MacroMacro Effects Reference

MacroMacro includes eight effect modules derived from our Layered instrument. Each module has its own controls and can be assigned to the Big Knob for macro control. This page explains what each module does and the controls you’ll see in the interface.

Drive & Grit

Drive

Adds harmonic saturation and overdrive.
Drive knob controls the amount.
Bitcrush reduces bit depth up to 14-bit for lo-fi textures.
Mix blends the processed signal with the dry signal.

Grit

A different overdrive character focused on high-frequency texture.
Drive sets the amount.
Character adjusts the tonal emphasis in the highs.
Mix blends effect and dry signal.

Tip: Click the arrow under either effect to reveal a low-pass and high-pass filter that apply only to the effect return, not your dry signal.

Filter

Freq sets the cutoff frequency.
Resonance boosts the area around the cutoff.
Click the arrow to choose filter type: low-pass, high-pass, or other available shapes.
Filter can be modulated by Filter LFO (see below).

Filter LFO

Depth sets how far the filter frequency moves.
Rate sets how fast it moves.
Choose shapes such as Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square, or draw a custom shape.
You can also enable Step mode to make the LFO act like a step sequencer for rhythmic modulation.

Tip: Filter LFO does not automatically power on when Filter is turned back on. You’ll need to enable it separately.

Chorus or Phaser

Choose either Chorus or Phaser in this slot.

Chorus

Rate – speed of modulation.
Depth – amount of pitch modulation.
Mix – dry/wet balance.
Spread (in the pop-out) adjusts stereo width.
FX Gain boosts the processed signal; extreme values can add mild distortion.

Phaser

Depth – intensity of the phase sweep.
Speed – how fast it sweeps.
Mix – dry/wet balance.
Frequency 1 and Frequency 2 – start and end points of the sweep.

Stereo Delay or Tape Delay

Choose either Stereo Delay or Tape Delay in this slot.

Tape Delay

Roll-off – cuts high frequencies from the repeats.
Feedback – number and intensity of repeats.
Mix – dry/wet balance.
Click the arrow to reveal:
- Tempo – delay time in milliseconds (not DAW-synced), lets you create off-grid echoes.
- Tape Wow – simulates tape speed fluctuation.
- Speed – adds slight overdrive and pitch bend to the repeats.

Stereo Delay

Roll-off, Feedback, Mix as above.
Click the arrow to reveal:
- Rate Left and Rate Right – set different DAW-synced note values for each side (e.g., dotted eighths left, quarters right) for ping-pong effects.

Gain LFO

A tremolo-style amplitude modulator.

Depth – how much volume change.
Speed – how fast the change.
Choose shapes such as Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square, or draw a custom waveform in the pop-out.
Increase Smooth (in the pop-out) to make transitions less abrupt.
Enable Step mode for rhythmic, sequenced tremolo effects.
Syncs to your DAW from a full bar down to triplet 64ths.

Pitch LFO

Creates pitch modulation and tape-like warble.

Depth – how far the pitch moves.
Speed – how fast it moves.
Same waveform options as Gain LFO (Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square, Custom).
Use odd step counts and shallow depth for subtle, non-repeating drift.
Roll the dice button for random shapes or draw your own.

Reverb – Shimmer or Plate

Choose either Shimmer or Plate Reverb in this slot.

Shimmer Reverb

Size – reverb length.
RTime – modulation rate/time.
Mix – dry/wet balance.
Additional internal controls (Mod Depth, High-frequency Damp, Diffusion) shape the reverb and can be partially exposed to the Big Knob.

Plate Reverb

Damping – high-frequency roll-off.
Decay – reverb tail length.
Mix – dry/wet balance.

Tip: Combine Shimmer with Drive or Pitch LFO for evolving textures. Even small slices of Big Knob control over Size or Mod Depth can create dramatic movement.

Power and Assignment Notes

Every module has its own power button. Turning it off bypasses that effect but keeps its settings.
The Bypass button at the top disables all effects plus Master EQ and Compression.
Use the small assign buttons next to controls to give the Big Knob permission to move them. Adjust the colored slice in the Big Knob to set how much control it has.