Definitions

Question 1

Fuzz

Answer 1

A form of distortion used for solo lines and riffs, creates a slight ‘fuzz’ sound on the guitar

Question 2

Overdrive

Answer 2

Created a harder distortion than fuzz, but not as intense as Distortion. Used for riffs

Question 3

Distortion

Answer 3

The most intense form of distortion. Used for power chords.

Question 4

Reverb

Answer 4

An effect added to give an indication of room size. Originally created by recording a sound source in a type of room with the desired amount of reverb (i.e. in a church for lots of reverb)

Question 5

Plate reverb

Answer 5

A method for adding reverb in a studio rather than a specific room. The track is played between two suspended metal plates from a speaker at one end, picked up by a microphone at the other. The sound bounces off the plates, creating a reverb effect.

Question 6

Spring reverb

Answer 6

The same as plate reverb but using springs instead of plates. The sound is played from one end of the springs and is picked up at the other by a microphone. Used in guitar amps.

Question 7

Wah-wah

Answer 7

A effect most commonly used on guitars, using a pedal. Created by having a filter that opens and closes with the movement of the pedal. Sounds like someone saying ‘wah wah’

Question 8

Limiter

Answer 8

A compressor with extreme settings (ratio of 15:1+). Used in live performances to protect equipment and ears.

Question 9

What is compression?

Answer 9

A form of dynamic processing used to reduce the dynamic range of a piece.

Question 10

Sample rate

Answer 10

The number of sample taken per second. Measured in Hz.

Question 11

Bit depth

Answer 11

The rate of quantisation. Measured in bits.

Question 12

Nyquist theory

Answer 12

The theory that music must have a sample rate of at least double the highest frequency audible to human ears. This is why sample rate is usually 44.1 kHz / 44100Hz.

Question 13

Chorus

Answer 13

An effect used to give the impression of multiple instruments. The signal is doubled, slightly detuned, then played back with the original signal.

Question 14

Flanger/phaser

Answer 14

The signal is doubled. Delay is added to the doubled signal with varying delay times and played back with the original. This gives a ‘wooshing’ effect. Heard in the chorus of ‘Killer Queen’ by Queen.

Question 15

Slap-back echo

Answer 15

Delay with an extremely short delay time and only one repeat. Used on bass parts to imitate ‘slapping the bass’.

Question 16

High-pass filter

Answer 16

A filter that cuts frequencies below a certain cut-off point. Sounds like music is playing out of someone else’s headphones.

Question 17

Low-pass filter

Answer 17

A filter that cuts frequencies above a certain cut-off point. Sounds like hearing music from inside a club.

Question 18

Band-pass filter

Answer 18

A filter that cuts all frequencies except a specific band of frequencies. Sounds like someone talking on an old-style telephone.

Question 19

Notch filter

Answer 19

A filter that cuts very specific frequencies.

Question 20

Comb filter

Answer 20

Multiple notch filters so it looks like a comb on the EQ.