How to Create a Modular Effect Chain with Reaktor Blocks

This article explains how to configure Reaktor Blocks to act as a modular effect chain with which to modify other external sound sources.

You may consult the Komplete TruTorials video Modular Mangling for a quick overview of the example setup described in this article.

Inserting Modules

  1. Open Reaktor 6 and navigate to Library > Reaktor Blocks from the side pane.

    Note: If the Library tab is not visible, enable Edit Mode by clicking the EDIT button at the top of the Reaktor interface.
    Modular_mangling_1.png

  2. From the Util folder, double-click on MIX-Mix 4.ism to insert a four-track mixer Module. Though Modules can be rearranged at any time, they will appear on the ensemble’s panel from right to left by default, so it makes sense to start with the 'end' of the signal chain in this case.
  3. Repeat the process to insert the following Modules, in order:
    • Rounds Reverb (Rounds > EFX-Rounds Reverb.ism)
    • Paul Filter (Modern > FLT-Paul Filter.ism)
    • VCA (Bento Box > AMP-VCA.ism)
    • Dual SKF Filter (Boutique > FLT-Dual SKF.ism)
    • 2 × ADSR Envelope Modules (Bento Box > MOD-ADSR Envelope.ism)
    • Clock Divider (Digilog > SEQ-Clock Divider.ism)
    • Clock (Util > INT-Clock.ism).
  4. Ensure the ensemble’s Structure is visible by clicking on the New breadcrumb in the bar above the main window.
  5. Drag and drop the Modules within the Structure to arrange them approximately as shown below.
    Modular_Mangling_2.png

Connecting Modules

To connect Modules together, drag and drop from an output of one Module to an input of another, or vice versa. To undo a connection, simply repeat this process. The next steps detail each connection one by one, with a visual reference included below.

  1. Connect the Clock Module’s Gate output to the Gate input of the Clock Divider. Connect the Clock Module’s Reset output to the Clock Divider’s Reset input.
  2. Connect the Clock Divider’s Gate 1 output to the Gate input of one of the ADSR Envelope Modules, and the Clock Divider’s Gate 2 output to the Gate input of the other ADSR Envelope Module.
  3. The first ADSR Envelope Module’s output will feed three different inputs simultaneously. Connect its Out output to the FM and Mod A inputs of the Dual SKF Filter, and to the Mod A input of the VCA Module.
  4. Connect the Out output of the other ADSR Envelope Module to the Mod A input of the Paul Filter.
  5. Connect the output of the Dual SKF Filter to the In input of the VCA Module.
  6. Connect the Out output of the VCA module to the In input of the Paul Filter, and the In L and In R inputs of the Rounds Reverb.
  7. Connect the Out output of the Paul Filter to the In 1L and In 1R inputs of the Mix 4 Module.
  8. Connect the Out L and Out R outputs of the Rounds Reverb to the In 2L and In 2R inputs of the Mix 4 Module.
  9. Connect the Out L and Out R outputs to the main output Modules of the ensemble (the two objects labeled Out on the right side of the Structure).

A correctly connected ensemble should look like the below image:
Modular_Mangling_3.png

Using the Ensemble

  1. Save the ensemble by clicking on the arrow next to the Reaktor logo in the top left and selecting File > Save Ensemble. Select a name and click Save.
  2. Open your host application and insert Reaktor 6 as a plug-in effect on a track that already contains a synthesizer or another source of audio.
  3. Open the ensemble you just created, again using the File menu.
  4. Connect the main input Module of the ensemble to the In input of the Dual SKF Filter.
  5. Your modular effects chain is ready to use. Experiment with modulating various parameters and adjusting the timing and swing of this modulation from the Clock and Clock Divider Modules.

Note: For the ensemble to output sound, the LEVEL parameter of the VCA Module must be set to a value above 0. A good start would be to modulate this parameter for a pulsing effect.