3 Iconix FX Chain Every Producer Should Know

This technique was first used by Tony Visconti on the track Heroes by David Bowie to create iconic vocal reverb effects.

• Dry signal with no effects on the left channel • Small room reverb as first parallel chain at 100% wet • Large shimmering room reverb as second parallel chain with a gate • All chains mixed together at the end

Adding a gate before the large reverb so it only activates when the vocal gets really loud, preventing the reverb from overwhelming the mix while maintaining lush ambience during peaks.

• Apply compressor with sidechain to tame the reverb peaks • Add ping pong delay to the big room reverb for left-right spatial movement • Use glue compressor as final touch to balance all combined elements

Essential technique for producing loud electronic music genres, creating aggressive, dirty, and distorted sounds while maintaining control over the original character.

• Clipper (such as Three Clip) to introduce initial clipping and harmonics • Distortion plugin (such as Trash) to add aggression and dirt to the sound • Stereo widening tool (such as Dimension Expander) to enhance the stereo field

• Start with a clipper for clean clipping with optional oversampling • Add distortion to introduce more harmonics and aggression • Apply compressor with sidechain to duck the signal then let it breathe, bringing in dirt and tail • Consider EQ to cut low end and super highs based on peak analysis

Add reverb and delay on top of the chain to create a complete techno lead sound. The result increases volume by approximately 2dB while maintaining controlled aggression.

Build a shimmering, colorful riser effect from scratch rather than using stock samples, allowing complete creative control and ensuring the effect fits perfectly with your track.

• Start with overdrive or distortion to push highs and add drive • Apply reverb with 3-4 seconds decay time to build ambient texture • Hybrid Reverb is a recommended choice for natural, evolving ambience

• Use auto pan set to increase rate speed over time for left-right movement that builds tension • Add frequency shifter or ring modulation (such as Shimmer) to move frequencies upward as approaching the drop • Include phaser for subtle movement and textural variation

• Use auto filter to sweep upward toward the drop, or EQ8 with automated bell curve for less obvious effect • Apply glue compressor at the end to balance loud moments and manage overall dynamics • Automate all effects on your timeline to visually see the progression building toward the drop