The Effectual Lexicon

[warwick.hoy]

Formerly titled Effects Subforum Dictionary

I've seen the "dictionary" that is more generalized in a bass guitar context (I think in the basses subforum), but nothing effects specific. I searched vocabulary and dictionary in the FX subforum but didn't find anything like this. If I missed it,...many apologies. Hope you're not to miffed.

Call it A Compilation of Terms to Describe the Vernacular of the Effects Junkie.

Just looking around some of the threads here in the FX subforum; a lot of terms seem to be standard but at the same time slightly ambiguous as well as subjective. To a casual observer or FX noob (such as myself) a lot of the adjectives used to describe effects are confusing, as are some of the technical terms.

I'm not sure if I'm the only one that is baffled by some of these terms so I though maybe we could compile all the words and phrases associated with effects. I don't have any definitions to contribute myself; so I'm asking the friendly veterans to contribute. Initially I would like to ask you to define some words; subjectively, objectively and otherwise, that I find a little ambiguous. I would also encourage other confused parties to contribute words that they would like to have defined as well as esteemed veterans impart their knowledge of the vernacular upon us. I'd say serious and lighthearted are equally welcome

Some of these terms may have obvious definitions, but I've never seen or heard them explained,...so perhaps we can give them a little concreteness, and lift some of the fog of ambiguity that may surround these terms.

Here Goes:

acoustic resonance; the tendency of an acoustic system to absorb more energy when it is forced or driven at a frequency that matches one of its own natural frequencies of vibration (its resonance frequency) than it does at other frequencies. [1]

broke; Term used to describe the financial situation of the average effects junkie. Also can be used to describe the condition of an effects pedal that has been unsuccessfully modified or has frustrated the effects junkie to point of throwing it across a room, stage or street.

βΘИΞКЯŲŜĦÏИĞ [sic]; The source of much controversy; and originally coined by TBer Danial Tulip, bonekrushing is the ability of an effect to allow a speaker to turn a cow into ground beef if a cow is placed in front of said speaker. The usual signs of a BoneKrusher are the inability to hear (due to loud volumes when playing), and a penchant for "stoner" music.

BPF/Band Pass Filter; A combination of a High-Pass and Low-Pass Filter. Passes signals within a certain range, and reduces the amplitude (lowers the signal strength) of signals outside that range.

buffer; An active circuit (requires power like a battery) that lowers output impedance. Nearly all pedals contain a buffer when engaged. All active basses contain a buffer.

capacitor; A small analog electronic component that stores energy until the circuit tells it to release that energy. Also used for routing energy around a particular path in a circuit.

CV/Control Voltage; An analog method of controlling synthesizers or drum machines with external sequencers and works in conjunction with a gate. CV controls the pitch of a note. It was replaced by MIDI which is easier to program, and has the capability for polyphony.

DAW/Digita Audio Workstation; An electronic device or software that allows the user to record, edit, and playback digital audio.

envelope filter; A filter that changes its EQ-like effect on the signal in proportion to the amplitude (strength) of each note you play.

envelope follower; A circuit that responds to the amplitude of your signal. May control any kind of parameter of any effect, in theory.

filter; A special type of EQ. Very broad subject, many kinds of filter.

FET/Field Effect Transistor; A small electronic component, a type of transistor, typically used for amplification (including boost/gain into distortion). Used in FX because they can work/sound a little bit like a tube.

frequency response; The range of frequencies that a circuit will pass at full strength and without distortion.

gain; A measure of the ability of a circuit (often an amplifier) to increase the power or amplitude of a signal. It is usually defined as the mean ratio of the signal output of a system to the signal input of the same system. [1]

Gate; An electronic device or software that controls volume. There are many types, but the most common allows a signal to pass that is above the threshold. When the signal level falls below the threshold, the gate closes and no signal is heard. This is similar to a highpass filter, but no filtering is involved.

homophonic; Chords

HPF/High-Pass Filter; A filter that passes signals above the cutoff frequency, and reduces the amplitude (lowers the signal strength) of frequencies below the cutoff frequency. It is the opposite of a Low-Pass Filter.

IC/integrated circuit; a chip with more than one transistor on it, ranging anywhere from 2 to millions, built onto a single piece of silicon. Can be used to perform any countless combination of operations, such as logic, clocking or gain.

Note that IC's may be analog or digital, or digital but used in an analog fashion, or analog but used in a digital fashion. Some people look inside a pedal and see a bunch of chips and figure that it must be digital, but that's not always the case.

LFO/Low Frequency Oscillator; An oscillator is a circuit that puts out a waveform like a sine wave, sawtooth wave, or square wave. At high speeds those waves sound like notes or tones; at slow speeds they sound like repeating patterns, like a tremolo for example. An LFO is a Low Frequency Oscillator, which runs at slow speeds.

LPF/Low Pass Filter; A filter that lets the lows pass through but not the highs (depending on the "cutoff frequency" it is set at).

MIDI/Musical Instrument Digital Interface; A protocol designed in 1982 that allows computers, synthesizers, midi controllers, sound cards, samplers, and drum machines to communicate the pitch and intensity of notes, control signals for volume, vibrato, stereo panning, etc, and clocking signals to set the tempo.

monophonic; usually used to describe an effect that can only track one note cleanly.

monophony; one voice

opamp; An amplifier with two inputs and one output that can perform an operation. Usually used in combination with a resistor to produce gain in a circuit.

polyphonic; usually used to describe an effect that can track two or more notes

polyphony; Two or more independent voices

saturation; When the signal going into a component reaches an amplitude that is higher than the component can pass cleanly, without compression or distortion. Sometimes used to describe compression or distortion themselves.

sequencer; A device that sends control information to synthesizers or drum machines. This control information can be analog (CV) or digital (MIDI). In more recent years, sequencers have become synonymous with digital audio workstations as they have started to include the options to record, edit, and playback.

signal-to-noise ratio; often abbreviated SNR or S/N, signal-to-noise ratio compares the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. The higher the ratio, the less obtrusive the background noise is. [1] can also be used to describe the ratio of chatty, off topic post to relevant, on topic posts in internet effects forums.

tone stack; A type of EQ. usually refers to the tone controls of an amp or pedal.

transistor; A small component usually used for amplification in a circuit. [2]

VCA/Voltage-Controlled Amplifier; Also known as a voltage-gain amplifier is an electronic amplifier that varies its gain depending on a control voltage. [1]



.....

I will edit more terms into this post as they become defined.


~w.h

EDIT: 07/30/09,...Thanks bongomania, bigchiefbc, Andy Walhor, TheMutt, Swift713 and Daniel; you aren't fooling anybody with the H.P. Lovecraftian name, Tulip.

Sources outside of Talkbass

[1]Wikipedia
[2]Aiken Amplification

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~Buffer

An active circuit (requires power like a battery) that lowers output impedance. Nearly all pedals contain a buffer when engaged. All active basses contain a buffer.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~Capacitor

A small analog electronic component that stores energy until the circuit tells it to release that energy. Also used for routing energy around a particular path in a circuit. One of the key parts of a simple filter.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~Filter

A type of EQ. Very broad subject, many kinds of filter. Essentially it is a circuit for adjusting the level of specific frequency ranges, but it can get more complicated, with resonance (feedback) and fixed or dynamic control, etc.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~Envelope Filter

A filter that changes its EQ-like effect on the signal in proportion to the amplitude (strength) of each note you play.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~Envelope Follower

A circuit that responds to the amplitude of your signal. May control any kind of parameter of any effect, in theory.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~Frequency Response

The range of frequencies that a circuit will pass at full strength and without distortion.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~FET

A small electronic component, a type of transistor, typically used for amplification (including boost/gain into distortion). Used in FX because they can work/sound a little bit like a tube.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~LFO/Low Frequency Oscillator

An oscillator is a circuit that puts out a waveform like a sine wave, sawtooth wave, or square wave. At high speeds those waves sound like notes or tones; at slow speeds they sound like repeating patterns, like a tremolo for example. An LFO is a Low Frequency Oscillator, which runs at slow speeds.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~LPF/Low Pass Filter

A filter that lets the lows pass through but not the highs (depending on the "cutoff frequency" it is set at).

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~Saturation

When the signal going into a component reaches an amplitude that is higher than the component can pass cleanly, without compression or distortion. Sometimes used to describe compression or distortion themselves.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

~Transistor

A small component usually used for amplification in a circuit.

