Modern music using the guitar as one of the main accompaniment or leading instruments cannot do without real-time effects on it. For this, the usual “lotions” for electric guitars were previously used. But over time, they transformed into music processors and even entire virtual studios, which are widely used in recording parties and in concert performances.
"Guitars" for an electric guitar: the first attempts at sound processing
Initially, a clean-sounding electric guitar was an instrument that conquered the world in a short time. But its sound began to not suit many. To add to her popularity, many musicians and producers began experimenting with effects. It is believed that the founder of the first effect was Les Paul, who later became the founder of the design of the classical guitar form, which is now most widely used to create Gibson guitars.
The essence of the effect was that he simply took two reel tape recorders and simply passed sound through them, thus obtaining a delay effect, today called a delay (from the English Delay). This happened only in the 60s of the last century (although the first attempts were made in the 40s). And since then, the effects for electric guitars have undergone many changes.
Effects
Rock music did not remain aloof from the innovations and opened the world to its vision of effects. Over time, a distortion effect appeared, first called Fuzz, and then transformed into Overdrive and Distortion.
If anyone remembers, back in the Soviet Union in music stores you could find lotions for electric guitars in the form of a pedal with several buttons (Fuzz). The sound, of course, was dirty and completely unlike what the western rockers performed. Nevertheless, all of our musicians began precisely with this. The sound was akin to the “zzz” sound, the distortion looked like “zhzhzh”, and overdrive - to “ppr”.
With the advent of processors, the problem of using effects one by one disappeared by itself, but among all that guitarists use today, there are several main ones:
- Overdrive, Distortion (Fuzz is even outdated);
- reverb and delay effect;
- chorus and flanger;
- Wah-Wah ("wow-wow", or, as it is also called, "Quaker");
- Pre-amp;
- compressor;
- equalizer;
- octaver;
- harmonizer, etc.
Types of pedals
By themselves, pickups for electric guitars could not provide proper sound (due to market requirements), therefore, the processing of the sound of the outgoing signal had to be carried out not on the instrument itself, but using external means. In this case, not even a direct external connection to the mixing console was used. So, the pedal for the electric guitar and the so-called combo came in first place.
It is a kind of preliminary amplifier with the ability to adjust the sound parameters that the guitarist wants to hear at the output (on the concert portal). It is understood that custom effects go through this device first. But on the other hand, the squealing of a driving guitar when starting up a dynamo is made with its help. The pickups respond to the speaker. For the electric guitar, this effect was such a find that it was first applied by Jimmy Hendrix, and then all the other rockers.
Electric guitar combo
Now a few words about signal amplification. The electric guitar combo has a dual function. On the one hand, you can adjust the sound quality, on the other - it is also a monitor, the sound from which the guitarist hears on stage.
Of course, overload like distortion can be set on this device, just by setting the volume control to maximum. Similar actions are performed on the central mixer. But why do such things if you can use “lotions” for electric guitars or guitar processors that have now become especially popular? They combine all the main effects.
The development of sound processing technology
At the current stage of the development of guitar sound, it is worth noting separately the fact that today all the "lotions" for an electric guitar can be divided by type of electrics. The main ones are pedals on transistors, microcircuits and lamps. The latter, by the way, provide a more “warm” analog sound, which is considered a priori in the world of music.
But since the advent of software modules embedded in guitar processors based on internal software, evolution has taken a new path.
"Iron" and software "lotions"
In the modern computer world, the question of what is needed for an electric guitar is only to install the appropriate software.
You can emulate a real guitar using VST plugins like RealLPC, and create and use effects using Guitar Rig. Do you want an output like Kirk Hammat from Metallica? Nothing is simpler - just include the template you want. Software "lotions" for electric guitars allow you to reproduce such a sound, as they say, one to one.
But all experts note that the hardware, no matter how perfect the software, sounds nevertheless more realistic. Programs have only one drawback - they build sound, fitting it, so to speak, to perfect sound. But in the studio, when recording, the guitarist can use other tricks that no program that can recreate the sound of a real guitar can repeat.
Instead of a total
What to buy a guitarist? Earlier, “lotions” for BOSS electric guitars were very popular, but even now they have not lost their relevance. DigiTech, Vox StombLab, Zoom - this is not the most complete list of the most popular manufacturers. In general, what is needed for an electric guitar? Drive, a little chorus and volume in the form of a reverb. It seems that most guitarists will agree with this formulation of the question. In addition, today you can buy a professional pedal for an electric guitar quite inexpensively.
What to choose? Here you will have to build on the style of music that is supposed to be performed, because one is suitable for heavy metal, and completely different for funk. And the sequence of connecting effects and their subsequent processing can be completely different.
Finally, it is also worth noting the ease of switching between effects. For example, the legendary Brian May prefers to use separate pedals mounted on one deck. Modern guitarists prefer processors on which you can set automatic switching of processing in a predetermined time period in advance. Well, to whom it is more convenient.
Software tools are also good, but they look somehow too ideal. But there should be a highlight. And alas, none of the currently known programs can recreate it.