Help. I'm Confused On How Clean & Dirt Mix

[LongHairFreak]

I didn't want to highjack another thread (Bi-Amping does anyone do it?), but in there BillFitzMaurice says "...since both effects and distortion affect only above 100Hz...".

Is this to say that when I introduce dirt into my signal, under 100Hz is clean?
Could this possibly be the reason I've not yet been satisfied with a pedal with a clean/dirty split? ...because that Hz split is too high above 100Hz and it doesn't sound natural to me?

That second question is pure conjecture on your part I know. However, I'm considering obtaining a split/mix pedal that has a variable Xover for that division point and after reading the above statement from Bill, I need opinions.

Thanks TB...and Bill.

[JimmyM]

bumping this thread. correct me if i'm wrong here, but i believe that he means that you aren't able to hear effects and distortion working in those frequencies because they're too low to have actual tone.

[gillento]

Originally Posted by LongHairFreak

... I'm considering obtaining a split/mix pedal that has a variable Xover for that division point and after reading the above statement from Bill, I need opinions.

Thanks TB...and Bill.

Have a look at SFX: http://www.sfxsound.co.uk/mainpage.asp?page=xm

The guy (Max, I think) is a regular poster around here as well.

[LongHairFreak]

Yep. I've already got an awesome preamp from Max and it's his X&M I speak of. It sounds as if that pedal will certainly be more flexible than any other dirt/clean mix pedal that I've tried/owned. Though I'm very pleased with my DHA VT2 Twin-Bass OD, I've just not been completely pleased with what any of those other pedals did with it.

So, I'm just trying to figure why that might be. You know, is it because I don't like where the particular Xover points are on some mix pedals? Or is it that I just don't like a clean/dirt mix altogether? After I read the above quote from BFM, I thought that might be more information I should consider; therefore I need to understand that part of a clean/dirt mix.

[Mr. Foxen]

It isn't really to do with crossover points (unless you deliberately introduce a crossover/blend, which some pedals do), it is more because the sound of distortion is due to harmonics, and when something distorts, the harmonics produced are higher up the frequency range. So if you put a 100hz sine into distortion, and filter everything above 100hz out, it will still be a clean sound, all the distortion products are higher, but if you filtered out the 100hz, you'd still be able to recognise it as a 100hz tone, as the distortion products will be arranged in such a way your brain will figure it.

[rpsands]

You sound like a man who needs to get a crossover and try some stuff.

When I was using a blues junior on top of my bass rig for dirt, I used an xover around 200hz from my bass pod IIRC, and that sounded pretty good.

[LongHairFreak]

o do with crossover points (unless you deliberately introduce a crossover/blend, which some pedals do), it is more because the sound of distortion is due to harmonics, and when something distorts, the harmonics produced are higher up the frequency range. So if you put a 100hz sine into distortion, and filter everything above 100hz out, it will still be a clean sound, all the distortion products are higher, but if you filtered out the 100hz, you'd still be able to recognise it as a 100hz tone, as the distortion products will be arranged in such a way your brain will figure it.
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Interesting. After all these years, you'd think that'd be something I would already know.

Thanks rpsands, that's what I'm thinking of doing.

[rpsands]

If it helps, I had a lot of fun toying with the blues junior and that bass pod XT live. The XT live can be had very cheaply and apply a lot of different effects and such. Good way to learn about that stuff.