Effect advice sound generation
- Thread starter Securb
- Start date
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
This is for the studio, so we could easily mix in the real thing. Or I could easily do it with a synth. When discussing it we decided to first try to accomplish it musically.
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
It seems like the typical flatline tone could use a little vibrato.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Yeah, I bet that would work well!
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
It's a very flat, unprocessed tone. To be realistic/recognizable you don't want richness or complexity.
No vibrato or modulation of any kind. IMO ringmod - or even tone filtering - would be the opposite of the direction you want to go.
A 1kHz sine wave (test tone generator?) should get you close.
Envelope is very plain and stark too: instant onset and no decay for the short hearbeat blips.
IMO a flatline warning tone should be twice as loud as the regular beats. And perhaps a whole step higher?
No vibrato or modulation of any kind. IMO ringmod - or even tone filtering - would be the opposite of the direction you want to go.
A 1kHz sine wave (test tone generator?) should get you close.
Envelope is very plain and stark too: instant onset and no decay for the short hearbeat blips.
IMO a flatline warning tone should be twice as loud as the regular beats. And perhaps a whole step higher?
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Man, it's not every day I get to bust out "Simulacron and Simulation" knowledge.
The question you must ask yourself is are you aiming to emulate the flatline effect or are you trying to represent it? Are you trying to make a realistic clone of a heart rate monitor or an artistic interpretation of it?
If you try to emulate it, the best you can do is get a sound that most people are going to think is a sample, but if you lose accuracy people are going to be distracted from the point you were trying to make in the first place. However if done well, I think this is more impressive.
Wheras if you try to represent a flatline using a guitar, people will think "Woah! That guitar sounds like heartrate monitor", but in reality it still sounds very much like a guitar. Part of this will likely include determing what makes a heart rate monitor sound like a heart rate monitor, exaggerating that, and applying it to your guitar.
The question you must ask yourself is are you aiming to emulate the flatline effect or are you trying to represent it? Are you trying to make a realistic clone of a heart rate monitor or an artistic interpretation of it?
If you try to emulate it, the best you can do is get a sound that most people are going to think is a sample, but if you lose accuracy people are going to be distracted from the point you were trying to make in the first place. However if done well, I think this is more impressive.
Wheras if you try to represent a flatline using a guitar, people will think "Woah! That guitar sounds like heartrate monitor", but in reality it still sounds very much like a guitar. Part of this will likely include determing what makes a heart rate monitor sound like a heart rate monitor, exaggerating that, and applying it to your guitar.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Many years ago, my band did a song with one line about a pounding heart.
Right afterward, the drummer simulated heartbeats on his kick drum.
Always thought that was cool and fun.
Right afterward, the drummer simulated heartbeats on his kick drum.
Always thought that was cool and fun.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
I seem to recall the heart monitor sound is pretty high pitched. The only time I've gotten something that high up on a guitar when when I pushed the high E string down in between the pickups and it 'fretted' against the side of the bridge pickup. Making it sustain for flatline would require heavy distortion, compression and a loop, most likely, I would think.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
I would say a delay with a freeze button would be the best way to hold a consistent tone.
I've done a similar thing with a delay and an expression pedal that controls feedback and effect level. Something like the end of the solo in 'Limelight'.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
This is interesting. The Ring Modulator didn't really do it for me. I might give this a try. If I can't get this done without buying a new piece of gear, we will just use a sound effect.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
I have the Roland GR33, but if I were to do it with a synth, I would just use my synth, seeing it is the studio. I was talking with the drummer last night. We might just use a sound effect.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
At practice yesterday, we stumbled on it by accident. My guitar feedback at the exact moment we wanted the flatline sound. The guys thought I did it on purpose and were giving me huge kudos. I let them know it was a happy accident, but it sounded perfect. Now it is all about duplicating the feedback without blowing ears out.
