O-Tremolo User Guide
Organic amplitude modulation with six waveforms
Getting Started
Quick Start
- Download the installer from your Ouaricon Audio account
- Run the installer — it installs both VST3 and AU formats automatically
- Open your DAW and scan for new plugins
- Insert O-Tremolo on a track
- Enter your license key (OUA-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX) when prompted
System Requirements
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| macOS | macOS 10.13+ (Intel and Apple Silicon native) |
| Windows | Windows 10+ (64-bit) |
| RAM | 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended |
| Formats | VST3, AU |
| DAW | Any VST3/AU-compatible host |
Installation Paths
macOS:
- VST3:
~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/O-Tremolo.vst3 - AU:
~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/O-Tremolo.component
Windows:
- VST3:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\O-Tremolo.vst3
Interface Overview
O-Tremolo features a clean, focused 600x400px interface with six primary controls arranged for quick access during performance.
Layout
The interface is organized into three sections:
- Top Row: Speed and Depth controls for tremolo intensity
- Middle Row: Waveform selector and Smoothing control
- Bottom Row: Pan Sync and Tempo Sync toggles
All parameters can be automated in your DAW for dynamic tremolo effects.
Parameters
| Parameter | Range | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | 0.1-20.0 Hz (free mode) Note values (synced mode) |
4.5 Hz | Rate of amplitude modulation. Displays Hz when Tempo Sync is OFF. When ON, shows musical divisions: 1/1 through 1/32, including triplets and quintuplets. |
| Depth | 0-100% | 75% | Intensity of the tremolo effect. At 0%, no modulation occurs. At 100%, amplitude swings from silence to full volume. |
| Waveform | Sine, Triangle, Phasor, Noise, Square, Pulse | Sine | Shape of the modulation wave. Each waveform creates a distinct tremolo character. |
| Smoothing | 0-100% | 30% | Rounds off hard edges in the waveform using a one-pole lowpass filter. Higher values create gentler, more gradual amplitude changes. |
| Pan Sync | On / Off | Off | Enables stereo width modulation by applying 180° phase offset between L/R channels, creating an auto-pan effect. |
| Tempo Sync | On / Off | Off | Locks tremolo speed to your DAW's tempo, providing 16 musical divisions for rhythmic tremolo effects. |
Waveform Details
Sine
Smooth, natural tremolo wave. Classic tremolo sound with no sharp edges. Best for vintage amp tremolo and general-purpose modulation.
Triangle
Linear rise and fall creating a more mechanical feel than sine. Good for rhythmic tremolo with predictable motion.
Phasor
Sawtooth wave that ramps smoothly in one direction then resets instantly. Creates a swelling effect that builds and drops suddenly.
Noise
Random amplitude modulation for glitchy, unpredictable tremolo. Excellent for experimental textures and lo-fi effects.
Square
Hard switching between two amplitude levels. Creates a gating effect perfect for rhythmic chopping and helicopter sounds.
Pulse
Similar to square wave but with adjustable duty cycle, creating shorter "hits" of audio. Great for sidechain-style pumping and stutter effects.
Presets
O-Tremolo includes 10 factory presets covering common tremolo applications:
| Preset | Description |
|---|---|
| Default | Moderate sine wave tremolo — balanced starting point |
| Slow Pulse | Gentle, slow movement for subtle animation |
| Fast Chop | Rhythmic gating effect with square wave |
| Auto-Pan | Stereo auto-pan with Pan Sync enabled |
| Subtle | Light coloring that adds life without obvious tremolo |
| Helicopter | Fast square wave for aggressive chopping |
| Vintage Amp | Classic tube amp tremolo feel with smooth sine wave |
| Synced Sidechain | Tempo-synced pumping effect mimicking sidechain compression |
| Wide Stereo | Stereo spread with pan sync for expansive width |
| Glitch | Random waveform at fast rate for experimental chaos |
Managing Presets
Presets are stored at:
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/O-Tremolo/Presets/
You can create custom presets and share them by copying preset files to this directory.
Troubleshooting
Plugin Not Appearing in DAW
- Rescan your plugin directories in your DAW's preferences
- Verify the plugin is installed at the correct path (see Installation Paths above)
- On macOS, check that Gatekeeper hasn't blocked the plugin (System Settings → Security & Privacy)
- Restart your DAW after installation
No Tremolo Effect / No Sound
- Check that Depth is greater than 0%
- Verify audio is passing through your track (check DAW meters)
- Increase Speed to make the effect more obvious
- Try the Fast Chop preset to verify the effect is working
Tempo Sync Not Working
- Ensure Tempo Sync toggle is ON
- Verify your DAW's transport is playing (some DAWs don't send tempo when stopped)
- Check that your DAW project has a valid tempo set
License Activation Issues
- Check your internet connection
- Verify the license key format is correct:
OUA-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX - Ensure you haven't exceeded the 3-machine activation limit
- Contact [email protected] if problems persist
High CPU Usage
- O-Tremolo is highly optimized and should use minimal CPU (typically <1%)
- If you experience high CPU, check your DAW's buffer size settings
- Close other resource-intensive plugins on the same track