Re: [Harp-L] Fw: Pitch shifter/Octave doubler samples

[hoptowntiger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Hi Richard

I downloaded all the files and was really impressed. My full time gig is a one man, loop based show where I use a danelectro chili dog for the bass lines.
My interest in the RP series is piqued.
Is it possible to adjust various effects on the fly, most notably delay and chorus?

All the best

Dave
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 12:01:10 
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx<harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>; harptalk<harptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Fw: Pitch shifter/Octave doubler samples


Hi all, I sent the message below out over the weekend, and maybe it got missed.  Anyway, given that I put these together in direct response to a thread on harp-L, it would be great if someone would weigh in on what they hear in these samples--in particular, whether the full-on (99 percent) octave and double octave pitch shifts are workable as substitutes for real bari and bass harps.  

I am sure, as per previous comment, that NO electronic emulation ever sounds exactly like the real thing.  So when I say "workable as substitutes", what I mean is: would you use those sounds on a gig?  

In my opinion, the double octave pitch shift in particular is a perfectly respectable sound to roll out on a gig if you want a bass harp sound in a hurry (and don't have the dollars and years to spend acquiring a real bass harp and learning to play it).

Regards, Richard Hunter

-----Forwarded Message-----
>From: Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Apr 30, 2010 11:00 PM
>To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>, harptalk <harptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Pitch shifter/Octave doubler samples
>
>I wrote a day or so ago that I would post some samples of harmonica played through a pitch shifter (in this case a Digitech RP355), with the object being to determine how close the results are to a bari or bass harp.  I recorded a few samples last night, and they can be downloaded for listening at:
>http://hunterharp.com/bari+bass_harp_sounds/
>
>All samples were recorded using an Audix Fireball V mic and a Delta Frost diatonic in B (2nd position) straight into the mic input on a Zoom H4 recorder. No effects were added other than those generated by the Digitech RP355.
>
>I've put several files up, as follows:
>
>oct_down_99_percent.mp3: this is a low octave pitch shift, with the original sound removed entirely from the mix.  No amp modeling, no EQ.  My opinion is that this sounds pretty close to a baritone harp, although there is a certain occasional electronic flavor.
>
>2_oct_down_99_percent.mp3: this is a low double octave pitch shift, with the original sound removed entirely from the mix.  No amp modeling, no EQ.  My opinion is that this sounds VERY much like a bass harmonica, although of course you can play licks with this setup that you would never be able to play on a bass harmonica.  
>
>oct_down+2_oct_down_56_percent.mp3: This starts with a low octave pitch shift, with the shifted tone representing 56 percent of the total output (i.e. there's plenty of original tone in the mix). Then it goes to a low double octave.  No amp modeling, no EQ.  You can hear how much more artificial this sounds.  It's still a cool sound, just nothing like a "real" harp.  
>
>bsman_amp_+oct_dn+2oct_dn+delay.mp3: this is the full monty: a bassman amp model, with EQ, a cabinet model, a low octave and double octave pitch shift, with the level of the pitch shifted tone set to about 45 percent, and a big slapback delay. It's absolutely an artificial sound, and it's got tons of attitude.  I am using this kind of sound all over the place in my new band Lightninrick.
>
>I think all of these sounds are very cool and useful.  I leave it to others to decide whether the 99-percent pitch shifted stuff is close enough to the sound of a bari and/or bass harp to fill those roles in a band.  In my opinion, no electronic instrument ever sounds exactly like an acoustic instrument, and that's a good thing, because it expands the range of sounds available to us.  
>
>
>
>author, "Jazz Harp" 
>latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
>more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
>Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
>Twitter: lightninrick


author, "Jazz Harp" 
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
Twitter: lightninrick