Re: [Harp-L] new pedal- reverb AND delay

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

Be cautious about buying anything for harmonica that has a digital processor.  Make sure that you can TRY IT OUT before you buy it. I have tried out a number of devices including reverb, harmony generators, pitch correctors, and even my hearing aids that made a mess of harmonica notes. 

This gets a little technical, but I think that I know what the problem is.
- Harmonica notes are rich in very high-frequency overtones...more than most other instruments and certainly more than voices.
- The analog waveform must be periodically sampled and digitized to convert it into a series of digital numbers that the processor can work on.
- An analog waveform should be sampled at least twice per cycle of the highest frequency present.
- At lower sampling rates, spurious frequencies not related to the input music can be generated.  This is called "ALIASING"
- Most sound boards run at at 70,000 samples /second.  
- Other devices may have lower sampling rates that make harmonica music sound terrible.

I am not saying that any particular device has this problem.  I am saying that you should check out prospective purchases with your harmonica before you buy.

For more information on aliasing, see  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliasing

Vern

On Jul 11, 2012, at 6:53 PM, Peter Madcat Ruth wrote:

> According to the ad, it's "what every singer needs" (Including Randy Singer)
> 
> Peter Madcat Ruth
> Musician - Grammy Award Winner
> madcat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> www.madcatmusic.net
> www.youtube.com/user/petermadcatruth
> 
> 
> 
> On Jul 11, 2012, at 11:48 AM, Randy Singer wrote:
> 
>> I am gonna buy this....sounds like a killer combo for harmonica.
>> 
>> http://www.tc-helicon.com/products/voicetone-mic-mechanic/