EFFECTS
Watch thESE BBC videoS as an introduction to Digital Effects and how they can be used to enhance music in the recording studio and then in a live setting.
Watch thESE BBC videoS as an introduction to Digital Effects and how they can be used to enhance music in the recording studio and then in a live setting.
TIME DOMAIN EFFECTS
TIME DOMAIN EFFECTS
DELAY
DELAY
Delay is the quick repetition of a sound and can be played at different speeds. This will sound like an echo
Delay is the quick repetition of a sound and can be played at different speeds. This will sound like an echo
Watch this review of a DELAY pedal and in particular, listen to the effect that DELAY has on the guitar being played through this pedal.
Watch this review of a DELAY pedal and in particular, listen to the effect that DELAY has on the guitar being played through this pedal.
REVERB
REVERB
Reverb is like delay but more subtle and the individual repetitions of the sound are not heard. Adding lots of reverb will make the track sound like it is being played in a large room such as a cathedral.
Reverb is like delay but more subtle and the individual repetitions of the sound are not heard. Adding lots of reverb will make the track sound like it is being played in a large room such as a cathedral.
To apply DELAY or REVERB in a live setting you need an effects pedal, an effects setting on an amplifier or a multi-effects processor which nowadays is often built in to the mixing desk. To add reverb to a recording, you can add a plugin.
To apply DELAY or REVERB in a live setting you need an effects pedal, an effects setting on an amplifier or a multi-effects processor which nowadays is often built in to the mixing desk. To add reverb to a recording, you can add a plugin.
EFFECTS EXPLAINED
EFFECTS EXPLAINED
1
1
DRY
DRY
This is a Fender Rhodes Electric Piano straight into the desk with no effects. Please use this as a reference to items 2 - 7
This is a Fender Rhodes Electric Piano straight into the desk with no effects. Please use this as a reference to items 2 - 7
01 Track 01.mp32
2
REVERB
REVERB
This is the same track with a fair amount of reverb added. This could also be described as ‘wet’
This is the same track with a fair amount of reverb added. This could also be described as ‘wet’
02 Track 02.mp3The following tracks are a little more difficult to tell the difference between since they all introduce ‘movement’ within the sound.
The following tracks are a little more difficult to tell the difference between since they all introduce ‘movement’ within the sound.
3
3
PHASER
PHASER
A movement within the sound, but a bit flat and ‘phasey’. (A bit like 2 violins playing together with one spot on with pitch and the other doing the lottery. It has a distinctive sound once you have listened to it a few times.
A movement within the sound, but a bit flat and ‘phasey’. (A bit like 2 violins playing together with one spot on with pitch and the other doing the lottery. It has a distinctive sound once you have listened to it a few times.
03 Track 03.mp34
4
CHORUS
CHORUS
Have a good listen. The closest equivalent is the difference between hearing one violin and a section playing the same part.
Have a good listen. The closest equivalent is the difference between hearing one violin and a section playing the same part.
04 Track 04.mp35
5
FLANGER
FLANGER
The flanger is a tricky one to describe without getting into a lot of technical detail. Basically, it is a very intense effect which can sound a bit like chorus, depending on how it is set up. It shares similar electronic principles.
The flanger is a tricky one to describe without getting into a lot of technical detail. Basically, it is a very intense effect which can sound a bit like chorus, depending on how it is set up. It shares similar electronic principles.
05 Track 05.mp3Next is tremolo and echo, using the same sound file.
Next is tremolo and echo, using the same sound file.
6
6
TREMOLO
TREMOLO
Have a good listen. The closest equivalent is the difference between hearing one violin and a section playing the same part.
Have a good listen. The closest equivalent is the difference between hearing one violin and a section playing the same part.
06 Track 06.mp37
7
ECHO
ECHO
In this sound clip you will hear the sound being ‘echoed’. This is sometimes referred to as ‘delay’.
In this sound clip you will hear the sound being ‘echoed’. This is sometimes referred to as ‘delay’.
07 Track 07.mp3Next is distortion. This goes back to the golden era of valves, when guitarists, especially, looked for the Holy grail of number 12 on an amplifier which only went to 10!
Next is distortion. This goes back to the golden era of valves, when guitarists, especially, looked for the Holy grail of number 12 on an amplifier which only went to 10!
8
8
CLEAN
CLEAN
This is a Hammond Organ sounding as clean as these instruments ever sounded.
This is a Hammond Organ sounding as clean as these instruments ever sounded.
08 Track 08.mp39
9
distortion
distortion
This is the same clip but with the pedal to the floor.
This is the same clip but with the pedal to the floor.
09 Track 09.mp3Wah-Wah
Wah-Wah
10
10
CLEAN
CLEAN
This is a Hohner D6 Clavinet, straight into the desk with nothing added.
This is a Hohner D6 Clavinet, straight into the desk with nothing added.
10 Track 10.mp311
11
wAH-WAH
wAH-WAH
This is the same clip but with auto-wah-wah added.
