Well, if you actually manage to establish a truly NEW effect, especially in the FX pedal market, which was already saturated to the brim with distortion, modulation and spatial effects, you actually deserve a lot of respect, including from the competition.
We're talking about the Digitech Whammy Pedal, an effect that you have to master as an audiophile, as it appears extremely three-dimensional, but the inexperienced listener initially assumes it is due to the artist's dexterity.
In 2000, thousands of guitarists were racking their brains as to how Tom Morello of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE managed to use his already exalted guitar work to reach fingerboard heights that came close to the area above the (theoretical) thirtieth fret, without using a bottleneck or other obvious aids .
Or the current Punch and Judy troupe DRAGONFORCE, who, with their Nintendo Metal, alienate their guitar sounds with the help of Pro Tools and the Whammy Pedal, thus presenting many predominantly male/pubescent guitar students with a difficult process of discovery.
Only by listening closely and seeing the action on the fretboard, which is technically insoluble, do the ambitious musician realize that an effects pedal has to be involved. The same product goes by the name Whammy Pedal and hit like a grenade at its time.
DigiTech, which is part of the Harman Group, has now brought Version 4 of the Whammy Pedal onto the market, with the product gaining a few more layers of flexibility compared to its grandfather.
Although based in the USA, the Whammy Pedal 4 is also assembled in China to keep labor costs low.
construction
The bright red pedal has a very solid construction and has excellent stability due to its 1.6 kg weight and four rubber feet, which have a very good “stickiness” on smooth surfaces.
A robust rocker with a non-slip pad and a sturdy true bypass switch also provide a high level of confidence in terms of longevity.
The device is normally placed as the first link in the signal chain between the guitar and the amplifier input, before any distortion that may be used, and has one input and two outputs (dry, wet added).
The wet output is connected to the amp or other mines, the dry out can be fed to a tuner if necessary. This is a nice detailed solution, so if in doubt you can also use “lower quality” tuners for live use, which should not be in the main signal path in normal operation due to the loss of sound with their electronics.
The pedal's different programs can also be managed remotely via a MIDI-in socket. Alternatively, you can select the individual programs using an endless controller. A 9V mains connection, which requires a whopping 1.3 A current flow, completes the connection area.
The Whammy Pedal has a total of 17 presets, which are divided into 3 different function groups:
Function 1: Harmony (a second tone of the same volume is added to the tone played)
Interval 1: Oct up / Oct Dn (pure octave above with pedal pressed, pure octave below with pedal pulled)
Interval 2: 5th Dn / 4th Dn (perfect fourth below with the pedal pressed, perfect fifth below with the pedal pulled)
Interval 3: 4th Dn / 3rd Dn (minor third below with the pedal pressed, perfect fourth below with the pedal pulled)
Interval 4: 5th Up / 7th Up (minor seventh above with pedal pressed, perfect fifth above with pedal pulled)
Interval 5: 5th Up / 6th Up (major sixth above with the pedal pressed, perfect fifth above with the pedal pulled)
Interval 6: 4th Up / 5th Up (perfect fifth above with the pedal pressed, perfect fourth above with the pedal pulled)
Interval 7: 3rd Up / 4th Up (perfect fourth above with pedal pressed, major third above with pedal pulled)
Interval 8: Min 3rd Up / 3rd Up (major thirds above with pedal pressed, minor thirds above with pedal pulled)
Interval 9: 2nd Up / 3rd Up (major third above with pedal pressed, major second above with pedal pulled)
Function 2: Detune (the signal is doubled and slightly to strongly detuned)
Shallow: slight upset
Deep: stronger detuning
Function 3: Whammy (the signal is pitched up or down via the rocker over the set interval)
Interval 1:2 Oct Up (the signal is pitched up two pure octaves)
Interval 2: 1 Oct Up (the signal is pitched up a pure octave)
Interval 3: 1 Oct Dn (the signal is pitched down a pure octave)
Interval 4: 2 Oct Dn (the signal is pitched down two pure octaves)
Interval 5: Dive Bomb (the vibrato use of a Floyd-Rose system is simulated over 3 octaves downwards)
Interval 6: Drop Tune (the signal is shifted down two semitones)
Practice
Connected, selected interval and off you go. The first thing you notice is the excellent quality of the sound signal. The processor works very well in terms of sound and lets the signal through with almost no discoloration.
In Whammy mode, the processor also works very quickly; you can hardly notice any latency even when playing fast. In detune mode, the CPU strangely needs a few milliseconds more to reproduce the processed signal, but the computing speed is absolutely sufficient even for faster passages.
The mechanical alignment of the pedal's rocker takes a little getting used to, as its actual control path in whammy mode only begins after about half of the tilting movement. Personally, I would prefer smooth control from the first foot movement, but this is a personal interpretation.
In the Harmony range, however, the rocker works from the first centimeter and therefore allows for finer adjustment than in Whammy mode.
And the effect? Well, as already mentioned, life is comfortable when you have “invented” an effect that is second to none and is of course protected by appropriate patents. If you want Whammy, you need DigiTech, it's simple ;-)
You can achieve both subtle alienation of the signal and completely exaggerated effect passages from the “big pants” department, all in very good audio quality and with the corresponding AHA effect.
Conclusion
The Whammy effect is actually one of the few outstanding effects that have achieved worldwide fame in recent years. Its unique effect parameters still leave the six-string group open-mouthed today and rarely fail to have their effect.
The targeted and well-dosed use of the product enriches the range of effects of the ambitious solo guitarist and is convincing in the right tonal context.
