With Ableton Live 12.3, we’re getting another audio effect update. This time it’s Auto Pan, which, due to a change in features, also got a new name: Auto Pan–Tremolo. In the following video, we’re going to look at all the features of Auto Pan–Tremolo, its two new modes, and other new features. We’re also going to explore five use cases on how to make the most of them.
Watch the Video:
The audio effect interface has been overhauled and is now split into two distinct modes: Panning and Tremolo. Panning modulates the sound within the stereo field, while Tremolo modulates the volume. New features include the real-time display of either panning position or tremolo level in their respective modes.
Additional LFO Time modes have been added: 16th, Triplet, Dotted and Time. If set to ‘Time’, the longest possible modulation cycle is 200 seconds. This is fantastic for very slow and gradual modulations.
Two new features are visible on the right-hand side of the Auto Pan–Tremolo interface. Attack Time allows you to specify the time, in milliseconds or seconds, over which the LFO modulation should gradually increase to reach the maximum level of panning or volume. In Panning mode, this keeps the signal centred in the stereo field initially, and in Tremolo mode, it can help preserve the transients. Dynamic Frequency Modulation takes the level of the input signal to base the LFO frequency values on. If positive values are set, the modulation is sped up; if negative values are set, it is slowed down.
Additionally, the Tremolo mode features two new buttons. When Harmonic Tremolo mode is active, a split is created in the frequencies at 600 Hz, and the tremolo alternates between the high and low frequency bands. Vintage Tremolo mode adds saturation to the signal.
Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments below. Have you found any other interesting use cases for the new Auto Pan–Tremolo features? Please share them as well!
