Fuzz: How Close Can Digital Get? | Friday Fretworks
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- A look at how close digital fuzz emulations can get to the real thing...
Buck & Evans 2019/2020 Tour Dates:
15.11.19 - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff SOLD OUT
16.11.19 - Jimmy's, Liverpool
19.11.19 - The 100 Club, London SOLD OUT
23.11.19 - Cathouse Rock Club, Glasgow
28.11.19 - The Flowerpot, Derby
29.11.19 - The Castle & Falcon, B'Ham SOLD OUT
09.01.19 - The Facebar, Reading
11.01.20 - Night & Day Cafe, Manchester
16.02.20 - Whelan's, Dublin
18.02.20 - Voodoo, Belfast
01.03.20 - Planet Rock Winter's End
14.03.20 - The Cluny, Newcastle
Tickets: www.buckandevan...
Hey! My name's Chris Buck and I'm a musician from South Wales, United Kingdom. Thank you for checking out Friday Fretworks! As the name suggests, there's a new video every Friday. If you haven't already, please subscribe and if you have, it'd be lovely if you came to say hello on Facebook and Instagram as well. Links below!
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Dynamics for many players are not in their color palette, but you are a master.
I recall well reading an archival piece of the day describing Thomas Edison's wax cylinders, and their ability (demonstrated for a fee at county fairs) to record voice in a manner that was simply "indistinguishable" from live human voice. Notwithstanding what time and multiple playbacks might have done to such cylinders, we now look at such claims as simply preposterous. *Of course* they don't sound lifelike; they sound OBVIOUSLY shrill and grainy to our ears.
But that's the benefit of 120 years' experience. What happened between then and now? First, we and everyone else 120 years ago were initially struck by the sheer ability to record something that was recognizably voice. That was enough, and we were collectively impressed. As time and listens went on, we thought "Well, it doesn't sound *exactly* like a live voice sounds". We cogitated about what the nature of the difference was between the recording and "the real thing". This went on and on in a constant cycle, and still goes on in the world of hi-fidelity, whether it's amplifiers, preamps, speakers, phase coherence impacts of crossovers, sensing devices, or DACs, etc. The cycle is that the differences between the attempted and some audio ideal has to first be *noticed* and then has to be *described* in some parametric manner. Once described and characterized, we set about trying to identify what results in the differences, or perhaps impedes similarity, and try to engineer those things away. But whether we are talking about the transition from wax to coal to vinyl to tape, or about the difference between 44.1khz sampling vs 96k, or 14-bit vs 24-bit resolution, it's the same thing: how is what I'm hearing "different" from what I'm trying to copy/reproduce? And that's where we're at when it comes to digital emulation of fuzz.
In some respects, distortion and fuzz, and the manner in which harmonic content is added in response to picking dynamics and held notes, has been the hardest thing to model digitally. Time based effects are dead easy because they simply involve manipulations that are largely independent of the actual content or dynamics of the guitar, including note "density", string-to-string differences, etc. Distortion, however, relies on an analysis of the moment to moment characteristics of the guitar signal, including how many strings are being picked at once, how close together in time notes are, and similar. At one level, that demands DSP processing that is fast enough to do the analysis and manipulations. I think we've probably reached and met the speed requirements. The big hurdle now is being able to describe, in terms of principles and ultimately algorithms, just exactly what a fuzz or distortion circuit does in response to THIS pick attack when THOSE germanium transistors are biased in THAT way, and notes are thrown at it or held at THAT rate. And not just in general terms, but in terms specific enough to model how such analog circuits behave millisecond by millisecond. That's a whole lotta analysis and describing. We're getting closer, but aren't entirely there just yet. I have little doubt we will be, but as I say, characterizing what happens when Strat or humbucker guitar meets with a classic 2 or 3-transistor germanium fuzz is a very complex task that will ultimately involve many algorithms. Be patient. Stick around. We'll get there one day.
Very well put sir.
I can't really focus on comparing the gear when the playing is so sublime.
I realize it is kinda randomly asking but do anyone know of a good site to watch newly released movies online?
