You have mastered the basics of your electric guitar and are playing
some tidy chords, riffs and licks. You want to explore and experiment
with new sounds either for song-writing or performance. The next
plausible action can be a guitar effects pedal or maybe multi effects
pedal. These seem to be words that appear pretty self explanatory, then
you're up against 'Digital' and 'Analog' effects. Hence, I figured I
will get out there and uncover what the distinctions were in order that
my own misunderstandings might stop, at least up until the next geeky
part of vocabulary arrives my way… I want to try to make music!
With luck,, the investigation can even assist you and through being
devoid of some sort of science degree I can also write it in words and
phrases we can easily all recognize:
Digital signifies that a signal from your instrument is to start with
run through an analog to digital (A/D) converter designed to turn it to
a digital transmission (which means a few 1's and 0's - binary code?).
The effects unit then performs some computations on that digital signal,
altering it. Therefore, it functions just like a computer; in reality a
digital effect is simply a computer with the particular task of
processing audio signals. The modified signal then runs back via a D/A
converter prior to being output via an amplification device.
Additionally, a digital effect device could be programmed to generate
any kind of sound.
Following the explanation for Digital, an Analog effect usually means
the signal is processed as it would be, with minimum translation before
or after, though sometimes it may be run through a buffer amplifier.
Consequently, an analog effect is usually an electrical circuit that
does something with the signal that originates from your guitar because
of the nature of its components.
True Analog effects are often considered to sound more natural plus
some consider them to have, generally, a better quality. Though, some
higher level digital effect units do a top notch job of impersonating
famous analog effects like distortion and delay. Interestingly, Analog
delay used a reel of tape that was constantly being written on and then
erased. A sort of hiss then took place. The digital delay effect will
likely be as clear on the first recording as it would be after 1000's of
rewrites. This could be viewed as a positive or negative depending on
your own preference.
Both digital and analog Effects Pedals have very different circuitry in the
pedal that is producing the effect and one certainly is not better or
worse compared to the other. As with all things musical, only your ears
can choose which you prefer.
A digital effects unit, sometimes known as a multi effects pedal or
rig can give you the advantage of being able to produce many of the
sounds available in just one piece of equipment.
Additionally, there are some effects like a Harmonizer (adds a harmony
note to your playing based on a chosen scale) that are unobtainable
through analog, and as such digital guitar effects pedals can certainly
reach the places that other analog pedals cannot.
To sum up, you will find excellent sounding and poor sounding analog
effects and by the same logic you will find great sounding and poor
sounding digital ones. Some say analog effects seem warm when compared
with digital, however this might be as a result of far more restricted
top frequency response. While a few state that digital devices possess a
coldness that seems artificial or perhaps out of place which may be as a
result of depth of effects obtainable. Some you win, some you will
lose. In the end, this is a question of preference as well as the
particular result you would like.
Nowadays, digital is employed a lot more since the price of the
circuits reduces. Most multi effects pedals are digital. Something for
sure though, if you look around the options are staggering.
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