Ok, in the previous post we gave you the rules. Those who feel ready to break the rules need to know the ways of shaping a signal. Usually this effect is:
1. Adding to it
2. Subtracting (or ‘clipping) from it
3. Modulating it
Let’s use a distortion pedal as an example. It creates noise by clipping the signal. If you look at the waveform of a guitar signal, this will look like a Sine wave. And the smoother the wave, the smoother and clearer the signal. And now imagine clipping off the tops of the curves – doing a square wave – this is how it sounds distorted.
Ok, and now you modulate a signal so that the amplitude (peaks and valleys) are more extreme, their phase or spacing less regular or the peak frequency response (tone) filtered in or out. This will affect the volume in the first case. And in the second case – this is affecting the timing or regularity of the signal. As far as the third case is taken into account, this is affecting the clarity of the signal.
That is why now we are coming to the conclusion that you basically need to check which effects cause the most significant attenuation in volume. Once this is spotted – chain them in order of most to least.
Also remember that you must balance the location of volume cuts (as well as boosts) against the amount of noise introduced into the signal.
Surely I must say that this is not something 100% fixed. The effects and their placement depends not only on the type of effects, but also the number of effects involved. This is an exciting and very interesting process that will help you to master the true nature of electric guitar.
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