assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
- Thread starter edgie
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GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
Boss OD-1 and SD-1 usel asymmetrical clipping. A tubescreamer uses symmetrical clipping. You can't really base a comparison on those pedals though because they use different components and the tubescreamer mixes distorted sounds with clean signal. When I was in university I did some experimentation with DSP boards and distortion and found that I liked asymmetric clipping better. It was distorted, but still had some pretty good clarity.
Boss OD-1 and SD-1 usel asymmetrical clipping. A tubescreamer uses symmetrical clipping. You can't really base a comparison on those pedals though because they use different components and the tubescreamer mixes distorted sounds with clean signal. When I was in university I did some experimentation with DSP boards and distortion and found that I liked asymmetric clipping better. It was distorted, but still had some pretty good clarity.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
Oh yeah, while I remember . . . the ProCo Rat uses symmetrical distortion as well . . . if you're really curious, you can get a distortion pedal, a schematic and mess with it. Most distortion pedals work by using two diodes to control distortion . . . make the two diodes identical for symmetrical distortion, make them different for asymetrical. I'm sure someone else on here could give you a better explanation!
Oh yeah, while I remember . . . the ProCo Rat uses symmetrical distortion as well . . . if you're really curious, you can get a distortion pedal, a schematic and mess with it. Most distortion pedals work by using two diodes to control distortion . . . make the two diodes identical for symmetrical distortion, make them different for asymetrical. I'm sure someone else on here could give you a better explanation!
shredaholic
New member
Re: assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
If you convert a pedal with symmetrial clipping to assymetrical, you will lose a bit of gain, but you'll have more dynamics, touch response and the feel of the distortion will be a bit more like a tube amp.
If you convert a pedal with symmetrial clipping to assymetrical, you will lose a bit of gain, but you'll have more dynamics, touch response and the feel of the distortion will be a bit more like a tube amp.
Re: assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
Ok, so I guess that explains why in my cmatmods tube slammer deluxe, when I place the switch to assymetrical, it kinda thins out but it's got more headroom compared to the symmetrical mode which sounded thicker but a bit boxy. Thanks a lot. That OD-1/SD-1 vs TS comparison clears things up.
Ok, so I guess that explains why in my cmatmods tube slammer deluxe, when I place the switch to assymetrical, it kinda thins out but it's got more headroom compared to the symmetrical mode which sounded thicker but a bit boxy. Thanks a lot. That OD-1/SD-1 vs TS comparison clears things up.
Stevo
Tonus Maximus Pacificas
Re: assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
Remembering from my electronics classes, asymmetrical clipping relates audibly to a softer clip. It's less harsh - more harmonic. Theoretically, it just happens at the peak of the wave form - not the whole thing.
If you draw a picture of a waveform and its harmonics, you can pretty much see how the wave form will clip. Tube amps are known for soft clipping. Solid state amps make the rounded waveform more rectangular and less harmonic.
Remembering from my electronics classes, asymmetrical clipping relates audibly to a softer clip. It's less harsh - more harmonic. Theoretically, it just happens at the peak of the wave form - not the whole thing.
If you draw a picture of a waveform and its harmonics, you can pretty much see how the wave form will clip. Tube amps are known for soft clipping. Solid state amps make the rounded waveform more rectangular and less harmonic.
devastone
New member
Re: assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
You are right about tube clipping vs ss clipping and the nature of tubes can be more assymetrical that ss, but assymetrical clipping as applied to pedals means that you are clipping the + and - side of the waveform at different levels. The SD-1 uses one clipping diode on one side and 2 diodes in series on the other side so the clipping voltage for that side is double the single diode side. This tends to bring out more even order harmonics and adds a very slight octave to the tone.
Not really, it clips the whole signal just like the Boss ods. Of course, if you have the gain set low enough on any of them, you won't get much clipping.
You are right about tube clipping vs ss clipping and the nature of tubes can be more assymetrical that ss, but assymetrical clipping as applied to pedals means that you are clipping the + and - side of the waveform at different levels. The SD-1 uses one clipping diode on one side and 2 diodes in series on the other side so the clipping voltage for that side is double the single diode side. This tends to bring out more even order harmonics and adds a very slight octave to the tone.
Not really, it clips the whole signal just like the Boss ods. Of course, if you have the gain set low enough on any of them, you won't get much clipping.
Stevo
Tonus Maximus Pacificas
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
I learn somthing new every day . . . I was under the impression that they weren't true distortion pedals because they mixed a clean signal in. Must've been wrong, sorry!
I learn somthing new every day . . . I was under the impression that they weren't true distortion pedals because they mixed a clean signal in. Must've been wrong, sorry!
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: assymetrical vs. symmetrical clipping
Gods lol I may have to write this in Danish
There is clean signal in overdrives.
But I am not going to explain it in English.
Niels
Gods lol I may have to write this in Danish
There is clean signal in overdrives.
But I am not going to explain it in English.
Niels
