FL Studio is a widely-used digital audio workstation (DAW) that is equipped with a impressive range of plugins and features that allow for comprehensive music production. One of the most popular and powerful plugins included in the software is Gross Beat, a real-time effect plugin that offers a variety of time and volume manipulation features.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at this plugin, its features and how it can be used to add unique and interesting effects to your music.
What Is Gross Beat?
Gross Beat is a real-time, tempo-based effect plugin that is designed to manipulate the timing and rhythm of incoming audio. It was created by the developer Image-Line and is included with FL Studio. The plugin is commonly used for creating stutter effects, gating, glitch effects and other time and volume-based manipulations.
The plugin has a simple and user-friendly interface that allows users to easily control parameters of the incoming audio over time. There are also a number of presets included that can be used as a starting point for your own effects.
How Does Gross Beat Work?
Gross Beat works by adding time and volume-based effects to incoming audio, which can be either pre-set or customized according to user preferences. These effects can range from subtle rhythmic variations to extreme time-based manipulations, such as stuttering, gating, and scratching.
When you play back your project, a playback locator moves across the time-volume grid from left to right, triggering the pattern displayed on the grid. When the playback locator reaches to end of the grid, it loops back to the beginning and continues to loop as your project plays. The default length of the effect is set to one bar.
Gross Beat Overview
Gross Beat Interface
Gross Beat’s interface is split into two main sections: the preset library and the envelope mapping panel. The preset library allows users to select from a range of built-in presets that are split into time-based and volume-based presets.
The time-volume grid is essentially a visual representation of the effect being applied to the incoming audio. It is where users can edit presets or create their own custom effects by manually adjusting the plugin’s various parameters over time.
Users can add, remove and adjust nodes within the grid to create complex, evolving effects that can be synced to the tempo of the music.
Volume Knobs
The volume knobs serve as useful controls for applying global ADSR adjustments to the dynamics of all Volume mappings.
- ATT – Attack volume. Range: 0ms to 500ms.
- REL – Release volume. Range: 0ms to 1000ms.
- TNS – Tension adjustment (slope). Range: -100% to 100%.
- Volume – Volume mapping envelope mix. Range: 0% to 100%
Time, Hold & Scratching Clock
• Time Knob – The Time knob (dry/wet knob) controls how much of the effect you will hear, ranging from 0% (Off) to 100% (On).
• Hold – Gross Beat’s Hold function repeats the bar as long as the button is held and the song continues to play.
• Scratching Clock – The Scratching Clock feature emulates the sound of a vinyl record being scratched, enabling users to manipulate the incoming audio as if it were a vinyl record.
Conclusion
Gross Beat is a powerful and versatile plugin that can be used to create unique and complex effects in your music. By experimenting with different patterns and settings, you can create effects that add movement, energy and interest to your tracks. Gross Beat is a multi-functional tool that is useful for a range of music genres and is a valuable addition to any producer’s toolkit.
If you would like to learn more about FL Studio’s Gross Beat plugin, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Gross Beat Come With FL Studio Producer Edition?
Yes, Gross Beat is included with FL Studio Producer Edition. Gross Beat is one of the native plugins that comes bundled with FL Studio Producer Edition, along with many other plugins and features that are not available in the lower-tiered editions of FL Studio.
Can I Use Gross Beat With Other DAWs Besides FL Studio?
Unfortunately, Gross Beat is a plugin designed specifically for use with FL Studio and is only included as part of the FL Studio software package.
Does Gross Beat Work With Both Audio & MIDI Input?
Yes, Gross Beat can work with both audio and MIDI input.
How CPU-Intensive Is Gross Beat? Will It Slow Down My Computer?
Gross Beat can be somewhat CPU-intensive, especially when used with more complex effects and longer patterns. However, its impact on your computer’s performance will depend on a variety of factors, including the speed and power of your computer, the complexity of your project, and the number of other plugins and effects you are using.
Alternative Plugins
Effectrix | Sugar Bytes
Effectrix is a professional multi-effect sequencer, offering 14 different effects: X-loop, loop, scratch loop, reverse, stretch, vinyl, tonal delay, stutter, crush, filter, phaser, chorus, delay and reverb. Effectrix allows you to use any combination of these effects and position them across a 32-step sequencer.
Stutter Edit 2 | iZotope
Stutter Edit 2 is a modulation effect plugin that allows you to chop incoming audio using custom-made presets or a MIDI controller. The plugin lets you create the famous stutter effect, sweeping filters, glitches and more with a single button to slice and dice your samples, loops and tracks.
Want To Know More?
Here at Live Aspects, we have dozens of useful lessons and tutorials created to enhance your music production skills and help speed up the learning process. You can access our huge range of music theory lessons and production tips and tricks here.