This is the same clip but with auto-wah-wah added.
11 Track 11.mp3Clips 12-14 cover problems encountered in Audio situations.
Clips 12-14 cover problems encountered in Audio situations.
12
12
feedback
feedback
This is a problem which rears its ugly head when you couple microphones being too close to speakers in a PA system and excessive gain. Electric guitars being played too close to their amplifiers can exhibit the same phenomena, although this can be used to artistic advantage - e.g. have a listen to some Santana tracks.
This is a problem which rears its ugly head when you couple microphones being too close to speakers in a PA system and excessive gain. Electric guitars being played too close to their amplifiers can exhibit the same phenomena, although this can be used to artistic advantage - e.g. have a listen to some Santana tracks.
12 Track 12.mp313
13
HISS
HISS
Hiss can occur for 2 reasons:
Hiss can occur for 2 reasons:
1. In the days when tape was widely used, hiss was a regular problem. Ways of minimising this, included using ‘Dolby’ - keeping signal levels as high as possible and, of course, buying the best grade of tape. The example you hear is of ¼” tape of poor quality.
1. In the days when tape was widely used, hiss was a regular problem. Ways of minimising this, included using ‘Dolby’ - keeping signal levels as high as possible and, of course, buying the best grade of tape. The example you hear is of ¼” tape of poor quality.
2. The other source of hiss, which is still with us today, exists whilst using low quality/budget high gain circuits - such as microphone pre-amps. Basically, you get what you pay for!
2. The other source of hiss, which is still with us today, exists whilst using low quality/budget high gain circuits - such as microphone pre-amps. Basically, you get what you pay for!
13 Track 13.mp314
14
HUM
HUM
Hum, in all its aspects, exists because mains power in the U.K. is transmitted at a frequency of 50Hz - which is in the audio spectrum.
Hum, in all its aspects, exists because mains power in the U.K. is transmitted at a frequency of 50Hz - which is in the audio spectrum.
Causes of hum include:
Causes of hum include:
1. Poorly screened instrument cables: i.e. guitar leads. Cheap leads are not always the bargain they appear to be.
1. Poorly screened instrument cables: i.e. guitar leads. Cheap leads are not always the bargain they appear to be.
2. Electronic equipment with cheap or failing power supplies. (Old amplifiers can often be given a new lease of life by having the smoothing capacitors in the power supply swapped out).
2. Electronic equipment with cheap or failing power supplies. (Old amplifiers can often be given a new lease of life by having the smoothing capacitors in the power supply swapped out).
3. Earthing problems can also cause hum, but the remedy has to be treated with caution. If you have a problem with hum, which you suspect may be due to this reason, do not attempt to solve it yourself - contact an expert.
3. Earthing problems can also cause hum, but the remedy has to be treated with caution. If you have a problem with hum, which you suspect may be due to this reason, do not attempt to solve it yourself - contact an expert.
14 Track 14.mp3The last 3 clips relate to ‘ambience’ and would be applied to a final mix.
The last 3 clips relate to ‘ambience’ and would be applied to a final mix.
The examples I have chosen are a bit extreme, but hopefully demonstrate
The examples I have chosen are a bit extreme, but hopefully demonstrate
a) what they sound like and
a) what they sound like and
b) how far not to go
b) how far not to go
15
15
PIPE ORGAN IN A "MEDIUM ROOM"
PIPE ORGAN IN A "MEDIUM ROOM"
This is a Pipe Organ placed in a ‘Medium Room’.
This is a Pipe Organ placed in a ‘Medium Room’.
If you are already listening to this in a classroom you may have to wear headphones to appreciate the difference.
If you are already listening to this in a classroom you may have to wear headphones to appreciate the difference.
15 Track 15.mp316
16
PIPE ORGAN IN A "LARGE HALL"
PIPE ORGAN IN A "LARGE HALL"
This is the same Pipe Organ placed in a "Large Hall".
This is the same Pipe Organ placed in a "Large Hall".
16 Track 16.mp317
17
PIPE ORGAN IN A "CATHEDRAL"
PIPE ORGAN IN A "CATHEDRAL"
This is the same Pipe Organ placed in a "Cathedral".
This is the same Pipe Organ placed in a "Cathedral".
17 Track 17.mp3Have a go at these N5 Effects Questions.
Have a go at these N5 Effects Questions.
Videos on basic mixing theory, equalisation, time domain effects and dynamics processing, grouping/bussing, insert and send effects and commercial recording.
Videos on basic mixing theory, equalisation, time domain effects and dynamics processing, grouping/bussing, insert and send effects and commercial recording.
Information on how samples, MIDI keyboard and applied effects can be used in dance music, with related IN-SCHOOL practical tasks.
Information on how samples, MIDI keyboard and applied effects can be used in dance music, with related IN-SCHOOL practical tasks.
(Higher level but a useful extension to learning for keen N5 pupils.)
(Higher level but a useful extension to learning for keen N5 pupils.)