Edsca Migraine version 0.5 (beta)

Effect machine for Jeskola Buzz

Type: Distortion / Experimental Stereo Waveshaper

What it does:

This effect can be used as a versatile distortion effect, capable of everything from mild fuzz to hellish roars. However, it can also be used in a more subtle way, to alter the character of a sound. It can add a unique kind of modulation to synth sounds and other harmonic signals. Because of the clipping and phase cancellation effects, it can also act as a compressor (although not a very ‘clean’ one!) and even as a gate.

How to use it:

Connect up the machine as normal. Set the In Gain, Dry Out and Wet Out to appropriate levels. Then play with the other sliders until you find a sound you like.

This machine has fourteen waveshapers, named Cheb2 to Cheb8 and Leg2 to Leg8. Each has a "Send" slider, which controls how much of the dry signal will be sent to the waveshaper, and a "Ret" slider, which controls the amplitude of the wet signal returning from the waveshaper. These fourteen waveshapers make up the character of the effect.

In addition, you have the option of hard or soft clipping on input (for soft clipping, set the "In -> Soft" slider to 1; for hard, set it to 0) and output (via the "Out -> Soft" slider).

Remember that if you set the waveshaper return sliders (Cheb2 Ret, Cheb3 Ret, etc) too high, the signal may begin to clip. This will diminish the dynamic range of the signal, which need not be a problem if you are using the effect as distortion; however, it could be a problem if you are using the effect in a more subtle way.

Notes:

- The sliders may not behave as you expect! For example, turning up the return amount from one of the waveshapers may make the overall sound quieter. This is because the waveshapers are capable of altering the phase of the signal; consequently, they can '‘cancel each other out".
- Try out the effect on lots of types of sound. It works really well as distortion for drums, but it can also affect the character of a sound in more subtle ways (for an example, try it on a sine wave).
- If you’ve hit ‘random’ and you don’t get any output noise, chances are the return from Leg7 is turned up. This little beast tends to whack the whole signal to DC level (which the DC remover then trims to silence). Be very gentle with Leg7.
- The more waveshapers are in use, the more CPU the effect will use (although there is a pretty big CPU premium for having it on at all). Turn off a waveshaper by setting either its send or its return level to 0%.

Known ‘bugs’:

- The waveshapers called "Cheb5" and "Leg5" don’t do anything! I’m still trying to work out why; if anyone wants to proofread my code and let me know, please feel free. :)
- It clicks quite a lot sometimes. This is because of DC problems inherent in the algorithms used. There is a built-in DC offset corrector, which is what causes the clicks. If any developers want to suggest a solution to the clicking problem, please let me know.
- It takes tons of CPU. :( I’ve optimised the code as much as I could, but it’s still a CPU-sucker. Again, if anyone wants to suggest improvements, please feel free.

If you find any bugs please mail me at machine@emaajne.freeserve.co.uk.

© 2001 Edsca. The machine (filename: "Edsca Migraine.dll"), this help file and the source code may not be used to make a profit in any capacity without prior written permission from the author (Edward Earl). That includes the source code. I am not responsible for the effects of this file upon your system, WHATEVER they may be: you use it at your own risk!!