FX AID 1U

Happy Nerding 4HP
fw 1.0
EFFECTS REVERB DELAY CHORUS PHASER DISTORTION WAVEFOLDER

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Compact 1U stereo effects processor with 32 user-loadable programs from a library of 200+. Programs include delays, reverbs, choruses, phasers, filters, pitch shifters, drum emulations, and more. CV-controllable.

Patch Ideas · 7

★ CV-controlled reverb decay
Load Reverb Hall Medium, assign CV to Control 2 (Pre-Delay), LFO sweeps the ambience as it breathes.
Walkthrough
  1. Bank/Program buttons: navigate to Reverb Hall Medium (Control 1 = Decay Time, Control 2 = Pre-Delay, Control 3 = Tone).
  2. Hold right (Program) button for 2 seconds — LED 2 should blink. Click until LED 2 (Control 2) is selected, then hold 2 seconds to confirm. CV input now modulates Pre-Delay.
  3. Control 1 (Decay): 2 o'clock — long hall tail.
  4. Control 3 (Tone): 12 o'clock — neutral.
  5. D/W knob: 1 o'clock — mostly wet.
  6. Patch voice/mix Out to FX AID 1U L Input. R is normalled from L for mono-to-stereo.
  7. Patch a slow bipolar LFO (0–5V range, ~0.1Hz) to FX AID 1U CV Input.
  8. Patch FX AID 1U L Output and R Output to your mixer L/R.
Signal out L/R Outputs — stereo hall reverb at line level, tail length fixed by Decay knob; pre-delay swept by LFO.
Listen for A long hall tail whose early-reflection timing breathes with the LFO — the space seems to expand and contract around the source.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 4 connections. Modules: FX AID 1U, Voice, LFO, Mixer. Signals: 3 audio, 1 cv.FX AID 1UVoiceLFOMixerProgram: Reverb Hall MediumCV assign: Control 2 (Pre-Delay)Control 1 (Decay): 2:00 · D/W: 1:00In LaudioCVcvOut LaudioOut RaudioOutaudioOutcvLaudioRaudioaudiocv
★ Clocked delay
Delay Clock Sync locks delay time to an external clock via the CV input — no knob tweaking to stay in tempo.
Walkthrough
  1. Navigate to Delay Clock Sync (Control 1 = CV / Clock In, Control 2 = Feedback, Control 3 = Clock Divider).
  2. Hold right button 2 seconds. Click until LED 1 (Control 1) blinks, then hold 2 seconds to confirm. CV input now receives the clock.
  3. Control 2 (Feedback): 12 o'clock — 3–4 audible repeats.
  4. Control 3 (Clock Divider): 12 o'clock — 1:1 (adjust for 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 divisions).
  5. D/W: 12 o'clock — equal dry/wet.
  6. Patch source audio to FX AID 1U L Input.
  7. Patch a square/gate clock (0–5V, ≥2.5V peak) to FX AID 1U CV Input.
  8. Patch L and R Outputs to mixer.
Signal out L/R Outputs — source plus tempo-locked echoes. Delay time tracks incoming clock rate.
Listen for Echoes that land exactly on musical divisions. Turn the Divider knob live to jump between whole/half/quarter note feels without losing sync.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 4 connections. Modules: FX AID 1U, Voice, Clock, Output. Signals: 3 audio, 1 clock.FX AID 1UVoiceClockOutputProgram: Delay Clock SyncCV assign: Control 1 (Clock In)Feedback: 12:00 · Divider: 12:00 · D/W: 12:00In LaudioCVclkOut LaudioOut RaudioOutaudioOutclkLaudioRaudioaudioclock
★ Shimmer pad generator
Reverb Shimmer Input Dual turns any sustained input into an up+down octave shimmer pad.
Walkthrough
  1. Navigate to Reverb Shimmer Input Dual (Control 1 = Decay Time, Control 2 = Amount, Control 3 = Up/Down Xfade).
  2. Control 1 (Decay): 3 o'clock — long shimmer tail.
  3. Control 2 (Amount): 2 o'clock — plenty of shifted content.
  4. Control 3 (Up/Down Xfade): 12 o'clock — equal blend of +1oct and -1oct shimmer.
