In the age of recording, where so much is done digitally and “in the box,” audio plugins reign supreme. Whether it’s emulating hardware to get that “analog sound,” pushing the boundaries of what was previously ever possible with audio technology, or simply serving an important purpose in recording, mixing and mastering, audio plugins are invaluable…
We’re currently living in the age of digital audio, and in-the-box mixing within a digital audio workstation is commonplace. Plugins are, therefore, invaluable assets for the modern audio engineer. The flanger effect is a modulation effect that is also considered an important tool in the audio engineer’s toolbox. With so many flanger plugins on the…
The distinction between feedback and feed-forward compressors is one of those more advanced topics that we should ask about once we understand the essentials of audio dynamic range compression. What is feedback compression? Feedback compression feeds the audio signal into the sidechain just after the gain reduction element. This compressor type reacts to the signal amplitude…
Peak and RMS values are a hot topic in audio, so it is no surprise that these different values also apply to dynamic range compression. What is peak compression? Peak compression means that the compressor will react according to the peak of the input or sidechain signal. As the peak of the compressor control exceeds the…
Modulation effects (and modulation in general) are powerful tools when it comes to processing audio. There are plenty of distinct effects that fall into the great category of modulation that we should understand and have at our disposal when mixing audio or sculpting the perfect tone in our instrument. What are audio modulation effects? Audio…
Ring modulation is one of the weirdest effects a guitarist could add to their pedalboard. The intriguingly odd sounds we can get out of a ring mod pedal have likely sparked your interest and inspired you to check out this article, where you’ll learn how they work. What are ring modulation pedals, and how do…
No effect brings the funk quite as much as the envelope filter. The wah-wah comes close, but its “automatic” cousin reigns supreme. For both guitar and bass, the magic of the envelope filter can easily be found inside small stompbox effects pedals. What are envelope filters, and how do they work? An envelope filter pedal…
Wah is one of the most famous effects for guitar, and wah pedals are among the most expressive to play through. The sound of wah can be heard across many genres and on plenty of records, and wah pedals can be found on pedalboards and jam spaces around the world. What are wah pedals, and…
Flanger is one of the most recognizable effects at a guitarist’s disposal, thanks, in large part, to effects pedals. This “jet swoosh” effect has made its way onto countless records and is worth understanding! What are flanger pedals, and how do they work? Flanger pedals are stompbox-style units that affect audio signals (mainly for guitar…
Chorus is perhaps the most popular of all the modulation effects in terms of guitar (and bass) pedals. A nice chorusing effect can make our instruments sound larger than they are and demand the listener’s attention without being overly obnoxious. What are chorus pedals, and how do they work? Chorus pedals are modulation effects units…
Phaser is one of the most interesting audio effects in terms of its electronic design and effect on audio signals. Guitarists, bassists and other musicians can benefit greatly from a phaser pedal in their rig/pedalboard. What are phaser pedals, and how do they work? Phaser pedals are stompbox units designed for guitar and/or bass. Phasers…
Tremolo is an awesome effect that has the potential to really give a guitar or bass that extra character it deserves in a mix. This modulation/dynamic sort of hybrid effect can be easily accessed via a pedal. What are tremolo guitar effects pedals, and how do they work? Tremolo pedals are stompbox units designed for…
