A Leslie speaker is an amplification system that uses rotating mechanical components—typically a spinning horn and baffle drum—to project sound through physical space. The rotation introduces physical movement that yields spatial, Doppler-shifted pitch chorus and tremolo modulations.
How the songs in the archive use it
Pink Floyd's What do you want from me? uses custom rotating speaker cabinets named Doppolas to generate a spatial, Doppler-shifted chorus modulation across the rhythm guitar track.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Simulate the spatial chorus and pitch-wobble of a rotating speaker cabinet on organs, guitars, or electric pianos. Use this to add vintage three-dimensional movement and analog swirl to static parts.
Insert Scanner Vibrato on the instrument channel strip.
Load the Slow Rotation preset to establish the rotating speaker modulation base.
Set Type to choose between vibrato or chorus character.
Adjust Depth to dial in the amount of rotational pitch modulation.
Set Stereo Phase to control the spatial width between the horn and drum sweep.
Plug-in
Control
Value
Listen for
Scanner Vibrato
Preset
Slow Rotation
gentle rotating speaker motion
Scanner Vibrato
Type
C2
balanced chorus and pitch wobble
Scanner Vibrato
Depth
3.5
pronounced rotational depth
A general method with Logic Pro's own plug-ins. Control names are checked against Apple's manual; the values are starting points, so adjust them by ear.
Songs that use it (1)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
What do you want from me? by Pink FloydDoppola Rotating Speakers: Gilmour specifically commissioned custom rotating speaker cabinets (Doppolas) for these sessions, creating a spatial, Doppler-shifted chorus effect that permeates the rhythm guitar track.Sheet score 10/10 · Source given: Phil Taylor *The Black Strat* · Open the full track sheet
Want these sounds in your own mixes? Every song above has a full track sheet with its signal chains and a step-by-step recreation for your DAW. Open Track DiveAll techniques