Dehumaniser 2: Exploring the Plugin
Dehumaniser 2 has 10 modules that you can combine in endless new ways. Check out the various modules, effects and features of Dehumaniser 2 below, to get a glimpse of what each module brings to your sound designs!
Ring Modulator
The ring modulator combines your audio signal with a synthesised waveform oscillator. Changing the depth lets you control the amount the effect is applied, and rate set the speed or frequency of the modulation
You can select the waveform that you wish to shape your sound with using the waveform wheel, and you can even blend two waveforms together, for more varied and complex sounds.
Ring modulation is a great sound effect for subtle warbling, robotic textures, and metallic sounds and is an all-around fun module to explore.
Flanger/Chorus
Flanger and chorus are time-based effects that modulate the sound using delays.
There are lots of sounds to explore by altering the depth of the sound, the rate, and the delay time, the waveform of the modulation and the number of voices, from simple sounds to more lush wide sounds.
Explore the Flanger /Chorus module and use it to enhance many of the other modules in Dehumaniser 2.
Pitch Shifting
This module transposes the pitch of the input upwards or downwards. You can jump in octaves by using the ‘octaves’ dial, and make smaller, more precise changes by using the ‘semitones’ and ‘cents’ controls.
Pitch shifting is the essential ingredient for low, boomy giants, ogres and monsters. sound effects, or high-pitched imps, elves, and other small fantasy creatures.
Noise Generator
The delay pitch shift is a delay-based effect, which loops sound back on itself. You can control the speed at which the loops start, and how long they take to fade with the feedback parameter with the delay controls. The pitch controls then let you alter the pitch of the looped version of your sound in cents, semitones and octaves.
Use delay pitch shifting for short metallic sounds, or long ethereal sound effects, on everything from vocals, to sound effects and more.
Delay Pitch Shift
The delay pitch shift is a delay-based effect, which loops sound back on itself. You can control the speed at which the loops start, and how long they take to fade with the feedback parameter with the delay controls. The pitch controls then let you alter the pitch of the looped version of your sound in cents, semitones and octaves.
Use delay pitch shifting for short metallic sounds, or long ethereal sound effects, on everything from vocals, to sound effects and more.
Scrubbing Convolution
Scrubbing convolution is a convolution effect that uses samples. It maps the volume of your signal onto the selected sample and “scrubs” through it granularly. Use the graph nodes to alter how much amplitude affects how the sample is scrubbed through. Use the mix dial to control how much of the sample comes through.
Scrubbing convolution is a great module for mapping roars, groans and animal noises onto your vocal input for truly monstrous voices.
Granular
The Granular module splits the incoming signal into fragments of sound known as grains. You can experiment with pitch, and use the variation knob to pitch each grain randomly, or can change the size of these grains for interesting textures.
Grain voice controls the density of the sounds, for stuttery or digital characteristics, and you can control and randomise the length of each grain.
The granular module has various parameters that can alter the texture of the incoming sound to completely change its characteristics.
Spectral Shifting
The spectral shifting module lets you affect the pitch of frequencies set at a certain amplitude. It gives the ability to affect the pitch for frequencies that have a chosen level. The result gives bizarre effects creating interesting spectral “anomalies” that create some interesting sound effects.
Use spectral shifting for new and unusual vocal sounds unlike anything else.
Sample Trigger
The sample trigger module lets you trigger a one-shot sample with your audio input.
Samples can be triggered to play forwards or reversed, and you can adjust the pitch of the sample, through time-stretched pitch shifting or through Varispeed. The sample can be triggered through various methods, including volume, envelope follow, pitch tracking and more.
Use the sample trigger to layer additional textures to your sound designs in real-time.
Vocoder
The vocoder maps the signal and the pitch of the incoming audio onto an oscillator. Dehumaniser 2 can track this pitch automatically using the pitch tracking mode, or you can manually control the pitch using manual mode. Finally, you can also map the signal onto white noise, which is great for adding high frequencies and reverb-like effects. which features, a range of interesting waveforms.
The vocoder module is a great tool for a range of interesting sound effects for you to explore, for robots, aliens, and beyond.
How to connect Dehumaniser 2 modules together
To connect a module, drag from the right side of the input node to the left side of the effect node. Then, drag the right side of the effect node to the left side of the output node.
This is how we connect module nodes in Dehumaniser!
Exploring Dehumaniser 2’s module parameters
To see the parameters of a module, click it, and it will become highlighted. The parameters appear in the bottom panel, which you can manipulate to control the sound.
You can also click the drop-down ‘drawers’ on each module for more immediate access to three of the most reached-for parameters.
This lets you change the parameters of one module without changing the bottom from another module for more flexible sculpting.
All modules have a volume slider, bypass, mute and solo button on the module itself. You can control the mix of your sound effects by deselecting all modules. This will bring up a mixer view which lets you control levels and routing much like a traditional mixer.
Input and Output Modules
When you load a fresh patch, you will see two module nodes in place – track input and output. To add a module, simply click on it, or drag it into the window.
Track Input Module
Your microphone, instrument, or synthesised signal sound comes into Dehumaniser 2 through this module.
It has one output by default, and you can add or remove up to 8 outputs using the plus and minus buttons.
There is also a volume slider for each input added, giving you full control over your signals.
Output Module
The output module has a wet and dry parameter to control how much of Dehumaniser 2 will be added to your signal. Fully Dry will bypass the plugin and fully wet will fully apply the sound effects.
There is also a Stereo spread dial for you to control the stereo width of the output. Keep it at zero for mono signals, and increase the depth for wider sounding results.
Finally, the latency monitor will show you how much latency is applied to your signal. Pitch and real-time effects can introduce delay times to your sounds whilst your computer processes the effects, so this monitor will show you how much latency is applied to the signal.
Every module has an EQ Limiter and Gate, giving you total control over the volume and frequency of content at every stage.
Routing Dehumaniser 2’s modules
Dehumaniser 2 provides 8 outputs from the input signal and 5 outputs per module for deeply configurable routing.
In Series
You can connect modules together in series by dragging the output of the module, to the input of another. To disconnect, simply click the output you wish to disconnect.
In Parallel
If you wish to run sounds in parallel, simply click the plus icon on any module. This will add an additional output to that module, meaning you can connect other modules in different ways without affecting one of the previous signal flows. Finally, control all these sound effects using the mixer view in the bottom panel
The opportunities to route Dehumaniser 2 are nearly endless, allowing you to control and shape an enormous range of interesting sound effects, all within a single plugin!
Experimenting with Dehumaniser 2
Now you’ve seen each of the modules, but we have barely scratched the surface of how Dehumaniser 2 can be used in your sound designs.
Think what you could achieve by connecting these modules in interesting ways, or by using one, two, or all of them! Dehumaniser 2 provides some of the most essential building blocks to start building your sound designs from, for everything from simple telephone voices, announcements, monster voices, strange aliens, futuristic robots, angry beasts, tiny creatures and beyond.