- Sep 21, 2011
- 145
- 161
- 4,936
- Disclosures
- I'm just a user/customer that plays gigs. I am not professionally affiliated with any vendor, etc.
Sup, peeps!
Pardons in advance if this topic has been done (possibly, to death?) before, but hopin' to continue to learn, get new ideas, 'life-hack' sorts of approaches to things. Also, hopin' to hear from everyone 'up and down' the experience chain... from the Jedis to the Padowans.
WARNING: This conversation 'may' or 'may not' invoke 'GAS'... hopefully, it offers a new perspective on the gear you may already have!
...'may' invoke GAS = if you don't already have certain gear...
...'may not' invoke GAS = if it makes you look at your current gear differently...
As we all know, there are 'major categories' of effects (i.e.: Drive, Compression, Filter, Time-based...). Within those major categories, are all the endless rabbit holes we all have so much fun discussing (especially Overdrive... cuz, DANG.).
So... in looking at the effects you currently own, what kinds of things can you achieve? Are there ways you use your commonly overlooked effects that might be unique?
For me (which may be 'common' uses already, but just to share)...
Drive: Sometimes full-on... sometimes to enhance certain frequencies when stacked against other effects that might normally be a bit too mild... sometimes to really, REALLY enhance a Wah… Sometimes, barely any drive at all to sound like a very slightly overdriven amp... speaking of which, sometimes, just used like a pre-amp...
EQ: Sometimes to mimic a light overdrive by enhancing certain frequencies... also to enhance other effects... sometimes, to soften (or enhance) the sound of my fingers (naturally, this can help with pick players, as well)… EQ 'might' be one of THE most powerful 'effects' a musician could employ.
Filters: Similar to above; depending on where I set the range, I can mimic an EQ for a unique tone... Chorus *after* a wah pedal can sound craaaaaaaaaaa-zy!...
Envelope Filters: Sometimes, I can set the swell to be REALLY slow, so that the envelope never fully engages, and I can coax some REALLY, really cool Electronic Dance Music (EDM) bass sounds out of it (it's SO cool how it almost eliminates your initial attack for a faux-keyboard type of sound!)... great for versatile cover band situations (shout to the Digitech Bass Synth Wah! WAAAAAY more powerful a tool than some might think!)...
Signal Routing: Example, a Boss LS-2 Line Selector... this has to be one of the most AMAZING tools ever created for experimenting and retaining low end while doing so. For those new to effects, sometimes, the Boss LS-2 can be used when you want to dedicate specific effects to a signal chain, separate from another. This is like creating a 'patch' the way one would in a signal processor... but using separate effects makes the experience more modular (at the expense of cabling and real estate, of course!). Another note, sometimes, it's cool to use 2 separate effects on at the same time... but where they don't actually affect each other. Example: You can have an Octave and an Envelope Filter on at the same time. Without a line selector/signal router, the 2 pedals would be in some kind of order... either Octave into Envelope Filter, or EnvFltr into Octave. Naturally, they would affect each other, depending on the order. If they're on their own dedicated signal path (on at the same time), they can be on, and ONLY affect the dry bass signal, yet not be triggered by one another. Just another cool option to try!
(By the way, magicians never reveal their tricks! So, don't feel obligated to participate in the chat if you mean to keep your tricks under your hat!)
Final note on this initial post...
For those really new to this whole thing: Lots of folks are inspired by their favorite artists to chase there sounds. Keep in mind that even if/when you have ALL the gear your favorite artist uses to get 'their sound', remember that it's also in how you actually play the instrument. OH, and most any effect (regardless of how it's marketed) can be used for any sound/signal chain. Additionally, you might be able to get close to their sound with what you might already have!
Hoping this chat helps to offer some cool new ways to approach it all... and some cool overall insight.
What say you all?
Cheers, you guys!
Pardons in advance if this topic has been done (possibly, to death?) before, but hopin' to continue to learn, get new ideas, 'life-hack' sorts of approaches to things. Also, hopin' to hear from everyone 'up and down' the experience chain... from the Jedis to the Padowans.
WARNING: This conversation 'may' or 'may not' invoke 'GAS'... hopefully, it offers a new perspective on the gear you may already have!
...'may' invoke GAS = if you don't already have certain gear...
...'may not' invoke GAS = if it makes you look at your current gear differently...
As we all know, there are 'major categories' of effects (i.e.: Drive, Compression, Filter, Time-based...). Within those major categories, are all the endless rabbit holes we all have so much fun discussing (especially Overdrive... cuz, DANG.).
So... in looking at the effects you currently own, what kinds of things can you achieve? Are there ways you use your commonly overlooked effects that might be unique?
For me (which may be 'common' uses already, but just to share)...
Drive: Sometimes full-on... sometimes to enhance certain frequencies when stacked against other effects that might normally be a bit too mild... sometimes to really, REALLY enhance a Wah… Sometimes, barely any drive at all to sound like a very slightly overdriven amp... speaking of which, sometimes, just used like a pre-amp...
EQ: Sometimes to mimic a light overdrive by enhancing certain frequencies... also to enhance other effects... sometimes, to soften (or enhance) the sound of my fingers (naturally, this can help with pick players, as well)… EQ 'might' be one of THE most powerful 'effects' a musician could employ.
Filters: Similar to above; depending on where I set the range, I can mimic an EQ for a unique tone... Chorus *after* a wah pedal can sound craaaaaaaaaaa-zy!...
Envelope Filters: Sometimes, I can set the swell to be REALLY slow, so that the envelope never fully engages, and I can coax some REALLY, really cool Electronic Dance Music (EDM) bass sounds out of it (it's SO cool how it almost eliminates your initial attack for a faux-keyboard type of sound!)... great for versatile cover band situations (shout to the Digitech Bass Synth Wah! WAAAAAY more powerful a tool than some might think!)...
Signal Routing: Example, a Boss LS-2 Line Selector... this has to be one of the most AMAZING tools ever created for experimenting and retaining low end while doing so. For those new to effects, sometimes, the Boss LS-2 can be used when you want to dedicate specific effects to a signal chain, separate from another. This is like creating a 'patch' the way one would in a signal processor... but using separate effects makes the experience more modular (at the expense of cabling and real estate, of course!). Another note, sometimes, it's cool to use 2 separate effects on at the same time... but where they don't actually affect each other. Example: You can have an Octave and an Envelope Filter on at the same time. Without a line selector/signal router, the 2 pedals would be in some kind of order... either Octave into Envelope Filter, or EnvFltr into Octave. Naturally, they would affect each other, depending on the order. If they're on their own dedicated signal path (on at the same time), they can be on, and ONLY affect the dry bass signal, yet not be triggered by one another. Just another cool option to try!
(By the way, magicians never reveal their tricks! So, don't feel obligated to participate in the chat if you mean to keep your tricks under your hat!)
Final note on this initial post...
For those really new to this whole thing: Lots of folks are inspired by their favorite artists to chase there sounds. Keep in mind that even if/when you have ALL the gear your favorite artist uses to get 'their sound', remember that it's also in how you actually play the instrument. OH, and most any effect (regardless of how it's marketed) can be used for any sound/signal chain. Additionally, you might be able to get close to their sound with what you might already have!
Hoping this chat helps to offer some cool new ways to approach it all... and some cool overall insight.
What say you all?
Cheers, you guys!
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