FabFilter VOLCANO-2 Users Manual

Table of contents

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About FabFilter Volcano 2

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Volcano 2 is more than just an update of Volcano 1. The original idea of high quality filters being modulated with several sources is still present but Volcano 2 has been redesigned from the ground up. Now it is not only capable of high quality filtering effects, but it can even be used for phasing, flanging, chorus and many other cool effects!

Bigger than ever... and easier-to-use than ever!

Of course, the new version of Volcano brings a lot of new features. To start with, you now get four full-featured

filters which can be routed in almost any possible way (including Per-Channel and Mid-Side). Then, the real fun

starts with our totally re-designed drag-and-drop modulation system instead of the two simple LFOs and the single Envelope Generator in Volcano 1, you now get all the XY

Controller, XLFOs, Envelope Generators, Envelope Followers and MIDI Sources you need! Of course, the new

version also has a side-chain input Followers. Volcano 2 also features our improved MIDI Learn controllers to Volcano's parameters.

What-you-use-is-what-you-see

Volcano 2 introduces a revolutionary new interface concept: what-you-use-is-what-you-see yet powerful: do you want another filter? Just add one! Do you want an Envelope Follower? Just add one and start modulating things! At all times, the interface only contains the filters, modulation sources and slots that you are actually using. This results in an intuitive user interface that experienced producers and novices alike will embrace.

, which can be used to trigger the Envelope Generators or feed the Envelope

system, which makes it easy to associate your

with a 24 slot modulation matrix. And

. The idea is simple

Modulation madness

Volcano 2 brings new and improved modulation sources and because of our improved interface, you don't have to worry about how many sources you have: there are enough sources to keep you busy for a long time!

Our new XLFO offers you anything from a simple sine wave to a fully programmable 16-step sequencer. The Envelope Generators and Envelope Followers can make use of the plug-in's side-chain signal, and the new MIDI modulation sources let you modulate parameters using any form of MIDI data.

Finally

If you have spent some time with Volcano 2, you will find use for it in any kind of project. The best way to discover what you can do with it is to explore the presets. Find out what a variety of effects you can create, and use them as a starting point for your own explorations.

FabFilter Volcano 2 is available in VST, VST3, AU (Audio Units), AAX Native and AudioSuite formats (all both 64-bit and 32-bit), as well as RTAS (32-bit only), for Mac OS X and Windows.

Windows requirements

32-bit: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP

Mac OS X requirements

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64-bit: Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista (x64) VST 2/3 host or Pro Tools

Next: Quick start

See Also

Using FabFilter Volcano 2 Upgrading to Volcano 2 VST plug-in versions

OS X 10.6 or higher AU or VST 2/3 host or Pro Tools Intel processor

Quick start

5

The installer will copy the FabFilter Volcano 2 plug-in into the common VST, VST 3, AU (macOS only) and Pro Tools plug-in folders on your computer. On macOS, the global plug-in folders in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins are used.

In most cases, your host will then recognize the plugin automatically. However, if the instructions below do not work, see Manual

Cubase

Choose an empty insert slot, for example in the Mixer, and select FabFilter Volcano 2 from the menu that appears. To use the MIDI features in Volcano 2, create a new MIDI track and set its output to the Volcano 2 instance you have just created. (The VST 3 version of Volcano 2 can be found in the Filter section.)

Logic Pro

Choose an empty insert slot on one of your audio tracks, instrument tracks or buses and select FabFilter Volcano 2 from the pop-up menu. You will find FabFilter Volcano 2 in the Audio Units > FabFilter section (named FF Volcano 2).

Ableton Live

In Session view, select the track you would like to place FabFilter Volcano 2 on, for example by clicking the track name. At the left top of Ableton Live's interface, click on the Plug-in Device Browser icon (third icon from the top). From the plug-ins list, double-click FabFilter/FabFilter Volcano 2, or drag it onto the track.

Pro Tools

Choose an empty insert slot on one of your audio tracks, instrument tracks or buses and select FabFilter Volcano 2 from the pop-up menu in the Effect section.

Use the Presets button to try different settings from the many factory presets that are bundled with FabFilter Volcano 2. Have fun!

installation instead.

Next: FabFilter Volcano 2 overview

See Also

VST plug-in versions Upgrading to Volcano 2 Overview Loading presets

Overview

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Volcano's interface is divided into horizontal sections:

Presets, undo and A/B

The Undo, Redo changes and switch between different states of the plug-in. With the preset buttons browse through the factory presets or save your own settings so you can re-use them in other songs.

