MARTINIC AX73 AX Chorus Plugin User Manual
- June 13, 2024
- MARTINIC
Table of Contents
MARTINIC AX73 AX Chorus Plugin
Product Information: AX Chorus
The AX Chorus is a plugin effect that is based on the ACE modeled MN3009 Bucket Brigade (BBD) chip found in the AX73 and AX60 synthesizers. It faithfully recreates the chorus effect of the original synthesizers and also offers the option of a stereo effect. History: The AX Chorus combines the chorus effects of both the AX73 and AX60 synthesizers, which were originally not released as separate effects. Free Trial: Before purchasing a license, you can try the AX Chorus free of charge for up to 30 days for testing purposes and non-published work. In demo mode, the user interface displays “Trial Version” in red in the upper left corner and white noise is added to the output signal once every minute.
Product Usage Instructions
Installation
System Requirements: AX Chorus is available as a VST 2.4, AU (Audio
Units), or CLAP (CLever Audio Plugin) effect plugin. It needs to run inside
VST, AU, or CLAP hosting software such as Ableton Live, Cubase, GarageBand,
Logic Pro, REAPER, or Studio One. It is compatible with Windows 7 or newer, or
Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or newer.
Windows Installation
- Download the Windows 32/64-bit VST/CLAP installer and save it on your computer.
- Navigate to the folder where you saved the installer and double-click on it.
- Click on the Next button to start the installation process.
- Read the license agreement and click on the I Agree button to continue.
- Select the versions of the plugin you want to install and click on the Next button.
- Optionally, customize the GUI scale or enter your license key if you have purchased one. Click on the Next button to continue.
- Select the installation location and VST2 32-bit and/or 64-bit plugin folder. Optionally, select your license key file. Confirm each selection by clicking on the Next button.
- If you customized the GUI scale, select different options before clicking Next to begin installation.
- Wait for the installation to complete, click on the Close button, and you are ready to use AX Chorus.
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing or trying Martinic AX Chorus.
The AX Chorus is based on the ACE modeled MN3009 Bucket Brigade (BBD) chip
found in both the AX73 and AX60 synthesizers. We developed our plugin with the
chorus 100% the same as the mono input versions found in the original
synthesizers and then added the option of making it a stereo effect.
History
As Akai never released the chorus as a separate effect we envisioned how it
could have looked in the 1980s, and have included both the AX73 and AX60
chorus effects in one unit.
Free Trial
Before purchasing a license you are allowed to try AX Chorus free of charge
for up to 30 days for testing purposes and in non-published work.
When AX Chorus runs in demo mode, once every minute the user interface will
display Trial Version in red in the upper left corner and white noise is added
to the output signal.
Installation
System Requirements
- AX Chorus is available as a VST 2.4, AU (Audio Units) or CLAP (CLever Audio Plugin) effect plugin, which means it needs to run inside VST, AU or CLAP hosting software, e.g. Ableton Live, Cubase, GarageBand, Logic Pro, REAPER, Studio One, etc.
- Although AX Chorus should be able to run at any sample rate the host provides, a rate of at least 44.1 kHz is recommended.
- AX Chorus is designed to run on Windows 7 or newer, or Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or newer.
Windows Installation
-
To install AX Chorus on Windows, download the Windows 32/64-bit VST/CLAP installer, and save it on your computer (e.g. in your Downloads folder).
-
Navigate to this folder, locate the installer and double-click on it, and then click on the Next button to start the installation process.
-
Carefully read the license, and then click on the I Agree button to continue. Next select which versions of the plugin you want to install. Select Customize GUI Scale to manually override the scaling factor of the plugin on a later screen. Optionally you can select License Key if you have purchased a license. Click on the Next button to continue.
-
Optionally change the install location, and again click on the Next button. Then select your VST2 32-bit and/or 64-bit plugin folder, and optionally select your license key file (if you have purchased a license), confirming each selection by clicking on the Next button.
-
If you have previously chosen to customize the GUI scale, you will be able to select different options before selecting Next to begin installation.
-
Now wait for the installation to complete (this should take only a few seconds), click on the Close button, and you are ready.
Mac Installation
To install AX Chorus on Mac OS X or macOS download the Mac 64-bit VST/AU/CLAP
installer disk image (DMG), and save it on your computer (e.g. in your
Downloads folder).
- If you have purchased a license, then you should copy your license key file to the same folder in which you have saved the installer disk image (DMG), so it can be installed along with the plug-in(s).
- Navigate to the folder in which you have saved the installer, locate the installer disk image (DMG) and double-click on it, and then double-click on the AX Chorus Installer.pkg icon. Click on the Continue button to confirm that the installation package will run a program, and then click on Continue (in the bottom right corner of the installation window) to start the installation process.
- Carefully read the license, click on the Continue button, and then click on Agree. Next select which versions of the plug-in you want to install (it is recommended that you install both the VST2, AU and CLAP versions, just to be sure), optionally select License Key if you have purchased a license, and click on the Continue button. Optionally change the install location, and then click on the Install button.
