Hints on Using Reverb
Reverb gives presence and spaciousness to any sound, whether solo or background. However, exces-
sively high effects levels and long effects times may make the performance difficult to follow (because
sounds are blurred), or make the rhythm less precise. There is a definite relationship between effect
time and effect level. Here are two hints on using Reverb, based on that relationship.
• If you want to use a long effect time, decrease the effect level to reduce muddiness.
• If you want to use a high effect level, shorten the effect time to reduce muddiness.
Hints on Using Delay
While Reverb creates a lingering resonance, Delay creates quite a different effect. For Delay effects, the
effect time setting can create significant differences in the resulting sound. For example, when playing a
melodic solo using a mallet-type Instrument, an extremely short Delay time can be used to thicken the
sound. On the other hand, a longer repeating Delay can be set to a Delay time of a half-note or quarter-
note that matches the tempo of the song.
If you are listening to the SPD-20 in stereo, it can also be interesting to select effect type 22 or 23 (Panned
Delay) and select a Pan setting of “random.”
Hints on Using Chorus/Flanger
For Chorus/Flanger effects, the Time parameter determines the rate (the speed of modulation).
For Chorus, lower settings of the time parameter will result in a more spacious sound, and higher set-
tings will result in a more tremolo-like effect. Flanging is often used on metallic sounds such as cymbals
or Hi-Hats to produce a frequently-heard effect.
Hints on Making Parameter Settings
Effects provide many possibilities, but if you always use the same heavily-applied Reverb or Chorus, all
the Patches will sound the same. It is important to choose effect settings that are appropriate for the
song or suited to the role of the Instrument (solo, backing, special effects, etc.).
The FX SEND in the SOUND parameter group allows you to set the effect depth independently for the
Instrument assigned to each pad, so it is possible, for instance, to apply flanging only to the cymbals. In
the case of Reverb, higher settings of FX SEND will create the impression of the Instrument being
played further away, so you might set the FX SEND parameter to a different value for each Instrument
to create spatial contrast. By utilizing the Pan setting (the stereo position) and the Chorus effect, you can
control a vast performance space.
Hints on Not Using Effects
Speaking of contrast, it can also be very “effective” to not use effects. Some possibilities are as follows.
• To apply effects to certain Instruments and not to others.
• To switch to a non-effect Patch at a strategic moment.
As an example of the first possibility, you might try using an ethnic percussion Instrument—such as a
surdo—without any effects for a feeling of authenticity. As an example of the second possibility, you
could switch from a Patch with deep Reverb to a Patch with no effects (or vice versa) to reinforce musi-
cal movement or development within a song.
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