The Do's and Don'ts of sound effects

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-- The Do's and Don'ts of sound effects

Posted by Tissimo on Jun-09-2004 00:46:

The Do's and Don'ts of sound effects

Just a beginner here asking for some advice on the Do's and Don'ts of sound effects. I've got the numark PPD01 which has some built in Alessis effects. Now I know you're suppose to be creative, but are there "appropriate" times to use a certain effect and times when you shouldn't be touching those effects?

The PPD01 comes with flanger, bandpass filter, auto pan, auto cut, lowpass auto cut, phase shifter and varicut.

Which of these are appropriate for trance and which are meant for scratching only?

When's your favorite time to use these? Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

Posted by Max Thomson on Jun-09-2004 00:50:

Dude experiment and you'll learn what to do and what not to do. Just make sure you're not flanging/phasing/fucking with the track every breakdown cuz that shit gets repetitive FAST. Be as creative as you want, but remember that "FX should be your secret weapon and not your constant companion" (stolen from 'How to DJ Right' book)

Posted by Dervish on Jun-09-2004 01:35:

I've got that same mixer. I use the filters much more than the effects really.

But I'd say use flange when you recon it'll sound cool sounds obvious.... but yeah...

The bandpass I've found handy for breaking up a repetative prog track. Little flare on the cross every 4 you'll find certain bits it's best to start and exit from the BP. You can use it to create your own breakdown too. It's hard to describe how though. Sorta take the forth (as you were) out then keep going but vary the speed (qicker then faster flares) then get tighter and faster then take the cross back and let it exit on beat.

Phase is ok for mixing makes some songs quite seamless (just use it to fade between tracks rather than an effect).

The autocut thing if you blip the cross to the other side so your comming back across (nothing playing on the other channel) you can change the freqency (of the cuts not an eq type thing) I like to start with a crazy fast quick cut then take it back (using the crossfade curve adjust knob) so the cuts get longer and longer. It is kinda hard to get the cuts to happen exactly when you want tho.

Posted by 531.am on Jun-09-2004 03:47:

use the effects, just don't whore the crap out of it to the point where you're smacking the button every little second that goes by i.e. flanger.

Posted by Tissimo on Jun-10-2004 00:50:

Thanks Dervish for your advice!! That should help get me started with experimenting.

Anyone else with similar tips?

Thanks!

Posted by Tony Morello on Jun-10-2004 17:27:

i say don't even touch them til your beatmatching skills are better
worry about getting beatmatching down then worry about how to use effects
and with effects, less is more
the less you use them, the more of an impact they'll have when you use them

Posted by DJAntSmith on Jun-11-2004 09:59:

Just don't become DJ Flanger!

Posted by Psiweaver on Jun-12-2004 19:11:

The thing about effects is mess around with them in your own home till your comfortable with how they all respond and you'll grow to like certain ones and dislike others then just use a very sharp effect every once in a while so that its kind of a surprise when the effect comes in, much much more effective that way.

Posted by Boomer187 on Jun-12-2004 19:18:

quote:
Originally posted by DJAntSmith
Just don't become DJ Flanger!

ha, that happens soo many times. I remember that happened to me for a bit...

until I recorded the mix. then I realised it sounded like utter poo.