9 – Effects–Parameter details
90
TASCAM 788 Digital PortaStudio
PITCH SHIFTER
A pitch shifter, allowing har-
monization of the effected sound with the original
(the pitch shifted sounds may sound a little strange in
character—this is not a substitute for real harmony
singing, but can be a very effective special effect). A
delay setting provides additional ‘harmonies” shift-
ing the pitch by the specified amount on each repeat.
FLANGER
A swirling sound, adding depth to the
original sound. At high settings, this can produce a
jet-like “swooshing” sound. The built-in delay adds
more life to this effect.
PHASER
A more gentle effect than the flanger,
which is similar, but a slightly more subtle effect (it’s
difficult to describe these things in words, sometimes
you just have to try them!).
GATE
The signal goes through a
reverberator, and the reverb signal is then passed
through a gate, which opens when it is above a given
level (
threshold
) and closes again after a set time. Try
this with a snare drum sound.
Dynamics processor
When
EFFECT 2
is used as a compressor for chan-
nels and the stereo output, the following settings may
be made:
Parameter
Min.
Max.
Explanation
PITCH
-12
+12
The amount by which the pitch is shifted expressed in semitones (coarse tuning)
FINE
-50
+50
The fine tuning amount, added to the coarse tuning, by which the pitch is shifted
expressed in cents (100 cents = 1 semitone)
FB DELAY
0ms
500ms
The time between repeats
FEEDBACK
0
100
The level of the repeated sounds (in practical terms, this controls the number of audible
repeats—note that a high value here may result in runaway feedback, which is
unpleasant)
Parameter
Min.
Max.
Explanation
RATE
0.1Hz
10.0Hz
The speed of the flanging effect
DEPTH
0
100
The strength of the effect
FB DELAY
0ms
1000ms
The time between repeats
FEEDBACK
0
100
The level of the repeated sounds (in practical terms, this controls the number of audible
repeats—note that a high value here may result in runaway feedback, which is
unpleasant)
Parameter
Min.
Max.
Explanation
RATE
0.1Hz
10.0Hz
The speed of the phasing effect
DEPTH
0
100
The strength of the effect
RESONANCE
0
100
The way in which the filter works inside the effect. High values produce a “wah” effect
STEP
4
16
4, 8, 12 or 16 — affecting the quality and character of the phase effect.
Parameter
Min.
Max.
Explanation
TYPE
Normal
Reverse
The reverb can be reversed (i.e. it starts quietly, and gets louder)
THRESHOLD
-46dB
-16dB
The level at which the gate opens to let the sound through
GATE TIME
0ms
3000ms
The time that the gate stays open before the threshold setting starts to take effect
DENSITY
0
100
The “thickness” of the reverb—low settings provide a sparse sound, and higher values
make a complex, thicker sound.
Parameter
Min.
Max.
Explanation
THRESHOLD
-46dB
-16dB
The level at which the compressor starts to have an effect
ATTACK
0.1ms
10ms
The speed with which the signal is compressed
RATIO
1.0:1
∞
:1
Expressed as a ratio. 1.0:1, 1.1:1, 1.3:1, 1.6:1, 2.0:1, 2.7:1, 4.0:1, 8.0:1,
∞
:1 — 1.0:1
means no compression, and
∞
:1 means full compression.
POST GAIN
0dB
30dB
Makes up any volume lost as the result of the compression settings.