Modulation-based Effects

Question 1

What is modulation?

Answer 1

When an LFO is applied to a signal.

Question 2

What is an LFO?

Answer 2

Low frequency oscillator, assigned to features (volume, pitch, etc) in order to create modulation.

Question 3

What does an LFO modulate for a wah effect?

Answer 3

Filter cutoff.

Question 4

What does an LFO modulate for a tremolo effect?

Answer 4

Volume.

Question 5

What does an LFO modulate for a vibrato effect?

Answer 5

Pitch.

Question 6

What is phasing?

Answer 6

Adding an amount of offset to a wave and interfering it with another wave.

Question 7

What are the rough delay times for chorus and flange?

Answer 7

Chorus: 5-35ms.
Flange: 1-5ms.

Question 8

How does a rotary speaker cabinet work?

Answer 8

An electric motor rotates both horn speakers and a bass cylinder at a constant speed.

Question 9

What does chorus sound like?

Answer 9

Shimmering, full and ambient.
Example: Come as you are - Nirvana.

Question 10

What does flange sound like?

Answer 10

Sweeping, metallic exaggerated resonance, ‘jet plane effect’.
Example: Barracuda - Heart.

Question 11

What does phase sound like?

Answer 11

Gentler sweeping effect than flanger.
Example: Endors toi - Tame Impala.

Question 12

What are the main parameters for modulation-based effects?

Answer 12

• Frequency / LFO rate.
• Depth.
• Feedback.
• Dry / Wet mix.
• Delay offset.

Question 13

What are some of the main guitar pedal effects?

Answer 13

• Dynamic (compressor, EQ).
• Pitch (octave, harmoniser).
• Drive (overdrive, distortion).
• Delay / echo.
• Reverb.
• Wah.