Effect Series: How to use Tremolo

For this effect, we’ve created a project that you can work on while going through the instructions. Click here to open it up in the studio.

The tremolo makes our sounds ‘tremble’ by turning the volume of our sounds up and down in a wave-like fashion. Like the function of other effects, tremolo brings life and movement to our mix, which is crucial for creating an interesting production.

Open up the project here, and for this section, play tracks 1-3 as you’re going through the following instructions. We’ll get to the other tracks in the following weeks.

In this pretty laid-back tune, we have a synth, a bass and drums that complement each other. Since our synth doesn't have a complex rhythm, we have room for adding a rhythmic flavour to it - in comes the tremolo effect! Apply ‘Tremolo’ on ‘Track 1 - Synth’, and turn the Rate to 3 o’clock, and the Depth to 11 o’clock. Now, the synth is a lot more interesting!

Do you have any questions on this? Reply with a comment and our Audio Producer will explain further! 

PS. Don’t forget to use the on/off button on the effect to hear the difference to the original sound - this is crucial for truly learning what effects do to your mix!

Tremolo can be used in more than one way. If you set a very high rate, your track will sound like it flickers or trembles. You can also make the tremolo follow the beat of your song - then the tremolo becomes a tool to create different layers of rhythm.

Open up the project here, and for this step, play tracks 1-4 as you’re going through the following steps. 

Let’s add some rhythmic layers to our tune! We have a guitar track that’s playing long notes - this wailing guitar is a perfect candidate for some rhythmic spice. Apply ‘Tremolo’ on 'Track 4 - Guitar’ and turn the Rate to 12.30 o’clock, and the Depth all the way up to 5 o’clock. Now, the guitar has a 16th note tremolo, adding another rhythmic layer to our song! 

You can also try to adjust the tremolo to another Rate that you think adds an interesting rhythmic layer to the tune!

Do you have any questions on this? Reply with a comment and our Audio Producer will explain further!

In the first section of this series, we learned that tremolo turns the volume of our sound up and down, in a wave-like fashion. The possible outcome of this effect is hugely varied - it can be used to create a flickering and trembling effect or add rhythmic patterns in our song. 

In this section, we’ll listen to an effect that turns the volume of our sound to the left and right in a wave-like manner instead of up and down. The ‘Auto Pan’ effect opens up a new angle for us to work with!

Open up the project here, and for this step, play all the tracks as you’re going through the following steps. 

On the last track of our tune, we can find ambience. This is a secret sauce in many productions, but you rarely notice it. It is there to bring some life and unpredictability to the mix. To up the liveliness of this ambience, and to give our song some more motion, apply the ‘Auto Pan’ effect on ‘Track 5 - Ambience’ and start by turning the Rate all the way down to 7 o’clock. Then, slowly turn the Depth up from 7 o’clock, and stop where you think the ambience isn’t interrupted too much by the effect. Personally, I stop at 12 o’clock - it just sounds nice there. Now, the ambience is even more original, and even if it’s subtle, it gives motion and life to our mix. Solo the ambience track to hear the effect more clearly!

Do you have any questions on this? Reply with a comment and our Audio Producer will explain further!