Interactive filter display

This is the graphic representation of the filter settings which allows you to drag all filters individually or simultaneously and control the filter settings with key combinations. See Interactive filter display

Filter controls

At the bottom of the display, the filter controls offer a choice of low-pass, high-pass and band-pass modes and come with 11 algorithms that offer different filter characteristics. Each filter has a special delay option with short delay times up to 30 ms, creating all kinds of stereo effects. At the left of the filter controls, the routing of the four filters.

Modulation button

The modulation button shows or hides the entire modulation section at the bottom of the interface. FabFilter Volcano 2 offers virtually unlimited modulation possibilities, but all this power might be a bit intimidating. That's why the modulation section is hidden by default, and you can look 'under the hood' when you want to tweak a preset or design your own.

Source selection bar

The source selection bar shows all modulation sources at a glance and lets you easily scroll around and create new sources. FabFilter Volcano 2 offers XLFO

and XY Controller sources. See also Modulation.

MIDI

Modulation slots and sources

The bottom section contains the modulation sources. The modulation section in Volcano 2 is fully modular — but without the cables! We found a simple way to show you everything that is modulating, and what is modulated by what. Above each modulation source, the modulation slots show exactly what targets are modulated by this source and let you adjust the amount of modulation. You can very easily set up modulation connections with drag-and-drop fun!

MIDI Learn, monitoring and input/output/mix

, A/B and Copy buttons at the top of the plug-in interface enable you to undo your

, you can easily

.

provide full control over all filter parameters. The filters

button selects the routing

, Envelope Generator (EG), Envelope Follower (EF),

. All in all, we think we made sound design easier and more

The bottom bar contains the MIDI Learn feature which sets up any MIDI controller to control any plug-in

parameter. Next, we find various output options and mix buttons. See Output controls.

7

Resize

The resize button in the lower-right corner lets you choose between normal and wide interface layouts. The wide layout provides more space for the modulation sources at the bottom of the interface. Most hosts support dynamic resizing of the interface; otherwise just close and re-open the interface window.

Next: What-you-use-is-what-you-see

See Also

About FabFilter Volcano 2 Support

What-you-use-is-what-you-see

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Most of the times an impressive feature list results in an impressively difficult-to-use interface, full of controls for parameters you might never even use.

For almost every plug-in developer one of the greatest challenges when making such a complex full-featured plug-in is to design an interface that is easy-to-use. And we think we did it! FabFilter introduces a revolutionary new interface concept: What-you-use-is-what-you-see.

The idea is simple yet powerful. Do you want another filter Just add one and start modulating things! At all times, the interface only contains the filters, modulation sources and slots that you are actually using. Of course there is a limit to the number of sources you can create, but in practice it feels like you can create as many sources as you will ever need.

This results in an intuitive user interface that experienced producers and novices alike will embrace. To give you an idea, a simple preset with just one low pass filter and the modulation section hidden looks like this:

? Just add one! Do you want an envelope follower?

... a more complex preset with two filters and modulation using our new XLFO and an Envelope Generator looks like this:

... and a very complex preset, with four filters and a lot of modulation sources and modulation, looks like this:

To help you understand even the most complex presets, modulation slots are grouped with each source. Each

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component, knob or controller that is being modulated is marked with a little M button. Simply click the M to highlight the modulation source and slots responsible for the modulation. See also Modulation

.

Next: Knobs

See Also

Modulation Overview

Knobs

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It is easy to control FabFilter Volcano 2's parameters with the large round knobs. They will light up when you move the mouse cursor around to indicate that you can adjust them. The moment you move the mouse cursor over a knob, a parameter value display will pop up, which shows the name and the current value of the parameter.

All knobs support four ways of control:

1. Vertical mode Click on the center area of a knob and drag up or down to rotate it. The knob reacts to the speed with which you are dragging, so if you move the mouse slowly, you make precise adjustments.

2. Rotate mode Grab the arrow of the knob and drag it around. By moving the mouse cursor further away from the knob while dragging it, you can make precise adjustments.

3. Mouse wheel mode Perhaps the easiest way to make adjustments is by using the mouse wheel when you hover over a knob. This mode works for all the knobs and possible panning rings. (On Windows, you might need to click in the plug-in interface first to make sure it is the active window.)