@Zavier Jakob i watch on flixzone. You can find it on google :)
I've no idea which sounded best, they just sound a little different.
You're playing never fails to impress me; you make every note count.
Hey Chris, feel better. I was down 2 weeks.
👍🏻
Thanks brother! Fingers crossed this clears up sooner than later. Bored of having the lung capacity of a 80 year old chain smoker now 😂
That illness must be worldwide. I’ve had it over a week and my location is the middle of the states.
@@Hoagiemon This comment thread has a whole new meaning now...
O god
What an eerie comment thread to read in 2021 😐
That intro of clean solo/chords was really beautiful
Man, your fingers have some serious SOUL
and here I am adoring the glorious reverb you have
Cool Derek Trucks impression on that beginning track, cheers. Great vid too, as usual!
Well done Guys, getting through the gig at the Face Bar last night. Despite feeling crap you put all put on a top show!. Loved the banter you have amongst yourselves, you obviously get on well and enjoy what you do. Enjoying the new CD too. See you again one day.
Hi Chris, recently bought your new Buck & Evans CD, a really amazing CD, so its getting played a lot. cheers
PLEASE make a video on how to get that perfect low action you always play with. How do you do it without buzzing???
Hey Chris! Love the tone & intro jam, as always
Oh man. Those bends.
Interesting comparison between digital and the analogue fuzz pedals. Must admit to liking the Line 6 Arbitrator fuzz. Gives just enough sparkle with a depth of feeling too. Have fun at NAMM. Sadly, I wont be there as we thought, as I got let down by my friends at Fender, and there is no public day at this one. Have a great trip to LA. See you soon buddy. Cheers, Dave W
Arbiter Fuzz Face for me.Just sounds right. In this case analogue and Germanium transistors win!
Helix tip Chris, drop the impedance setting on the fuzz pedal on the Helix. It then works a lot better at doing the clean thing when you back off your guitar's volume. I think with the Helix when you make this adjustment it applies it to the first block in the chain, you can't apply it if your fuzz has other blocks in front of it. Feel better soon and enjoy some sunshine at NAMM :)
Jonathan Sharp
This is something that has finally been addressed with pedal makers as well. A low impedance input, will keep a Fuzz Face from having problems with a Wah, as well as giving more headroom.
I use a Deep Trip BOG, which I’ve tried to replace my Arbiter BC108 with, which also has a Bias, and Low and High pots for full tone shaping.
Give me that arbiter any day ! Other two are good logic sounds Hifi and helix sounds good but god that original with volume rolled off sounds the mutts nuts !
Kinda wish this had been a blind comparison. I have a feeling folks would have said the arbiter was “muddy,” the Logic “would be best in a mix,” and the Helix is “obviously the vintage pedal.”
Opening 3 notes and a double bend had me hooked on this video..👍🇦🇺🔥🐨😔
Outstanding tones as always Chris!
Delicious phrasing mate \m/
Very Jeff beck esque on those bends. Nice!
We've got some pretty big talent here... 🤟💀🥀 I'm in...
Wonderful vídeo tone and information! Been honest... I miss some "crispy" to match that Gilmour tone.
Those bends are touching!
as an addition: it would also be cool to get your take on musical gear for the home: guitar stands etc. :)
I tried a similar thing and found putting a compressor after fuzz in helix worked well when cleaning it up with the guitar volume. Going into a blackstar artisan with the volume and tone at noon, then into the UA OX.
Honestly... Logic won by a long shot for me! :O That was the biggest surprise of the day for me..
*Dear Chris,
Ive got a video idea, that doesnt seem to be covered anywhere yet: Whats it with musicians and persian carpets? I see them so so often: in Studios, on stages, but never have been able to find a suitable explanation. (the obvious of cour is improving room acoustic. But that can be achieved more effactively I guess).
Im also very interested in your philosophy about living room playing: How do you design room acoustics, etc. etc. :)
Really hoping you see this comment. It would be great to have such a video from you!
I use m so that :A. I always have the same grip whatever the stage (for pedals/boots) B. Always have my one little corner on stage, same size etc. everytime.