[bongomania]

The words "filter" and "saturation" practically require a fat textbook to define them properly. The definitions I gave are just a basic idea.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by bongomania

The words "filter" and "saturation" practically require a fat textbook to define them properly. The definitions I gave are just a basic idea.

Saturation is what I'm most curious about and what has me wanting to do something on the vernacular of FX. The word saturation itself seems so set in stone yet when talking about it's physical uses, but when you use at as adjective for musical and photographic properties it can get a little esoteric. Can you saturate a circuit? Is that how "wet" a distortion/overdrive/fuzz sounds? Is that how extreme the distortion/OD sounds?

I see the word thrown around a lot, but wonder if the person using really knows what it means.

Also; Thanks for the contribution bongo.

[TheMutt]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I've seen the one that is more generalized in a bass guitar context, but nothing effects specific. I searched vocabulary and dictionary in the FX subforum but didn't find anything like this. If I missed it,...many apologies. Hope you're not to miffed.

Call it A Compilation of Terms to Describe the Vernacular of the Effects Junkie.

Just looking around some of the threads here in the FX subforum; a lot of terms seem to be standard but at the same time slightly ambiguous as well as subjective. To a casual observer or FX noob (such as myself) a lot of the adjectives used to describe effects are confusing, as are some of the technical terms.

I'm not sure if I'm the only one that is baffled by some of these terms so I though maybe we could compile all the words and phases associated with effects. I don't have any definitions to contribute so I'm asking the friendly veterans to contribute. Initially I would like to ask you to define some words; subjectively, objectively and otherwise, that I find a little ambiguous. I would also encourage other confused parties to contribute words that they would like to have defined. I'd say serious and lighthearted are equally welcome

Some of these terms may have obvious definitions, but I've never seen or heard them explained,...so perhaps we can give them a little concreteness, and lift some of the fog of ambiguity that may surround these terms.

Here Goes:

~Buffer

~Capacitor

~Envelope Filter

~Envelope Follower

~Frequency Response

~FET

~LFO/Low Frequency Oscillator

~LPF/Low Pass Filter

~Saturation

~Transistor


.....

I can edit more terms into this post as they become defined.

Thanks in advance
~w.h

Great idea for a thread! I'm no EE (So I'm prepared to be corrected ), but:

BPF/Band-Pass Filter - A combination of a High-Pass and Low-Pass Filter. Passes
signals within a certain range, and reduces the amplitude (lowers the signal strength) of signals outside that range.

Capicitor - stores electricity through the use of a pair of conductors and a non-conductive layer separating them called a dielectric. The ability of a capicitor to hold its electric current, or capacitance, is mesured in farads.



FET - abbreviation for a Field-Effect-Transistor (FET), of which there are many types including the MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor FET). They are used in place of tubes for amplification where a high impedance and low current is a requirement.

HPF/High-Pass Filter - A filter that passes signals above the cutoff frequency, and reduces the amplitude (lowers the signal strength) of frequencies below the cutoff frequency. It is the opposite of a Low-Pass Filter.

LPF/Low-Pass Filter - A filter that passes signals below the cutoff frequency, and reduces the amplitude (lowers the signal strength) of frequencies above the cutoff frequency. It is the opposite of a High-Pass Filter.

Transistor - A semiconductive elecronic device that is used to amplify or switch electronic signals.

I'd love to know what people mean when they say that a filter is "wet, drippy, or slurpy". My understanding has been that this refers either to the resonance (another one I'd love explained) or the depth of the filter.

Edit: Wow you totally beat me to it Bongo!

Further edit... typos are fun

[Andy Walhor]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Call it A Compilation of Terms to Describe the Vernacular of the Effects Junkie.

May I suggest, The Effectual Lexicon?

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I's love to know what people mean when they say that a filter is "wet, drippy, or slurpy". My understanding has been that this refers either to the resonance (another one I'd love explained) or the depth of the filter.

Everyone's got a different personal interpretation of words like that. My interpretation (the only correct one ) is that wetness and slurpyness are related primarily to resonance. Resonance is a specific kind of feedback. Essentially it means "a specific frequency that amplifies itself when feeding back, while other frequencies around it are not". IOW you can get more-or-less full-range feedback by shoving a mic in front of a speaker, but resonance is where one note feeds back more than all others. Like a "wolf note" in singing or a "boomy note" from your rig when gigging in a small club. Resonance can also be achieved electronically (not just acoustically) and can be designed in to a circuit for intentional use.

