Synth waveforms harder to "effect" ?

[llamastorm]

I used to have a Phaser and MurF, which while really neat pedals with LOTS of options and built great, didn't seem to have as much effect on my synth as did the guitar-oriented demos on the moog site. Basically I'm wondering if I didn't enjoy these enough because they were operating on relatively pure waveforms and needed something more chaotic to have fun with -- I don't play guitar

Data: Recently I picked up a Sonic Alienator (which is a bit odd anyway), and I'm noticing that even just playing around with software, it makes other effects seem to be more pronounced -- possibly because it's tearing up the waveform and giving the other effects something more to work on.

How do you folks handle effects with synths?

Would I get more enjoyment out of something like a Freqbox?

[latigid on]

Hi there

I think you have the right idea. As the phaser and MuRF are filters, they do just that: filter the sound. By distorting your instrument you add harmonics (e.g. squarewave clipping). Thus, the filter has more sonic content to "work with". Just recently I have been having fun with the MuRF by cranking the Drive control to its maximum.

Both the Freqbox and ringmod add harmonics, so they might be perfect for your needs. You could also try leaving the filters open on your synths. What do you play?

[earsmack]

The FreqBox can be used much like you would the Sonic Alienator. It will definitely make a sound more harsh and frequency-rich giving subsequent filters more to work with. Having said that - the Phaser and MuRF would work great down the line from either of those devices as well.

As latigid on mentioned, leave the filters open on the synth (the source sound) and filter it later with the phaser, MuRF or plugin. Alot of times I will do this, open the filter on my Voyager and then filter it later on with the Frostwave Resonator or somesuch.

There are some good threads on this board about what order to plug effects in, etc. search them out, they might give you some ideas.

[llamastorm]

Thanks!

Yeah, I think that will do it.

Before it seems like the filtered effects were lacking teeth, I didn't think of opening up the filters for more high-frequency input -- I'll try that as well. Overdrive also seems to help some.

[EricK]

Make sure that your waveshape is one with a lot of harmonic content as well (like a sawtooth or perhaps a squarewave) and also make sure that your envelopes are long enough to give the effects some time to do their thing.



EricK