visible, and the audio effect’s property page appears.

Drag an FX Chain preset from the Browser to ProChannel.

To load an FX Chain preset

Do one of the following:

On the Effects page, right-click the effects bin and choose Load FX Chain Preset on the pop-up menu. Select the desired FX Chain Preset file (*.fxc) in the Load FX Chain Preset dialog box and click Open.

From the Plug-in tab of the Browser, under Audio, expand the FX Chain branch and drag the preset to ProChannel.

Right-click the preset name field and choose Load FX Chain Preset on the pop-up menu.

Figure 326. To create a new FX Chain, drag an FX Chain preset from the Browser’s Audio tab to an audio track or audio clip effects bin.

To add an effect to the current FX Chain

Do one of the following:

On the Effects page, right-click the effects bin, point to Audio FX and choose the desired audio effect on the pop-up menu.

From the Plug-in tab of the Browser, under Audio FX, drag the desired effect the FX Chain module’s Effects page.

To remove an effect

Right-click the effect name on the Effects page and choose Delete on the pop-up menu.

To re-order plug-ins

On the Effects page, drag the effects up/down to the desired position.

To bypass an individual plug-in

On the Effects page, click the small button to the left of the plug-in name.

To rename the FX Chain

Double-click the preset name field, then type the desired name and press ENTER.

To save an FX Chain preset

Do one of the following:

Right-click the preset name field and choose Save FX Chain Preset on the pop-up menu.

Right-click the effects bin on the Effects page and choose Save FX Chain Preset on the pop-up menu.

To edit a knob or button

Right-click the control and choose Edit Control on the pop-up menu.

To enable a knob or button for automation writing

Right-click the control and choose Write Enable Automation on the pop-up menu.

To enable a knob or button for automation playback

Right-click the control and choose Read Enable Control on the pop-up menu.

To reset a knob or button to its default value

Double-click the control.

To open an effect’s property page

Double-click the effect name on the Effects page.

To automate FX Chain plug-ins

Effects in an FX Chain can be automated just like other effects in an effects bin. Parameter names for plug-ins that reside within an FX Chain container are listed in submenu's prefixed by the associated FX Chain name.

You can also use ACT to control the FX Chain’s input level, output level and assignable knobs and buttons. For details, see ACT.

For information about automating effects, see Automating effects.

To customize an assignable control

Right-click a knob or button in the FX Chain module and choose Edit control on the pop-up menu to open the Control Properties dialog box.

Figure 327. Assignable control properties.

A. Name B. Position C. Destination D. Start value E. End value

The Control Properties dialog box contains the following settings:

Name. The name of the assignable control, shown as the label.

Position. The “slot” position of the control, from left to right.

Destination. Choose up to four automatable plug-in parameters to control with the assignable knob or button.

Start. The start value for the destination parameter, specified as a percentage (0.00% to 100.00%).

End. The end value for the destination parameter, specified as a percentage (0.00% to 100.00%). You can also set Start and End values automatically. For details, see To set parameter value range automatically.

To clear an assignable knob or button

Right-click a knob or button in the FX Chain module and choose Remove control on the pop-up menu to open the Control Properties dialog box. The assigned parameter(s) is removed from the control, but the control remains visible.

To set parameter value range manually

1.	Right-click a knob or button in the FX Chain module and choose Edit control on the pop-up menu to open the Control Properties dialog box.

2.	Specify the Start and End values.

Tip: You can invert ranges to have two parameters move in opposite directions.

To set parameter value range automatically

1.	Open a plug-in’s property page and set the desired Start position for each parameter.

2.	Right-click a knob or button in the FX Chain module, point to Ranges on the pop-up menu and choose one of the following commands:

All Parameters- Set Start. Set the Start value of all parameters assigned to the FX Chain knob or button. The values are determined by the current position of each plug-in’s property page settings.

All Parameters- Set End. Set the End value of all parameters assigned to the FX Chain knob or button. The values are determined by the current position of each plug-in’s property page settings.

<Plug-in name - Parameter name>- Set Start. Set the Start value of a specific parameter assigned to the FX Chain knob or button.

<Plug-in name - Parameter name>- Set End. Set the End value of a specific parameter assigned to the FX Chain knob or button.

To set the default parameter value

1.	Adjust a knob or button in the FX Chain module to the desired default position.

2.	Right-click the knob or button and choose Set Default Value on the pop-up menu.

When you double-click the knob or button, it returns to its default value.

Note: If multiple parameters are assigned to the knob or button, the default value will be 0.5.

To map an assignable knob or button to a plug-in parameter

1.	Right-click an assignable knob or button in the FX Chain module’s Controls page and choose Edit control on the pop-up menu to open the Control Properties dialog box.

2.	Specify an automatable plug-in parameter in the Destination list. You can specify up to four parameters for each knob and button.

Figure 328. Specify up to four automatable plug-in parameters for each assignable control.

 

Note: You can also “learn” plug-in parameters by simply touching controls in plug-in property pages. To do so, right-click in the FX Chain module’s Controls page and select Learn Knobs or Learn Buttons on the pop-up menu. Touch the plug-in parameters you want to assign, then select Learn Knobs or Learn Buttons again to exit learn mode.

Customizing the FX Chain UI

You can change the colors and graphics that are displayed in each FX Chain. To do so, right-click the FX Chain module and click Customize UI on the pop-up menu to open the Settings dialog box.

Figure 329. Use the Settings dialog box to customize the appearance of the FX Chain module.

A. Background image B. Preset background image C. Preset text color D. Label text color

The Settings dialog box contains the following settings:

Background Image. The main background image in the FX Chain Controls page.

Preset Background Image. The image behind the preset name.

Preset Text Color. Color of preset name.

Label Text Color. Color of button and knob text labels.

Figure 330. FX Chain UI.

A. Preset Background Image B. Preset Text Color C. Label Text Color D. Background Image

 

Note: The Fader Cap, Button Image, and Rotary Image settings can not be customized from the FX Chain module. To customize all images, create the FX Chain preset in a track’s effects bin (see Effects chains and Customizing the FX Chain UI), then load the FX Chain preset into ProChannel.

 

See also:

Using FX Chain presets (.fxc)

Effects chains

 

See:

ProChannel (Producer and Studio only)

Using ProChannel

ProChannel modules and controls

PC76 U-Type Channel Compressor module (Producer only)

PC4K S-Type Bus Compressor module (Producer only)

QuadCurve Equalizer module

Tube Saturation module (Producer only)

Console Emulator module (Producer only)

Tape Emulator module (Producer only)