As there’s quite an assortment of stock plug-ins available to Studio One, it’s easy to overlook the less coveted ones that are still very useful. For instance, X-Trem is PreSonus’ take on a tremolo effects pedal with additional panning functionality. It can be used on any instrument to create gritty textures to glitchy effects.

Overview

1. Mode – Panned or Tremolo

2. Depth – Amount of depth modulation

3. Beats – LFO Speed

4. LFO Type – Choose from the menu

5. LFO-Steps – LFO or steps over time

Let’s build a track with X-Trem. I shall be using all PreSonus audio loops bundled with Studio One Pro 4.

Drums

Search for ‘ic_drm90_starlite1’ from the Browser (F5). Duplicate (D) the loop three times. You will need to adjust the volume to an appropriate level. Now drag in X-’Trem from Effects/PreSonus on to the Console.

We’re going to use X-Trem to accentuate the drum transients. The mode is switched to Trem. The Depth is at 55%. Beats are 1 Bar on Sync. Select the LFO Type as 16 Gates from the drop-down menu. The Steps are set to the beat as above.

Open Hats

Drag in ‘06 open hat’. It should be the same length as the four drum Part. Ensure Snap (N) is enabled, Timebase is set to bars, and Quantize is 1/16. Slice the loop in two down the centre half with the Split Tool (3) at 5 on the timeline. Delete the first Event. Move the remaining Event to the start. Mix it in with drums.

On a new X-Trem set the Mode to Pan, Depth all the way to 100%, Beats on ½ Sync. LFO Type is 16 Gates and LFO Steps are ½ beats as shown.

This time we’re also going to automate X-Trem. Right-click on the Beats dial and select Edit Automation “LFO Beats”. On the LFO Beats Automation line, click an automation point at grid intervals 4.3 and 5. With the bracket cursor shown, trim down to ¼. Switch from automation envelope view (A) and duplicate the Event (D).

Bass

Bring in ‘110_Rock Fest_Loop_Bass 2_A’ and duplicate (D) it. Once mixed, the bass is fine, however, let’s give it some low grit with a new instance of X-Trem. As the loop is mono, the Mode is automatically set to tremolo. Make the Depth 51%, 1/8 Beat Sync, with the LFO Type set to 16 Gates and LFO half beats like above.

Rhythm Guitar

Drop ‘112_Arena_Loop_Guitar 3_G’ into the Song. We’ll use X-Trem to break the guitar riff up a bit. This one is easy, we simply select the preset, ‘Pan Rhythm’!

Lead Guitar

This time we’re working with ‘085_Remember_Loop_Elec Guitar Pick 1_D’. Duplicate (D) it. Grab X-Trem and select the preset, ‘Arp Gate 3’, but reduce the Depth to 90%.

Harmony

Find ‘ic_vox90_bust_Bm’. We can use the Open Hats X-Trem as a basis for this instance, therefore, drag a copy over to the Harmony Track. Switch the Mode to Trem. Change the LFO Type to Triangle. Right-click to Edit Automation “LFO Type”. On the grid at 4.3 and 5 click to make an Automation point. Drag the line up from Triangle to 16 Gates. Turn off the automation envelope view (A). Now duplicate the Event (D).

Vocal

Let’s finally use ‘Vox 122 Seall C’ for the vocal. Drag X-Trem over from the hats. Reduce the Depth to 40%. We’re going to automate Bypass. Right-click on Bypass and select Edit Automation “Bypass”. Make Automation points at grid positions 4.3 and 5. Pull the Trim line down to Bypass as below. Escape the automation envelope view (A) and duplicate the Event (D).

Now hit play!

In Summary

As we’ve seen, X-Trem’s versatile tremolo and panning effects may be used on many different aspects of a song from coarse timbres to automated glitchy throws.