[warwick.hoy]

@TheMutt, your post was actually very helpful.

EDIT: Somewhat off topic,...I've been checking out this site as well.

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/

particularly here

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_8/1.html

[Nyarlathotep]

I think you forgot "BoneKrushing": The ability of an effect to allow a speaker to turn a cow into ground beef if a cow is placed in front of said speaker. The usual signs of a BoneKrusher are the inability to hear (due to loud volumes when playing), and a penchant for "stoner" music.

Honestly, im kidding tho. Good idea, but its midnight and Im wide awake after work, and I just feel like being silly

[warwick.hoy]

There is defenitely a place for lightheartedness DT. if you post that crazy font you used I can quote it and will include your definition.

[Nyarlathotep]

Thank the gods for thunderscreech's sig:
"βΘИΞКЯŲŜĦÏИĞ"

[warwick.hoy]

how about a definition for opamp. Wiki's seems a little to technical/broad/non musical.

maybe also integrated circuit. Same problem as with opamp.

[bigchiefbc]

opamp - An amplifier with two inputs and one outputs, that can perform an operation. Usually used in combination with a resistor to produce gain in a circuit.

integrated circuit - a chip with more than one transistor on it, ranging anywhere from 2 to millions, built onto a single piece of silicon. Can be used to perform any countless combination of operations, such as logic, clocking or gain.

[bongomania]

^^^ Yes. Put in much more primitive terms, IC = chip, opamp = chip that amplifies.

Note that IC's may be analog or digital, or digital but used in an analog fashion, or analog but used in a digital fashion. Some people look inside a pedal and see a bunch of chips and figure that it must be digital, but that's not always the case.

[warwick.hoy]

Updated Thanks bigcheifbc and again bongo.

Perhaps a definition for gain structure

[warwick.hoy]

How about also definitions of sine, square, triangle and sawtooth wave forms. I've searched definitions, but they aren't music specific, and a little too technical.

[bongomania]

They are hard to define in words that are musical and not technical. The best thing is to use a synthesizer or other electronic tone generator that can produce specific selected waveforms, and watch them on an oscilloscope while listening to them (for higher speeds) or watch on the scope while listening to a filter or VCA being controlled by the osc. at slower speeds.

A simpler (but not as fully informative) approach is to use a tremolo or filter pedal that has those waves as options. You can hear how they are different, at least in LFO use.

Really they have no meaning until/unless you use them and you develop an internal/mental understanding of the connection between how a wave is shaped and what it "does".

Study the concept of waveforms in general. Learn the relationship between frequency and amplitude of a wave, and the relationship between an electrical wave and a soundwave in air. Then observe what happens when you change the shape of the wave by adding another wave, or by clipping the wave, etc.

[warwick.hoy]

I was afraid of that. Too much synth world not enough FX world. I did add VCA though.

What about Control Voltage.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I was afraid of that. Too much synth world not enough FX world. I did add VCA though.

What about Control Voltage.

self quote bump.

[TheMutt]

CV or Control Voltage - an analog method of controlling synthesizers or drum machines with external sequencers and works in conjunction with a gate. CV controls the pitch of a note. It was replaced by MIDI which is easier to program, and has the capability for polyphony.

Digita Audio Workstation (DAW) - an electronic device or software that allows the user to record, edit, and playback digital audio.

Gate - an electronic device or software that controls volume. There are many types, but the most common allows a signal to pass that is above the threshold. When the signal level falls below the threshold, the gate closes and no signal is heard. This is similar to a highpass filter, but no filtering is involved.

Homophonic - chords

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) - a protocol designed in 1982 that allows computers, synthesizers, midi controllers, sound cards, samplers, and drum machines to communicate the pitch and intensity of notes, control signals for volume, vibrato, stereo panning, etc, and clocking signals to set the tempo.

Monophonic - one voice

Polyphonic - two or more independent voices

Sequencer - A device that sends control information to synthesizers or drum machines. This control information can be analog (CV) or digital (MIDI). In more recent years, sequencers have become synonymous with digital audio workstations as they have started to include the options to record, edit, and playback.