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Official effect

Blend Drive

Soft-clipped overdrive that relies on the global dry / wet mix for its blended character.

This preview uses the same single-stage mid-forward drive core as Amp-Like Overdrive, then depends on the top-level `mix` control to bring the clean stereo source back in. That means the blend behavior currently comes from the global parallel dry / wet path rather than a dedicated internal blend stage inside the overdrive core itself.

  • Drive, Boost & Saturation
  • Library #16
  • Preview 8s

Waveform preview

Static peaks come from the compiled FAUST preview render. The live scope is drawn from the browser playback output in real time.

Timeline
0:00 / 0:08
Source
Compiled browser preview
Live oscilloscope from the browser playback output.AnalyserNode keeps the signal path unchanged while exposing the waveform.

How It Works

Technical view

This preview uses the same single-stage mid-forward drive core as Amp-Like Overdrive, then depends on the top-level `mix` control to bring the clean stereo source back in. That means the blend behavior currently comes from the global parallel dry / wet path rather than a dedicated internal blend stage inside the overdrive core itself.

  • Drive, Boost & Saturation
  • waveshaping / saturation
  • delay processing
  • oscillator / LFO modulation
  • DC blocking

Signal Path

Compiled preview chain

Preview source: An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with a 19-sample right-channel delay and slight left/right shelf-EQ offsets before it reaches the active drive path.

  1. 1internal picked-string demo phrase
  2. 2stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
  3. 3high-pass cleanup
  4. 4moderate low-shelf boost and stronger 930 Hz mid emphasis
  5. 5single tanh saturation stage
  6. 6darker post-drive high-shelf compensation
  7. 7dry / wet mix
  8. 8DC blocker
  9. 9output gain trim
  10. 10final tanh limiter

Preview source

An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with a 19-sample right-channel delay and slight left/right shelf-EQ offsets before it reaches the active drive path.

Effect core

Single-stage tanh overdrive currently sharing the Amp-Like Overdrive core and using the global dry / wet mix for blending.

Signal path

The static waveform and the live player both reflect this compiled signal chain.

  • internal picked-string demo phrase
  • stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
  • high-pass cleanup
  • moderate low-shelf boost and stronger 930 Hz mid emphasis
  • single tanh saturation stage
  • darker post-drive high-shelf compensation
  • dry / wet mix
  • DC blocker
  • output gain trim
  • final tanh limiter

Controls that matter

These are the currently active controls detected in the FAUST source for this effect.

  • mix: Blends the clean stereo preview source with the soft-clipped overdrive path.
  • output_gain_db: Applies final post-effect level trim after the DC blocker.
  • drive: Raises the level feeding the single tanh saturation stage.
  • tone: Controls the post-drive high shelf after saturation.
  • contour: Changes the low shelf and 930 Hz emphasis ahead of clipping.

Code-backed analysis

The generated description is tied to the active helper blocks and routing found in the current DSP.

  • demo
  • fx
  • outputStage
  • leftDemo
  • rightDemo
  • blendDrive
  • phraseMono
  • previewShiftSamples

Controls

Audible controls in this DSP

  • mix

    Active

    Blends the clean stereo preview source with the soft-clipped overdrive path.

    Lower values keep more dry articulation; higher values favor the overdrive voice.

  • output_gain_db

    Active

    Applies final post-effect level trim after the DC blocker.

    Balances loudness without changing how the clipping stage behaves.

  • drive

    Active

    Raises the level feeding the single tanh saturation stage.

    Moves the patch from light breakup toward thicker, more compressed overdrive.

  • tone

    Active

    Controls the post-drive high shelf after saturation.

    Brightens the clipped signal for more edge or smooths it for a darker voice.

  • contour

    Active

    Changes the low shelf and 930 Hz emphasis ahead of clipping.

    Pushes more body or midrange into saturation, changing how focused the overdrive feels.

Analysis

Code-derived notes

Reviewed against the current DSP. The current preview shares the same active overdrive core as Amp-Like Overdrive, with no additional dedicated blend stage beyond the global `mix` path.

Active blocks

  • demo
  • fx
  • outputStage
  • leftDemo
  • rightDemo
  • blendDrive
  • phraseMono
  • previewShiftSamples
  • driveTone
  • pickedVoice
  • softsat
  • fund
  • pickEnv
  • ampEnv
  • triggerAt
  • maxDelaySamples

Inactive helpers

  • synthVoice
  • organVoice
  • bellVoice
  • quantize
  • combLP
  • echoOnly
  • diffuser

Warnings

No current warnings are attached to this effect.

Source

  • library/drive-boost-saturation/blend-drive.dsp
  • Output stage: DC blocker -> output gain trim -> final tanh limiter
  • Library position: 16

More In Drive, Boost & Saturation

Continue through the library

Each effect page uses the same generated description pipeline and compiled waveform preview assets.

Transparent Overdrive

Keeps the dry attack intact while adding a broad low-mid lift and light tanh saturation for edge-of-breakup push.

View How It Works

Amp-Like Overdrive

Mid-forward soft clipping tuned to feel more like a pushed amp stage than a flat clean boost.

View How It Works

Hard-Clip Distortion

Cascaded clipping with reinforced lows and upper mids for tighter attack and more modern bite.

View How It Works