Chris. Vitamin C is The Key🙂. 500mg every day, soluble or tablet. I haven’t had a cold in over 20 years since I have taken regular Vitamin C. Worth a try? All the best.
or maybe just eat a piece of fruit?
Friday Fuzzworks
I think a lot of it comes down to *which* digital fuzz. I thought that fuzz in Logic sounded surprisingly good, but I just watched a video yesterday comparing an analog fuzz to a model of a Fuzz Face in a multistomp pedal, and the digital one had this really weird, nasty lag on the attack. Not musical, like the compressed, squishy attack of an analog fuzz, but more like a weird volume swell, where each note came in with a "Hhwa" sound. It sounded more like a guitar synth effect than a fuzz.
Your axe effects arbitrator cleaned up way nicer than my house mates, He just bought one and this was one of the things I had to try out, it didn't clean up at all and I pulled out my fuzz face to demonstrate. Possibly a difference in signal chain?
Thanks for this comparison! I'm a big fuzz fan and a recent Helix convert; I've been very impressed at how natural the fuzz sounds out of the Helix are. Of course, I kept my analog pedals but the Helix opened up a whole world of fuzz possibilities for me without having to buy a dozen more pedals.
I'm wondering: do you have a treble bleed mod in your Strat? I'm thinking of installing one but I read that the caps can get in the way of that Fuzz Face cleanup technique.
Thanks!
Very nice, i have to say all of the fuzz's sound good to my ears rolled off-it just depends on which nuances you are chasing? Vitamin D3 4-5 000 international units a day for a month will prevent you getting any more colds, then 1,000 IU's a day as maintenance, take it from an old campaigner.
The digital models address some of the EQ issues of the original at full bore, but don’t seem to have that “presence” when cleaned up
Hey Chris, just checking: did you set the Helix to auto impedance, and use the Arbiter model as the first pedal in the chain? Asking because when I tried it like this, I had results similar to the real deal.
I think the two most difficult Effects to digital recreate/develop are definitely Fuzz and Compression.
Can you do a comparison video or shoot out of the digital boss FZ- 5 fuzzface mode and that Cornel germanium fuzz face becauce that boss fuzz pedal emulates the 60's fuzz face equipped with AC128 germanium transistors,, and that cornel fuzz face is also equipped with the same transistors,, thanks
Source Audio Kingmaker/LA Lady are digital and do pretty authentic Fuzztones.
Hey Chris, get better soon man. Quick question. What if you used the analog pedal into the Helix effects I/O? I know you can run and control your outboard pedals with Helix, but does it change its sound? Thanks for the great videos.
My old line 6 x3 struggles a little with fuzz sounds too. The original sounds better to me. The digital stuff has its place for people who just need to get in the ballpark....
Dear Chris.
Both sound good but i prefer the arbiter
I think logic one should be more crunked up a bit
vitamin B12, vitamin D, Magnesium and Zinc
❤️✌🏻
That sustain is inhuman
So I am learning the uses aren’t as fuzzy as they were....sorry. Get well.
I run an hxfx through a bluguitar amp1 four cable,,,now i have no complaints about the hxfx effects wise, but,,,,,,,,,,i bought it as it was advertised as all the effects from a helix,,,ok great,,,but and its a big but if like me you love fuzz especially the fuzz face,,,,,,on the hxfx they are shit,,no clean up ,,far too much gain even when set to 0 its more than an anologue fuzz, and why? there is no impedence block on the hxfx like all the other line6 units grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I agree, it's a very frustrating non-feature of the HX Effects. Speaking of which, why can't Line 6 put amps/cabs in the HX effects? Your only choices are the huge pedal-board-replacing Helix, or the tiny HX Stomp. I think an HX Effects sized full-featured Line 6 module would sell like crazy. They should hire me. ;)
👍 👌 💪 🎶 🤘 👌
Digital has gotten closer, but still ain't there yet ... it may never 'get there' (digital emulations may prove 'asymptotic') ...
The fuzz face sounded the worst here.