4. Text entry mode Double-click a knob to enter an exact value using the keyboard.

Tips

To reset a knob to its default position, hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (macOS) and click the knob once. Note: In Pro Tools, Volcano 2 uses the default Pro Tools keyboard shortcut for reset: Alt+click.

To fine-tune a value when using vertical drag mode or the mouse wheel, hold down the Shift key while dragging or moving the mouse wheel. Note: In Pro Tools, Volcano 2 uses the default Pro Tools keyboard shortcut for fine tune: Ctrl+drag on Windows or Command+drag on macOS.

There are several handy shortcuts in text entry mode. With frequency values, you can type e.g. '1k' to set the value to 1000 Hz, and also 'A4' for 440 Hz, or even strings like 'C#3+13'. With dB values, you can type e.g. '2x' to get +6 dB (the value that corresponds to two times louder). With all values, you can also type a percentage (e.g. '50%' will put a knob exactly in the middle position).

Sometimes, knobs in our plug-in interfaces are linked: these be adjusted simultaneously by holding down the Alt key (Shift key in Pro Tools) while dragging on one of them. For example, an output level and input level setting of a plug-in could be adjusted simultaneously (in the opposite direction) this way.

Next: Filters

See Also

Support

Filters

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Volcano 2 comes with four multi-mode stereo filters, which can be routed in almost every possible way, even per-channel and mid-side.

Every filter can be switched between low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass responses with 12, 24 and 48 dB/octave slopes and a staggering amount of eleven different high-quality filter characteristics that define the unique sound and overdrive of the filter. They range from smooth with moderate overdrive to raw, selfoscillating and over-the-top! All characteristics FabFilter filter technology.

One set of filter controls is shared among all filters, which shows the parameters of the active filter.

To activate a filter, click one of the numbered filter buttons. The button for the currently active filter lights up and is connected visually with the filter controls section.

To bypass the active filter, click its filter button again. The first click activates the filter; once it is active, the filter button enables and disables the filter. When a filter is bypassed, the filter controls disabled, but can still be used to adjust the filter.

To add a filter, click the + button next to the last filter button. The newly added filter will copy most of its settings from the currently active filter.

To remove a filter, activate it and then click the Remove button at the top right of the filter controls section. If there is only one filter left, you cannot remove it.

Click the Presets button to save the current filter and routing settings, or to access previously saved section presets. Note that this affects all filters and the routing, not just the active filter. See also

Section presets

In the filters section, we applied our new what-you-use-is-what-you-see concept: you only get filter buttons for filters that you are actually using at the moment. Even the Routing button only contains the routing options available for the current number of filters!

When using L/R or M/S configuration filters just one click will add or delete 2 filters automatically.

You can use the filters individually or combine filter characteristics to create your own sounds in any way imaginable. To experience the full potential of Volcano 2's filters, try it on some signals with rich harmonics (synth sounds, distorted guitar or complete mixes are good sources for filtering).

.

, the amount of filters will always be 2 or 4. So when adding or deleting

have been tuned very carefully, using our state-of-the-art

will look

Next: Filter parameters

See Also

Interactive filter display Modulation

Filter parameters

12

Volcano 2 contains up to four independent multi-mode filters. You control the parameters of the active filter with the following settings:

Frequency

The filter frequency is adjustable over the entire audio range. The Frequency controls the center or cutoff frequency of the active filter and can be controlled in real time, either manually or via external devices.

Pan

The Pan ring around the Frequency knob lets you filter the left and right channels differently. It works as a stereo balance setting for the center frequency of the filter. For example, when you turn the Pan knob to the left, the left channel will be filtered with a lower center frequency, and the right channel will be filtered with a higher center frequency. You can use this to create various stereo filtering effects, especially in combination with modulation.