Now wait for the installation to complete (this should take only a few seconds), click on the Close button, and you are ready.
Loading AX Chorus
-
Launch your host, and create an audio track or load a project to which you want to add AX Chorus. Please refer to the documentation of your hosting software on how to do this.
Note : Most hosts will list AX Chorus as Martinic AX Chorus, but some may list it as AX Chorus or AxChorus. -
AX Chorus is primarily meant to be used as an “insert” effect, which is also the way in which it was originally used. However, it can also be used as a “bus” effect.
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The plugin is exclusively a stereo plugin, which means that Apple Logic users will have to switch the preferred track from Mono to Stereo by clicking on the ◯ symbol of the track, to be able to load the AX Chorus:
Getting Around
Using the controls (plus fine-tuning and value entry)
You can adjust controls by clicking and dragging them up or down using the
mouse. To fine-tune a parameter to a more exact value, hover your cursor over
it, hold the Ctrl key (Mac and Windows), and scroll the mouse wheel. You can
also right-click on a knob to enter a value using the computer keyboard.
Double-clicking a knob or fader will reset it to its default value.
FX view and Settings view
The AX Chorus can be used in either FX view or Settings view. FX view allows
you to control some of the AX Chorus’s basic parameters. There are more
advanced parameters in the Settings view.
Settings view provides an abstracted set of controls for the plugin, giving
you control over every parameter on the AX Chorus. Here you can access all the
controls.
AX Chorus is a stereo effect, so it is applied to both the left and right
channels. When the switch is off the effect is bypassed. Note that this is
likely not the same as bypassing AX Chorus in your hosting software, because
the input signal is still fed into the effect, meaning that you can turn it on
again at any time, smoothly and without any pops or clicks.
Using the controls
You can adjust controls by dragging them up/down using the mouse, or you can use the mouse wheel while holding the Ctrl key down. You can also right-click on a knob to enter a value using the computer keyboard.
Double-click
Double-clicking a knob will reset it to its default value.
Chorus, Rate and Mix
- The CHORUS button switches between Chorus 1, Chorus 2 and Off.
- 1 is modeled exactly like the chorus in the AX73 / AX60.
- 2 is modeled the same way but faster and deeper.
- Off switches the chorus effect off.
- The RATE knob sets the speed of the chorus effect.
- The MIX knob is a dry/wet mix control.
Settings
On the Settings page, there are additional controls including Sync, Width and the equalizer which you might be familiar with from our AX73 plugin.
Model
The AX Chorus can operate in AX73 or AX60 mode by double-clicking on the
AX73/AX60 logo in the FX view:
Or by switching the Model in the Settings view:
Both models are recreated after the original chorus effect from the original instruments.
Master Volume
In the top right is a Master volume control, ranging from -36dB to +24dB.
Sync
Sync is a toggle switch that will enable you to synchronize the chorus speed
to the tempo within your DAW. When Sync is set, you can use the Rate knob to
set the chorus speed to the desired time signature.
Stereo Width Control
The Width knob allows you to control the stereo width, going from mono (0%) to
full stereo (100%). At 50% the width knob behaves exactly like our AX73
internal Chorus.
Equalizer
The equalizer is exactly the same as the EQ from our AX73 plugin. It has three
bands: a low shelf, a bell filter for the mid range frequencies, and a high
shelf. The three bands have the same range so you could, for example, decide
to shape the Mid in 5 kHz range or focus it around the low frequencies.
- Turn the EQ on with the On switch.
- The Low dial sets the frequency of the low shelf and the Level dial sets its gain.
- The Mid dial controls the frequency of the bell filter, the BW knob sets its Q and Level controls its gain.
- High sets the frequency of the high shelf and Level controls its gain.
Default Presets
- AX Chorus comes with 16 default presets. These include AX73 and AX60 presets, which are modeled on the two incarnations of the chorus in Martinic’s AX73 plugin.
- In the VST version of the plugin, the top bar allows you to select between the Default Presets that will be shown in your DAW. You can navigate between these 16 spaces using the left and right arrow keys on either side of the name.
If you have a DAW that uses the AU plugin format, the above selection method will be unavailable but the default presets can be selected through your DAW’s interface and will be read-only.
Feature List
- Accurate emulation of analog BBD chorus
- Includes two different models: AX73 and AX60
- Adjustable chorus rate ranging from 0.01 to 20 Hz
- Optional host tempo sync from 16 bars to 1/64 note
- Adjustable chorus mix ranging from 0% to 100%
- Optional 3-band EQ for shaping chorus signal
- Stereo input and processing
- Stereo Width adjustment
- Output volume control
- Includes 16 presets
Akai is a registered trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc. Note that inMusic does not endorse Martinic AX Chorus, nor is inMusic in any way associated or affiliated with Martinic.