  5. D/W: full CW (100% wet) — no dry signal, pure pad.
  6. Patch a sustained source (slow-attack VCA output, pad, held chord) to FX AID 1U L Input.
  7. Patch L and R Outputs to mixer.
Signal out L/R Outputs — slowly-building octave-shifted reverberant pad at line level.
Listen for An ambient cathedral with ghostly octaves rising and falling around the source. Sweep Control 3 to tilt toward bright (up octave) or dark (down octave) shimmer.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 3 connections. Modules: FX AID 1U, Pad Source, Mixer. Signals: 3 audio.FX AID 1UPad SourceMixerProgram: Reverb Shimmer Input DualDecay: 3:00 · Amount: 2:00 · Xfade: 12:00D/W: 100% wetIn LaudioOut LaudioOut RaudioOutaudioLaudioRaudioaudio
Pitch-shift runaway cascade
Delay Pitch Shift with envelope-swept Semitone control — one drum hit becomes a climbing cascade.
Walkthrough
  1. Navigate to Delay Pitch Shift (Control 1 = Clock Divide, Control 2 = Feedback, Control 3 = ±Pitch Shift).
  2. Hold right button 2 seconds. Click until LED 3 (Control 3) blinks, then hold 2 seconds to confirm. CV input now modulates Pitch Shift.
  3. Control 2 (Feedback): 3 o'clock — near max, repeats sustain for many iterations.
  4. Control 3 (Pitch Shift): 12 o'clock — set manual shift to zero so the envelope does the work.
  5. D/W: 2 o'clock — mostly wet.
  6. Patch a single percussion/pluck source to FX AID 1U L Input.
  7. Patch a slow ramp envelope (0–5V rising) to FX AID 1U CV Input — each repeat transposes upward as the ramp climbs.
  8. Patch L and R Outputs to mixer. Trigger the envelope once per cascade.
Signal out L/R Outputs — one seed hit followed by a climbing staircase of pitched repeats, Shepard-like, at line level.
Listen for A single percussion strike turns into a tumbling waterfall of ever-higher echoes. Lower Feedback to shorten the cascade, or invert the ramp for a tumbling-downward trail.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 4 connections. Modules: FX AID 1U, Percussion, Envelope, Output. Signals: 3 audio, 1 cv.FX AID 1UPercussionEnvelopeOutputProgram: Delay Pitch ShiftCV assign: Control 3 (±Pitch Shift)Feedback: 3:00 · D/W: 2:00In LaudioCVcvOut LaudioOut RaudioOutaudioRampcvLaudioRaudio11. each repeat transposes upaudiocv
Self-oscillating LP delay howl
Delay LP pushed past unity feedback self-oscillates — CV-swept filter frequency turns it into a howling voice.
Walkthrough
  1. Navigate to Delay LP (Control 1 = Clock Divide, Control 2 = Feedback, Control 3 = Frequency).
  2. Hold right button 2 seconds. Click until LED 3 (Control 3) blinks, then hold 2 seconds to confirm. CV input now modulates the lowpass Frequency inside the feedback loop.
  3. Control 2 (Feedback): 3 o'clock — past unity, the delay begins to self-oscillate/howl.
  4. Control 1 (Clock Divide): 9 o'clock — short delay time for tight howl.
  5. D/W: full CW — 100% wet.
  6. Patch a short gate (~10ms) to FX AID 1U L Input — brief noise bursts seed the feedback loop.
  7. Patch a sequencer or LFO (0–5V) to FX AID 1U CV Input — sweeps the filter to change howl pitch.
  8. Patch L and R Outputs to mixer.
Signal out L/R Outputs — sustained self-oscillating howl at line level, pitch set by the filter frequency.
Listen for A woozy, sliding howl that follows the sequencer. Not chromatic (no V/Oct tracking), but musical slides and gestures. Drop Feedback to choke the howl instantly.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 4 connections. Modules: FX AID 1U, Gate/Click, Sequencer, Output. Signals: 3 audio, 1 cv.FX AID 1UGate/ClickSequencerOutputProgram: Delay LPFeedback: 3:00 (past unity) · D/W: 100% wetCV assign: Control 3 (Frequency)In LaudioCVcvOut LaudioOut RaudioOutaudioCVcvLaudioRaudio121. seeds feedback2. sweeps filteraudiocv
Karplus-Strong pluck
Delay Karplus-Strong with short noise bursts excites a plucked-string tone. Clock Divide sets string length.
Walkthrough
  1. Navigate to Delay Karplus-Strong (Control 1 = Clock Divide, Control 2 = Feedback, Control 3 = Tone).
  2. Control 1 (Clock Divide): start at 10 o'clock — higher strings. Sweep live to change pitch.
  3. Control 2 (Feedback): 3 o'clock — long string decay.
  4. Control 3 (Tone): 12 o'clock — neutral timbre. CCW for mellow, CW for bright.
  5. D/W: full CW — 100% wet, pure string.
  6. Patch a noise source through a VCA. Patch a short trigger envelope (~10ms decay) to the VCA CV.
  7. Patch the VCA Output to FX AID 1U L Input — each trigger delivers a noise click that excites the K-S string.
  8. Patch L and R Outputs to mixer. Trigger the envelope to pluck.
Signal out L/R Outputs — pitched plucked-string tone at line level. Decay length set by Feedback, pitch set by Clock Divide.
Listen for Classic Karplus-Strong string pluck — bright and clean when Tone is up, woodier when Tone is down. Not chromatic at the knob — tune Clock Divide by ear or automate via CV for sweeping melodies.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 5 connections. Modules: FX AID 1U, Noise, VCA, Envelope, Output. Signals: 4 audio, 1 cv.FX AID 1UNoiseVCAEnvelopeOutputProgram: Delay Karplus-StrongClock Divide: 10:00 · Feedback: 3:00 · Tone: 12:00D/W: 100% wetIn LaudioOut LaudioOut RaudioOutaudioInaudioCVcvOutaudioTrig, ~10mscvLaudioRaudio11. short burst = pluckaudiocv
No-input mixer feedback loop
FX AID closes a no-input feedback loop as its own sound source. Two LFOs animate the loop gain and delay time.
Walkthrough
  1. Navigate to Delay Tape (or any Delay program). Control 1 = Heads Ratio/Time, Control 2 = Feedback, Control 3 = Tone.
  2. Hold right button 2 seconds. Click until LED 1 (Control 1) blinks, then hold 2 seconds to confirm.
  3. Control 2 (Feedback): 2 o'clock — hot but controlled.
  4. D/W: full CW — 100% wet.
  5. Patch mixer Aux Send to an external VCF Input.
  6. Patch VCF Output to FX AID 1U L Input — no audio source anywhere in the chain.
  7. Patch FX AID 1U L Output back to the mixer Return (closing the loop).
  8. Patch LFO1 (slow) to VCF Cutoff — sets what frequencies can pass through the loop.
  9. Patch LFO2 (slower) to FX AID 1U CV Input — sweeps delay time.
  10. Patch mixer Main Out to your monitors. Raise the Aux Send level slowly until the loop howls.
Signal out Mixer Main Out — pure feedback-generated drones, howls and squeals, no external source.
Listen for The loop is its own instrument. LFO1 sweeps which pitches the loop can resonate at; LFO2 slides the delay time so the drone evolves. Small Aux Send changes cause big character shifts — play the send knob.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 6 connections. Modules: FX AID 1U, Mixer, Filter, LFO1, LFO2, Output. Signals: 4 audio, 2 cv.FX AID 1UMixerFilterLFO1LFO2OutputProgram: Delay Tape (or any delay)CV assign: Control 1 (Heads/Time)Feedback: 2:00 · D/W: 100% wetIn LaudioCVcvOut LaudioReturnaudioAux SendaudioMain OutaudioInaudioCutoffcvOutaudioOutcvOutcvInaudio1231. no source — pure loop2. sweeps delay time (CV assigned to Heads/Time)3. closes the loopaudiocv

Behaviors

Program Selection bank + program buttons

4 banks × 8 programs = 32 user-loadable slots. Factory presets include Delay Tape, Delay Ping Pong, Delay HP, Delay LP, Delay Freq. Shift, Delay Pitch Shift, Delay Clock Sync, Delay Comb, Delay Magneto, Delay>Reverb, Delay>Dual Shimmer, Delay Vowel, Filter Vowel, Wave Folder, Sample Rate Reducer, Bit Crusher, Flanger, Phaser Classic 12, Pitch Shifter, Pitch Shifter Dual, Freq. Shift Up/Down, Chorus > Reverb, Reverb Spring, Reverb Plate Classic, Reverb Room Stereo, Reverb Hall Chorus, Reverb Hall Medium, Reverb Black Hole, Reverb Cloud, Gray Hole Light, Reverb Shimmer Input Dual, Reverb Shimmer Dual.

Preset Storage hold right button until LEDs off, then left to select

Store 4 quick presets including current program + Control 1/2/3 + D/W positions. Recall by holding 2 seconds then navigating with right button.

CV Assignment hold right button 2 seconds

Reassign the CV input to control: Control 1 (LED 1), Control 2 (LED 2), Control 3 (LED 3), Sample Rate Reducer (LED 4), or Preset Selection (LED 1+5). Click through options then hold to confirm.

Firmware / Bank Loading fxaid.app web editor

Build custom banks of 32 programs from 200+ available algorithms via fxaid.app. Download wave file, play into CV input to flash firmware. USB-C not available on 1U — audio-wave update only. Line level amplitude around ±1V expected.

Controls

Main Control 1 Primary parameter knob. Function is program-dependent (e.g. Delay Time, Rate, Frequency, Tune, Threshold).
Function labeled in program list · CV assignable
Main Control 2 Secondary parameter knob. Function is program-dependent (e.g. Feedback, Depth, Resonance, Attack, Chorus).
Function labeled in program list · CV assignable
Main Control 3 Tertiary parameter knob. Function is program-dependent (e.g. Tone, xFade, Decay, Semitone Shift, Knee).
Function labeled in program list · CV assignable
Main D/W (Dry/Wet) Dry/wet mix knob. Controls blend between dry input signal and processed effect output.
Full CCW = dry · Full CW = wet
Program Selection Bank Button (left) Selects the active bank (4 banks of 8 programs). Hold 2 seconds to enter preset selection mode.
4 banks × 8 programs = 32 slots
Program Selection Program Button (right) Advances to the next program within the current bank. Also used to navigate presets.
Cycles through 8 programs per bank

I/O

IN · 4

  • L (Left) audio ±1V nominal AUDIO
    Left stereo audio input.
  • R (Right) audio ±1V nominal AUDIO
    Right stereo audio input. Normalled to L for mono-to-stereo processing.
    NORM → L
  • CV 0–5V (firmware update: line level ±1V) CV
    Assignable CV input. Target selected via CV Assignment — Control 1, Control 2, Control 3, Sample Rate Reducer (SRR), or Preset Selection (LED 1+5). Also used as the firmware-update audio input.
  • D/W 0–5V CV
    Dedicated CV input for the Dry/Wet mix knob. Independent of the assignable CV input.

OUT · 2

  • L (Left) audio AUDIO
    Left stereo audio output.
  • R (Right) audio AUDIO
    Right stereo audio output.