Effects Flashcards
Distortion is created by
clipping the signal. It simply chops off the top and bottom of the sound wave. This introduces more frequencies and, making the sound feel ‘fatter’ and louder.
‘Overdrive’ distortion is created by
overloading the amplifier (by turning up the gain). This was the OG way to distort a signal. The ‘valve’ in the amplifier would give this softer, warm effect.
A wah-wah pedal works by
sweeping a band-pass filter up and down in frequency to create a spectral glide
A ‘Flanger’ works by
copying your signal and delaying its playback by varying amounts. This variation is created with an LFO.
A ‘Phaser’ works by
copying your signal and delaying its playback by varying amounts. This variation is created with an LFO.
The only difference to a flanger is that it applies a filter to the delayed signal.
A ‘chorus’ works by
delaying a copy of the the original signal several times. It plays these delayed versions alongside the clean signal to give the effect of more than one instrument playing at the same time. (Similar to double tracking)
On a reverb, the ‘pre-delay’ determines
The distance between the early
reflections and the sound source
A noise gate
Mutes the track after the signal falls below a certain ‘threshold’
A compressor
Reduces the volume of a track when it exceeds a certain volume
An expander
Increases the dynamic range, the quiet stuff is reduces and the loud stuff is boosted.
A de-esser
Reduces the high frequency ’s’ sounds. Simply by turning down the volume of it when its detected.
Pumping bass is created by
Adding a ‘noise gate’ under the ‘volume FX’ to the track and changing it to a “ducker” setting on the left of the panel.
Then sync the noise gate to another part of the song like the drums, select this in the very top right (called sidechaining).
Parametric EQ
This is an EQ uses nobs as the controller. this allows you to select a precise frequency and adjust it.
DIFFERENT TO A GRAPHIC EQ WITH SLIDERS
Graphic EQ
This uses faders to boost/cut a frequency, (an older version of the standard Logic EQ).
High/Low pass filter
Cuts out low/high frequencies |___/——| or |——\___|
Avoid boosting too far, avoid boosting frequencies above 5dB, you can be much more aggressive with cutting out frequencies though as this is less damaging to the mix.
High/low pass shelving filter
Boosts/lowers a range of low/high frequencies
|\——| or |——/|
Band pass
Cutting frequencies above or below a frequency
|__/—\__|
Peak/dip/notch filter
Cutting out/boosting a frequency |— /```\ —|
