Freeze block

Quad Cortex
1

Hello everyone

Does anyone has the magic tip for this issue?

I want to set up a preset with two scenes. Scene 1 is just a simple overdrive with cab and IR.
Scene 2 has a freeze block and volume block in front of the overdrive (input - freeze - volume - OD - amp - …) which are scene-dependent and only active in that scene.

I want to use my expression pedal to hit a chord when at 0 and gradually increase the volume and use the freeze to create an everlasting sound, using the expression (thus volume) to decrease and increase the volume of the chord, without having to hit it time after time (hence the freeze).

I’ve managed make this work a couple of times but every time I save the preset, go to another preset and switch back, it doesn’t work anymore. The preset also opens with an asterisk (*), stating something has been modified. It is indeed the Freeze block that is set on release and not freeze.

Anyone has a clue what I’m doing wrong?

My volume block is assigned to my expression pedal, curve doesn’t matter (log, linear).
My freeze block is assigned to my expression pedal with Freeze Gain. No matter which other settings I use (release, freeze, momentary on/off) in the edit section of the freeze block itself, it just doesn’t hold.

Thanks in advance!

1 Like
2

how are you activating the Freeze? Which parameters are assigned to the Scene?

3

Freeze does not hold across presets. If you use Freeze, then change the preset, it will cut whatever sound was being “frozen” in the Freeze block.

1 Like
4

I guess I hoped it would be active by switching to that particular scene. I’m guessing that’s not right?

5

Maybe I expressed myself badly (not a native English speaker) but it doesn’t have to cary over to another scene. I just want to use the freeze/volume combo for an intro of a song and than switch to a normal rythem patch.

6

with Freeze you have Bypass, which turns the block (but not the effect) on and off, and then the actual ‘on/off’ setting for the effect inside the block. How are you assigning these functions? It sounds like your Scene Assignment may be conflicting with your XP assignment.

If you’d like to upload the Preset to the Cloud, we could check it out and see if there’s an easy fix. Otherwise we’ll need a more in-depth description of the Scene and XP assignments for your Freeze block

If I understand correctly, you want the Scene change to activate the Freeze effect and grab the chord and then the XP only adjusts the volume of the Freeze, which keeps going till you change the Scene again?

7

Your post does not explain how it is not working - can you elaborate?

8

I’ve uploaded the preset in Cortex Cloud so you could analyse it. I must be doing something wrong that is probably obvious but I can’t see it.

At this moment with this preset, I can activate the Freeze function but whenever I put my expression pedal to 0, the free effect also stops working. With this in mind I’d have to keep playing and make it swell, whilst I just want to hit one chord and use the expression pedal to control volume.

Freeze Test

9

I’ve been experimenting some more and it turns out if I put the QC in Stomp Mode and assign a footswitch to it, I can activate and deactivate the freeze function. This is progress but not quite there yet because I want to switch scenes after the intro of the song.

10

You can absolutely assign a Scene parameter to the activation function inside of the Freeze. I do it all the time. No need to use a Stomp switch assignment for that.

Also,
I think we need to make a distinction when you talk about using your expression pedal for swells. Which of these are you trying to do?:

A) Use the expression pedal to swell the freeze volume only, while still being able to play or pick notes over the top of it
B) Use the expression pedal to swell ALL volume during the intro section of the song

2 Likes
11

as I suspected, you’ve kind of got conflicting XP and Scene Assignments. I think the signal flow needs a little adjusting to achieve what you seem to be wanting to do, if I understand correctly.

I’m going to build you a version you can test to see if it’s what you’re looking to do. Let me confirm first: You want to be able to Freeze a chord, then be able to keep playing but also be able to fade the Freeze in and out? Swelling ONLY the Freeze, not your whole signal?

1 Like
12

Try this and see if it does what you want:

3 Likes
13

I don’t necessarily need to play over the freezed chord. It just has to make a “wall of sound” coming in and out to build up to the song.

1 Like
14

Damn this is it, can’t believe it! If I understand this correctly you’ve adjusted the signal path and made the release scene independant (ABCD)? I don’t see any expression pedal assigned so I’m very curious how it’s possible I can increase and decrease the volume. :grinning_face:

Thank you very much!

1 Like
15

my pleasure. I linked the XP assignment to the Split, where the mixer rejoins Lane A. You could change the volume max and min levels there. It needed to be on a parallel isolated lane so you could keep playing over it.

Yes, the effect engage/release is now assigned to Scene A instead of the XP. I didn’t think it was necessary to worry about the block bypass since it’s only the on/off release that matters

if anything’s not quite to your liking, we can keep tweaking

4 Likes