Peak

The Peak knob adjusts the resonance of the active filter. A little resonance will cause the filter to create warmer and more characteristic tones. At maximum resonance, the filter will self-oscillator with most filter characteristics. (The Auto Mute Self-Osc option in the bottom bar will help to keep this manageable. See Output

Characteristic

FabFilter Volcano 2 lets you choose between 11 different filter characteristics:

1. FabFilter One, the original filter characteristic taken from our award-winning FabFilter One

synthesizer

2. Smooth, like the cream in your coffee

3. Raw, a filter with lots of overdrive and exhibits a character of its own. Great for distortion guitar

sounds

4. Hard, moderately distorting filter, with a nice clean whistle

5. Hollow, juicy moderate distortion with fairly much low-end self-oscillation

6. Extreme, for more wild sonic ideas

7. Gentle, a more smooth and clean general purpose characteristic

8. Tube, with a warmer sound and nice overdrive, great for synth sounds

9. Metal, with a rough, sharper sound and distortion

10. Easy Going, a softer version of the Tube filter

11. Clean, linear behavior with no clipping distortion at all

Response

The response of each filter can be set to either Low Pass, High Pass, or Band Pass. In Low Pass mode, the filter will pass through frequencies lower than the center frequency. In High Pass mode, frequencies higher than the center frequency will be passed through. In Band Pass mode, only the frequencies around the cut-off frequency will be passed through.

Slope

The slope switch sets the steepness of the filter, which controls how aggressively the frequencies around the center frequency are filtered. You can choose between 12 dB/octave, 24 dB/octave or 48 dB/octave settings. For example, if the response is set to Low Pass, more high frequencies will be passed above the cutoff frequency using at 12 dB/octave than at 48 dB/octave. But let your ears decide! Just listen to the sound as you move the filter around and see if you like it...

Delay

Each filter has an delay function that will, well yes, delay the sound passing through. This feature will add some more wobblyness to your sounds! For example the creation of comb-filter effects (chorus/flanging). These effects occur when 2 or more signals are added together while the delay time is changing of at least 1 of the signals. You can set it up by using an XLFO delay time of a filter. Use slow XLFO rates to create the classic flanging effect. In this case the Stereo configuration works best.

Or how about some crazy stereo effects using the "Haas" effect. Mr. Haas found out that time differences

controls.)

sending a simple sine wave to modulate the

are very important for your stereo perception. So when the left channel is delayed we will hear it coming

from the right speaker. More about this in this Wikipedia article .

13

To set this up start with 2 filters and select the L/R configuration with the routing button. The schematic diagram will show us the filter 1 is used for the left channel and filter 2 is used for the right channel. If you raise the delay of filter 1 it will sound like the sound is panned to the right purely based on delay times, not volume. Now reset the delay time (both filters) to 0 and take a new XLFO to modulate the delay time of both filters and inverse 1 of the Modulation

Slot. Now you will hear the stereo image move

from left to right. Sweet innit! From here you can add more filters with different settings and pan them differently and it will create some truly blissful stereo effects.

The delay offers so many extra sound design opportunities that we strongly suggest that you take some time to experiment with it.

Tip: When you make changes to filter parameters that are modulation targets and delay), the modulation slots

that use that target are automatically shown. You can return to view all

(cut-off frequency, peak, pan connections by using the Show All Slots button that appears on the left in the modulation slots bar. Next: Interactive filter display

See Also

Filters Modulation

Interactive filter display

14

The interactive filter display gives an overview of the filter parameters and makes it very easy to adjust multiple filter parameters simultaneously. The vertical lines in the background represent a logarithmic scale that correspond to the actual filter frequencies.

Drag a filter dot to adjust the Frequency and Peak parameters for that filter. The active filter will have a light colored ring around its filter dot in the display (filter 2 in the screen shot above).

Drag the link dot (between filter 1 and 3 in the screen shot above) to adjust all linked filters simultaneously. To link filters, click on the link buttons that appear when the mouse is just above the filter buttons. For example, you can set them up as 4 resonant band-pass filters and sweep the cutoffs simultaneously. This configuration will give you access to all manner of 'vocal' sounds, as well as even more dramatic formant-based timbres.

Shift+click a filter dot to toggle between the different filter slopes. Ctrl+click (Command+click on Mac) a filter dot to toggle between the different filter responses.

When holding down the Alt key while dragging a filter dot, the other linked filters will change accordingly, as if you where dragging the link dot.

Holding down both the Alt+Ctrl keys (Alt+Command keys on Mac) while dragging a filter dot will adjust all linked filters while fixing the link dot in the center, so the other linked filters will 'mirror' the changes.

Tips

Of course, all changes made in the filter display can be automated! You can connect a MIDI controller to either the frequency or the peak adjustment of the link dot with the

MIDI Learn

feature.

Next: Routing

See Also

Filters Filter parameters

FabFilter VOLCANO-2 Users Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Table of Contents

About FabFilter Volcano 2

Quick start

Overview

Knobs

Filters

Filter parameters

Interactive filter display