Dude Where's My Wah? | Perfect Fractal Wah Tones without an Expression Pedal

"Wah is the ultimate cheat code" to quote ‪@LeonTodd‬. Here's a way to get a great wah tone WITHOUT an external expression pedal.
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- How to Set Up a Natural Sounding Wah Block in Fractal Audio FM3 without an Expression Pedal -
In this tutorial, we'll walk you through setting up a natural sounding Wah effect using the internal controllers of the Fractal Audio FM3. This method is particularly useful if you don't have an expression pedal handy. Follow these steps to achieve a great Wah tone:
1. Select the Wah Block:
Navigate to the Wah block in your FM3 layout.
2. Adjust Wah Parameters:
Set the Frequency Max parameter to around 1400-1500 Hz. This setting is ideal for high-gain tones.
For cleaner tones, you may prefer to keep the Frequency Max around 2000 Hz or higher.
3. Assign a Controller:
Right-click on the Control parameter of the Wah block.
Set the Source to LFO1A. This assigns the Low-Frequency Oscillator to control the Wah sweep.
4. Configure the LFO:
Go to the Controllers tab.
Select LFO1 and set it to a Random waveform. This creates a more natural and unpredictable Wah movement.
Adjust the Rate of the LFO to your preference, typically between 2 and 4 Hz. This controls the speed of the Wah sweep.
5. Add Damping for Realism:
To make the Wah movement smoother and more realistic, add damping to the control parameter.
Set both Attack and Release to around 120 milliseconds. This ensures the Wah doesn’t jump abruptly between values but moves smoothly.
6. Fine-Tune the Settings:
You can experiment with the Attack and Release times, setting them as high as 200 milliseconds or as low as 50 milliseconds, to match your playing style and desired tone.
7. Optional Adjustments:
You may also want to explore different LFO waveforms or rates to further customize the Wah effect to your liking.
By following these steps, you can achieve a dynamic and expressive Wah sound without needing an external expression pedal. This setup is particularly useful for gigs or situations where carrying extra gear is impractical. Enjoy exploring the creative possibilities of your FM3's Wah block!

[@waxtin48]

Awesome player and you seem to have mastered this tool thanks for sharing your experience

[@Rogijimbex]

Always very helpful and well done. Thanks

[@BobbyLaneProductions]

I usually set up my FC-12 with 2 expression pedals.. so one is volume and the other is wah.. BUT.. the idea of having this hack setup on a scene would be quick/easy for short wah leads.. as always thanks LT!

[@evanmiller2579]

I was running listening to this on headphones. The tone is epic.

[@diorio5289]

dude that's badass, I don't have an expression pedal yet. Was planning on buying one. This setup is perfect until then. Thanks for the tip Sir!!!

[@davidshankle7359]

Killer bro.

[@dupentertainment-yl7tk]

That’s wicked thanks for the trick , can’t wait to see you live sometime soon ,

[@markensen2003]

SWEET

[@momogris6159]

Another great tone tip!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Also, stellar playing!!!

[@TheRunForCoverBand_Perth]

Love your work Leon 😀

[@____3069]

Hi Leon, awesome videos, do you have any videos for Paul Gilbert's setup in the 80's era of mr.big? form fm3? tanks a lot.

[@aquadigitalmusic1]

Grandeeeeee! Muchas gracias Leon

[@MJ30ism]

Great job!

[@jacopoarturi1212]

So Clever!!!!

[@elianejoly5352]

Thank you .Very Nice .🥰🧑‍🎤

[@user-ij5ny6uc9f]

Play Robin Tower and I will be wowed.

[@FrancescoFerrara81]

Dude where is my car?? ahahaha

[@zdenekklapuch2153]

Hi Leon, can do fractal also autowah? according to the strength of the string strike...? Thank you . Zdeno.

[@G66eu]

Yes, use the envelope follower instead of an LFO

[@shaharbar]

Or, use an Envelope Filter 😜