Good workmanship, good sound quality, unique effect, what more could you want?
———————-
Additional Informations:
Unraveling the Intricacies of Harmonizer Effects in Music
Introduction:
In the realm of music production and performance, the use of effects pedals has become an indispensable tool for shaping and enhancing sound. Among the vast array of effects available to musicians, harmonizer effects stand out as versatile tools for creating lush, multi-dimensional textures and expanding the sonic palette. In this comprehensive guide, we embark on a journey through the intricate world of harmonizer effects, exploring their origins, technical principles, creative applications, and impact on contemporary music.
I. Origins and Evolution:
The concept of harmonization, or the simultaneous sounding of multiple musical pitches, dates back centuries and has been explored in various forms throughout musical history. Early attempts at creating harmonizer effects can be traced to analog tape-based techniques, where engineers manipulated tape speed and pitch to achieve basic pitch shifting and harmonization effects. However, it was the advent of digital signal processing in the late 20th century that paved the way for the development of sophisticated harmonizer effects with greater precision and flexibility.
II. Technical Principles:
Harmonizer effects operate by altering the pitch of an incoming audio signal in real-time, creating harmonies that follow a predetermined interval or musical scale. This process is achieved through digital algorithms that analyze the incoming audio, generate additional pitches based on the desired harmony, and blend them with the original signal to create a harmonized output. Modern harmonizer pedals often feature a range of controls and parameters, allowing users to adjust parameters such as harmony interval, scale, and mix level to tailor the sound to their liking.
III. Types of Harmonizer Effects:
Harmonizer effects come in various forms, each offering unique features and capabilities suited to different musical contexts and applications. Some common types of harmonizer effects include:
1. Pitch Shifters: Basic pitch-shifting effects that allow users to transpose the pitch of the input signal up or down by a specified interval.
2. Intelligent Harmonizers: Advanced harmonizer effects that analyze the input signal and generate harmonies based on the musical context, allowing for precise control over harmony intervals and scales.
3. Whammy Pedals: Expression pedal-controlled pitch-shifting effects that enable real-time manipulation of pitch and harmony, popularized by the iconic Digitech Whammy pedal.
4. Dual-Voice Harmonizers: Harmonizer effects that generate two simultaneous harmony voices, enabling users to create rich, multi-part harmonies and layered textures.
IV. Creative Applications:
Harmonizer effects offer a wealth of creative possibilities for musicians and sound designers across a wide range of genres and styles. Some common applications of harmonizer effects include:
1. Vocal Harmonization: Adding rich, multi-part harmonies to vocal performances, enhancing vocal arrangements, and creating lush backing vocals.
2. Guitar Harmonization: Generating harmonized guitar lines and melodies to add depth and complexity to guitar solos and riffs.
3. Instrumental Harmonization: Applying harmonizer effects to non-vocal instruments such as keyboards, brass, and strings to create orchestral textures and layered arrangements.
4. Experimental Sound Design: Pushing the boundaries of conventional harmony and exploring avant-garde sonic landscapes through the use of extreme pitch-shifting and modulation effects.
V. Influential Artists and Albums:
Throughout the history of popular music, harmonizer effects have been used by countless artists and producers to create iconic recordings and signature sounds. Some influential examples include:
1. Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys: Wilson's pioneering use of harmonizer effects, particularly on albums like "Pet Sounds," helped define the lush, multi-part vocal harmonies that became synonymous with the Beach Boys' sound.
2. Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin: Page's use of the Eventide Harmonizer on tracks like "Whole Lotta Love" and "Kashmir" introduced innovative pitch-shifting effects to the rock guitar lexicon, paving the way for future generations of guitarists.
3. Imogen Heap: Heap's innovative use of vocal harmonizer effects, particularly on her album "Speak for Yourself," showcased the creative potential of real-time pitch manipulation in contemporary pop music.
4. Radiohead: Radiohead's experimental approach to production and sound design, exemplified on albums like "Kid A" and "Amnesiac," often incorporates harmonizer effects to create otherworldly textures and atmospheres.
VI. Modern Developments and Trends:
In recent years, advancements in technology have expanded the capabilities of harmonizer effects, leading to the development of innovative new pedals and software plugins. Some notable trends and developments in the world of harmonizer effects include:
1. Polyphonic Harmonizers: Pedals and plugins capable of generating multiple harmonized voices simultaneously, enabling users to create complex, choir-like textures and harmonies.
2. Intelligent Harmonization: Algorithms that employ artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze musical context and generate harmonies with greater accuracy and musicality.
3. Integration with DAWs and Digital Workflows: Harmonizer effects that seamlessly integrate with digital audio workstations (DAWs) and recording software, allowing for precise control and automation of harmonized vocals and instruments in the studio.
4. Hybrid Analog-Digital Designs: Pedals that combine the warmth and character of analog circuitry with the flexibility and precision of digital signal processing, offering a unique blend of vintage and modern harmonizer tones.
VII. Conclusion:
In conclusion, harmonizer effects have become essential tools for musicians and producers seeking to explore new sonic territories and enhance their creative output. From their humble origins in analog tape manipulation to their modern-day incarnations as sophisticated digital processors, harmonizer effects have continuously evolved to meet the demands of musicians across genres and styles. Whether used to add depth and complexity to vocal performances, create otherworldly guitar textures, or push the boundaries of experimental sound design, harmonizer effects remain indispensable assets in the musician's toolkit, offering endless possibilities for sonic exploration and artistic expression.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen