Omnisphere 2

FX Descriptions

There are 58 different professional-quality internal FX Units to choose from in Omnisphere (which can be expanded up to 66 via Sonic Extensions).
For more detailed descriptions of the controls and operation, please click on the FX Unit names.

DYNAMICS

  • Tube Limiter
    Both a limiter and compressor—modeled on the fat, warm sound of the famous Fairchild™ 670 tube limiters from the 1960s.
  • Tape Slammer
    This fully controllable compressor simulates different types of analog tape compression, tape saturation, and even tape age.
  • Modern Compressor
    Modeled after the legendary SSL™ buss compressor, this compressor adds a bright, “solid-state” character to the sound.
  • Vintage Compressor
    Modeled on the “go-to” vintage Universal Audio LA-2A™ and 1176™ compressors, this unit has a warm and musical sound.
  • Precision Compressor
    The Precision Compressor is super-clean, versatile, and modern-sounding. It’s an ideal hi-fi studio compressor and works well for mastering.
  • Stomp Comp
    Modeled after the vintage Ross Compressor™ guitar pedal, it has a tough, gritty character and it is useful for lots more than just guitars.
  • Gate Expander
    A traditional, controllable noise gate that also works well as an expander.

EQUALIZERS

  • Studio EQ
    This clean and versatile 2-band EQ provides multiple modes for each band and is suitable for mastering.
  • Vintage 2-band EQ
    Modeled after the Pultec™ EQP2-A model tube equalizer, with a warm and musical tone.
  • Vintage 3-Band EQ
    Modeled after the Pultec™ EQP series tube equalizers, renowned for their musical and fat tones.
  • Graphic 7-Band EQ
    Useful for tailoring a full spectrum audio source with broad control of multiple bands.
  • Graphic 12-Band EQ
    Useful for tailoring a full spectrum audio source with fine control of multiple bands for precision control.
  • Parametric 2-Band EQ
    Provides precision frequency control, with two fully sweepable, overlapping bands.
  • Parametric 3-band EQ
    Provides precision frequency control, with three fully sweepable, overlapping bands.

FILTERS

  • Enevelope Filter
    This FX Unit uses Omnisphere’s filters with an envelope follower to provide a cool, animated-envelope effect.
  • Formant Filter
    A filter based on the characteristics of the human vocal tract, with adjustable headsize and vowel controls.
  • Power Filter
    Developed in cooperation with GForce Software and based on their famous and super-musical impOSCar™ filter design. 
  • Valve Radio
    A unique device that functions both as a dual filter and a distortion device—includes drive control and a gate.
  • Wah-Wah
    Modeled after classic wah-wah pedals of the 1970s, with LFO modulation that can be synced to the host tempo.
  • Crying Wah
    This FX unit is modeled after the classic Vox Cry Baby wah-wah pedal, used by Clapton and Hendrix and pretty much everyone else!
  • DISTORTION AMP FX
    Stompbox Modeler
    This FX unit recreates ELEVEN incredible models of classic fuzz, overdrive, and distortion pedals.
  • Flame Distortion
    Scorch your audio with this extremely versatile distortion and bit-crushing unit.
  • Metalzone Distortion
    Modeled after the Boss MT-2 Metal Zone™ distortion pedal—rock tones, galore!
  • Toxic Smasher
    This FX unit combines Omnisphere’s Waveshaper with different controllable filter types.
  • Foxy Fuzz
    This FX unit is modeled after the Foxx Tone Machine fuzz pedal, known for its sustain—includes octave harmonics.

AMPLIFIERS

  • Bassman
    This FX unit is modeled after the mighty, mighty ’59 Fender Bassman™ amplifier—many guitarists’ favorite amp. Comes with selectable, high-end mic and preamp combinations. Controls for the head and the cabinet.
  • Boutique
    This FX unit is modeled after the 100-watt Dumble Overdrive Special™ amplifier, with selectable, high-end mic and preamp combinations.
  • Brit-Vox
    This FX unit is modeled after the Vox AC30™ amplifier. This amp led the British Invasion of the 1960s! Comes with selectable, high-end mic and preamp combinations. Controls for the head and the cabinet.
  • Classic Twin
    This FX unit is modeled after the classic (and we mean CLASSIC!) ’65 Blackface Fender Twin™ amplifier—with selectable, high-end mic and preamp combinations. Controls for the head and the cabinet.
  • Hiwattage
    This FX unit is modeled after a custom 100-watt 1974 Hiwatt™ amplifier—Classic Rock tones with selectable, high-end mic and preamp combinations. Controls for the head and the cabinet.
  • Rock Stack
    This FX unit is modeled after the seminal and iconic ’64 Marshall JTM45™ amplifier—with selectable, high-end mic and preamp combinations. Controls for the head and the cabinet.
  • San-Z-Amp
    This FX unit is modeled after the trend-setting SansAmp GT-2™ tube amplifier emulation pedal.
  • Smoke Amp
    A guitar amplifier-modeling effect, with a nice variety of amps and cabinets modeled after hand-made amps from smaller, boutique amp manufacturers.
  • Thriftshop Speaker
    This unit is designed to trash your audio by running it through the old and funky speakers/telephones/megaphones that you might find in a thrift shop.

MODULATION

  • Analog Chorus
    This FX unit is modeled after famous Boss™ and TC Electronics™ chorus pedals that have graced thousands of classic keyboard and guitar tracks. Stereo and mono.
  • Ultra-Chorus
    A rich and thick chorus unit that features some unique LFO modulation options.
  • Solina Ensemble
    This FX unit is modeled after the classic “Ensemble” effect in the ARP Solina String Ensemble™.
  • Analog Phaser
    This FX features models of the Oberheim Phasor™, MXR Phase 90™, and a custom chorus/phase-shifter with the ability to sync to your track.
  • Retro-Phaser
    Classic phaser unit with a vintage, low-fi vibe, a darker tone, and a “DIRT” switch. Can be synced to the host tempo.
  • PRO Phaser
    A versatile and rich phaser design—capable of going way beyond traditional phaser effects.
  • EZ Phaser
    Best suited for classic phaser effects—very easy-to-use and understand.
  • Analog Flanger
    This FX unit is modeled after the popular classic, the A/DA Flanger™ pedal. You’ve heard this!
  • Retro-Flanger
    Classic flanger unit with a warm, vintage character. Complete with a “DIRT” switch.
  • Flanger
    Provides many traditional flanging and tuned-resonance effects. Can be synced to the host tempo.
  • Analog Vibrato
    This FX unit is modeled after the vibrato of the once-ubiquitous Roland JC-120™ and of the Shin-ei Uni-Vibe™ pedal, which imitated a Leslie (think Pink Floyd).
  • Vintage Tremolo
    This unit recreates the classic vintage tube amp tremolo effect, in mono or stereo. Think ’60s Surf music and ’70s Soul and R&B.

CREATIVE

  • Quad Resonators
    This unit is based on comb filters and adds tuned, robotic resonances to any input signal.
  • Innerspace
    Designed to create acoustic resonances, organic textures, and add unconventional ambiences to any input signal by super-imposing the characteristics of one sound onto another.

DELAYS

  • Chorus Echo
    Inspired by the classic Roland Chorus-Echo™ units from the 1970s. Features a modulated delay line that can be synced to the host tempo and includes a vintage chorus mode, as well as a “Dirt” switch.
  • BPM Delay
    A single, true-stereo delay unit that is always synchronized with the host tempo.
  • BPM Delay X2
    Dual-mono delays that are always synchronized to the host tempo.
  • BPM Delay X3
    Triple L-C-R (left-center-right) mono delays that are always synchronized to the host tempo.
  • Radio Delay
    A dual-mono, BPM-style delay, with the delayed signals passed through Omnisphere’s Valve Radio distortion filter. Can be synced to the host tempo.
  • Retroplex
    Modeled after the tape echo units of the ’60s and ’70s such as the Echoplex™. Delays and Echos are selectable from any year: 1960 through 2000!

REVERBS

  • Pro-Verb
    Ambience controlled with surgical precision, Pro-Verb is the premier, studio-quality reverb unit in the Omnisphere FX arsenal. Extremely versatile, hi-res, and rich-sounding.
  • EZ-Verb
    A simple-to-use, basic reverb unit that uses less CPU power, and sounds great!
  • Spring Verb
    Faithfully recreates the classic vibe of the spring reverbs of early guitar amplifiers.

UTILITY

  • Imager
    A handy device that can be used as a stereo image widener, phase corrector, and more.

SONIC EXTENSIONS FX

  • Sky Channel
    A Class-A channel strip based on the pristine modeling of highly sought-after vintage consoles.
  • Sky Verb
    The ideal processor for ambient soundscapes and scoring.
  • Unclean Channel
    Unique channel strip for adding wobbly pitch artifacts, tape saturation, radio filtering effects, and noises from all kinds of weird devices.
  • Unclean Verb
    This funky reverb is all about character and quirky, wobbly spaces.
  • Under Echo
    An extremely versatile pitch-shifted ambience processor.
  • Under Fire
    Modeled from rare analog devices for warm saturation, contoured crunch, and vicious distortion.

How many FX units can be used at one time?
It’s possible to have a huge number of simultaneous FX Units active at the same time in one instance of Omnisphere. Any of the FX Units can be put into one of the 4 slots in an Omnisphere FX Rack, plus the 5 Multi racks. Up to 53 FX Racks can be open at once.

Here’s the structure:

  • 4 Effects per Rack x 6 racks per part = 24 Effects per Part
  • 24 Effects per Part x 8 Parts = 192 FX

PLUS:

  • 4 Effects per Rack x 4 Multi AUX racks + MASTER rack = 20 FX Units per MULTI

This equals 212 possible simultaneous FX Units (depending on your computer’s capability).

NOTES ON USING THE FX

  • Each FX Unit consumes different amounts of additional CPU power, so the number of simultaneous FX Units depends on the available CPU power of your computer. Some FX, like the PRO-Verb, can use more CPU power, depending on which settings are used.
  • To maximize CPU performance in multi-timbral, LIVE, or STACK applications, it’s recommended to Bypass any Part FX Units which can be shared by other Parts (especially reverbs and delays). A good approach is to copy a Part FX Unit’s settings, bypass it and then paste the settings into a free Aux rack for shared use by the multi-timbral Parts. In other words, the signal from multiple Parts can be sent to one FX unit. Think of a hardware recording console, where the signal from multiple channels is sent through one hardware reverb.
  • Some FX Units have two pages. The second page parameters can be reached by clicking the arrow on the right side of the plug-in. Usually, it’s labeled “MORE” or indicates the parameters found on the second page.
  • You can also use external third-party FX plug-ins with Omnisphere by utilizing the multiple outputs feature of Omnisphere with your host. 

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