LoFiFx

Lo-Fi Multi-Effects Plugin (AUv3)

LoFiFx is an audio effect plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host application such as Logic or GarageBand.

Overview

LoFiFx is a collection of effects often used in the production of lo-fi music, although you might find it useful on just about any sound source. LoFiFx works particularly well on sounds that you may feel are a little dry or lifeless, by adding warmth, increased stereo spread and movement, and at times, unpredictable tonal changes.

Parameters

Active - Toggles the effect On or Off.

Crunch - sends a variable amount of gain into a virtual diode-based clipper. Diodes are often used in simple guitar overdrive pedal circuits, and when pushed, produce an unrefined crunchy tone - hence the name.

Wobble - applies a randomised rate and depth pitch modulation effect that can sound similar to a faulty tape recorder at higher settings. The LoFiFx wobble effect is different from most tape emulations as the left and right channels wobble independently.

Sway - varies the amount of randomised panning. Similar to the Wobble effect, this does not occur at a set rate or depth, so it can be used to add a sense or unpredictable movement in the stereo field.

Reverb - adds a bit of vintage-flavoured reverb to the mix. As the parameter is increased past half-way, the size and decay of the reverb also increase. A low-cut filter is also applied to the signal sent to the reverb which helps retain clarity on drum and bass sounds.

LPF - sets the frequency of a lowpass / high-cut filter.

HPF - sets the frequency of a highpass / low-cut filter.

Note that the LPF and HPF frequencies overlap, so at some settings, you might find the overall output is being reduced significantly as the filters are in series. If you want to prevent this, make sure the LPF frequency is higher than the HPF / the HPF frequency is lower than the LPF. Basically what gets through the two filters depends on the size of the gap between the two frequency values so they can be combined to create a simple bandpass filter.

LFO - sets the destination of a triangle waveform LFO. In addition to classic LPF / HPF sweeps, assigning the LFO to the Crunch parameter can create an interesting tremolo effect.

Rate - sets the rate of the LFO.

Depth - sets the depth of the LFO.

Drift - introduces a variable amount of rate and depth modulation. Adding drift is a handy way of making the LFO cycle less obvious and predictable.

LoFiFx has a built-in clipper at the output stage so can be used as a utility effect to brick-wall limit any incoming signal to 0dB. This isn't going to replace your favourite mastering plugin anytime soon and it gets very crunchy when pushed.

If the name sounds familiar, LoFiFx is an original design based on the LOFIFX module developed for Voltage Modular by Waverley Instruments. For more info and support please visit:

www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson