The Effect Knob Finisher NEO

EFFECT Knob with Label

The Effect Knob is the central control in Finisher NEO. It is a super powerful macro-control, multi-wired into all effect algorithms under the hood, and carefully set up for each individual Mode. 

The Effect Knob is not just another one-knob thing that you set up and leave to tweak the effect – although you perfectly could do just that. 

Actually, you are encouraged to play with the Effect Knob and automate it to create arcs, transitions, and modulations over the length of your track. We strongly encourage you to assign it to a MIDI Controller like a Wheel or a Pedal if you can play and record along with your song and create dynamic tracks that will sound alive and interesting.

The function of the Effect Knob in each Mode is shown as a label underneath the Effect Knob that changes as you select Modes.

Variation 1 - 4

Variation Knob with Label

The four smaller knobs left and right of the Big Knob is designed for allowing adjustments to the overall effect and the dynamic changes created by the Big knob, but you might as well automate and “play” them too.

Like the Big Knob, Vari controls are entirely MODE-dependent - they are always programmed to perform the musically most useful function in any given MODE. 

Also, like the Big knob, these knobs are pre-assigned to multiple parameters, each with its own scaling and range, to create complex changes, and their function assignment is shown as a label right underneath each knob.

Vari 4

The Vari 4 knob is - in all but one Mode (Filter & Distroy) - a Highlighter Filter. This is a unique filter module that is both a Lowpass and a Highpass Filter:

• LP24: Turn the knob left from the center to decrease the Cutoff frequency of a resonant lowpass synth filter
• HP12: Turn the knob clockwise from the center to increase the Cutoff frequency of a resonant Highpass synth filter

While the technical description may sound a bit complicated, the actual sonic impact is very self-explaining. There’s only one way to find that out, so …

Variation Knob Types

From left to right: Unipolar knob (zero position left), bipolar knob (zero position center), three-way switch, four-way switch
Depending on the Mode, all four Vari Knobs can either be a unipolar or bipolar continuous control as well as 2-, 3- or 4-way switches. The user interface will reflect the respective control mode. When in Switch mode, the knob doesn’t turn but jump to the pre-programmed positions.

Checking and Setting Levels

Input Level and Meter

Output Level and Meter with dB display while slider being dragged

The Input Level Meter and Slider to the bottom left to let you attenuate or boost your signals’ input level into Finisher, and the Output Level elements to the right do the same for Finisher NEOs output signal. A few tips:

• Signals are at an optimal level if they are around the little calibration marks on the slider. Adjust them if they’re not.
• Optimal input levels are important particularly for those Modes that use distortion, compression, or any kind of dynamic treatment.
• Optimal output levels are particularly important if you use subsequent processing in the same track, and to avoid clipping.

Note that while you drag a slider, the resulting change will be displayed in dB.

Finisher NEO is optimized to alter the signal’s level as little as possible from input to output, but depending on the frequency content of the input signal and the processing applied (e.g. sub-bass on kick drums, high resonant filters on mid-rich signals) this is not always avoidable.

Caution: MIDI Controllers  

MIDI Learn dialog for the Big Knob

ONLY if your DAW permits MIDI control of effect plugins - Logic or Ableton Live for example don’t, but Reaper does -  you can use any MIDI controller that sends MIDI CC# events to automate Finisher NEOs parameters - knobs on a master keyboard, sliders on a push controller, pedals. 

To assign a NEO parameter to control, open the MIDI Learn dialog (usually per right-click) and move the controller you want to assign.