Re: [Harp-L] Re: Lone Wolf and effects

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

Effects began as a way to "enlarge" the sound - simulating playing in a  
larger area with a bouncing or reinforcing of the sound off hard surfaces - a  
mixture of original signal and ambient room. This was a way of enhancing a very  
dry sound source.
 
However, focus went beyond enhancing as fascination with the effects  created 
and newer effects developed. A few artists were able to combine the  effects 
with their original signal to yield a new sound - a lot of other artists  
missed the subtle boat and went overboard with the effects. (once again,  personal 
taste amongst the listeners rules where the "overboard" line is  drawn).
 
I enjoy the retro movement and participate in it actively with my BOSE L1  
philosophy - simplify, simplify, simplify. The results have been truly  
astounding in live sound and are not complicated in execution.
 
Try going back to basics and use effects with restraint, exploring this  
small area of parameter until it actually enlarges from your focus within it.  
Create your excitement mostly through personal power and musical ideas. 
 
Spend an afternoon with your reverb and delay unit(s). Play quietly and  dial 
in the effects slowly. Try to simulate a small bathroom sound, a larger  
public bathroom sound, a stairwell sound, an echo canyon sound, an empty old  
church sound, etc. Better yet, spend some time making sounds in these actual  
places and listen to what happens after you've stopped actively creating the  
sound - how the sound "hangs" in the air organically. Learn what it takes to  
recreate this effect with your electronic units. Build up from underneath.
 
You will receive an astonishing education in sound without having to know  
all the technical terms. You can also learn a lot about your effects units by  
twirling all the parameters from sublime to ridiculous, one at a time, until 
you  develop an inherent knowledge of the logic behind - "turn this dial, this  
happens".
 
The sound of your instrument or band can improve dramatically in live  
situations if you embrace subtle as your ground zero.
 
The Iceman



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