Here is an idea. I was watching these really cool synth videos on youtube. The author uses a weird effect on post production to “age” his videos. They look and “sound” like 30 year old analog videos. Check them out here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Jexus#play/uploads/6/FfhnF2SZTzE  You can really see what I mean at 30 seconds in to it.

Anyway, I emailed him and he said he does that in post production. I also noticed that Boards Of Canada get similar sounds. Also in post production.

Then I thought, wouldn’t it be cool to be able to get these sounds in real time. Then it dawned on me, it could be done with a digital/software based pedal. And only EHX could do it right. Apple Final Cut has this, just watch the above youtube video.

Here is a basic description:

The pedal adds magnetic tape artifacts. You can have a few knobs to control this.

1. the ammount of artifacts. When the knob is at the left it’s a brand new analog tape. As you turn the knob to the right you age the tape. Maybe as much as 30 years or more.

2. Another knob adjust tape wobble. That’s the slowing and speeding of old analog tapes. Also tape fluttering.

3. 3rd know is magnetic tape head saturation. Which is like compression. The BOSS RE-20 Space Echo emulates this. I’m sure EHX will do it better.

Regardless of the ammount you set, the atrifacts and wobble would have to be random. So it doesn’t sound like something looping.

Maybe even in the same pedal you can put Vinyl pops and crackles. With knobs for amount (age), speed and volume. Etc…

You can age your “sound”!!!!!

There was a Mod FX (Alesis) unit slated, but never released, that was going to do this.

Awful sounding units anyhow…

That’s because Alesis sucks! lol.

EHX Rules!

Add in some tape distortion and bands like No Age and Wavves would eat a pedal like that up. 

Speaking of Wavves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF9Tu35-pBo

Well, thinking about this more, all this pedal is really going to be is a series of different filter effects. Comb filter, band pass, etc… Then something to add a “random” (i use quotes, because most things random are not really random in this world…) noise to keep it interesting.

There are plenty of filter boxes out there that’ll get you these effects with enough tweaking. And for the random noise bit - there’s literally COUNTLESS numbers of random noise pedals on the market now. (bugbrand, lastgasp, devi ever, etc….).

I’d say (not to be a total naysayer, but…) we should all take a minute and listen/watch some old BBC radiophonic workshop materials to remind us of what we can do with what we have already…

Here is the entire, hour long, documentary Alchemists Of Sound (trust me if you’re not familiar, it’ll provoke inspiration to say the least):

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

ghost - 13 July 2009 04:28 AM

Well, thinking about this more, all this pedal is really going to be is a series of different filter effects. Comb filter, band pass, etc… Then something to add a “random” (i use quotes, because most things random are not really random in this world…) noise to keep it interesting.

There are plenty of filter boxes out there that’ll get you these effects with enough tweaking. And for the random noise bit - there’s literally COUNTLESS numbers of random noise pedals on the market now. (bugbrand, lastgasp, devi ever, etc….).

I’d say (not to be a total naysayer, but…) we should all take a minute and listen/watch some old BBC radiophonic workshop materials to remind us of what we can do with what we have already…

Here is the entire, hour long, documentary Alchemists Of Sound (trust me if you’re not familiar, it’ll provoke inspiration to say the least):

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

kidgloves2 - 13 July 2009 02:08 AM

That’s because Alesis sucks! lol.

EHX Rules!

Alesis may suck at some things, but you have to give them credit where credit is due. In that they made the first mass produced single unit Bit crusher/reducer effect; the only small unit w/ a comb-filter (to date?), through zero phasing in a small unit (pre-Hoax); and had some other pretty innovative ideas up their sleeves with the Mod FX series. They just didn’t have the ears, quality control, and attention to detail that it takes to be great.

“Here is the entire, hour long, documentary Alchemists Of Sound (trust me if you’re not familiar, it’ll provoke inspiration to say the least):  ......etc.”

Brilliant, ghost!!!  :thumb:

the alesis through zero flange isn’t analogue though. not as revolutionary as the hoax/paradox tzf. and besides, line6 have the liqui-flange which does tzf. but i like alesis reverbs

WatsonWood - 13 July 2009 08:02 AM

“Here is the entire, hour long, documentary Alchemists Of Sound (trust me if you’re not familiar, it’ll provoke inspiration to say the least):  ......etc.”

Brilliant, ghost!!!  :thumb:

I second that.  :clap:

I used to have an SR-16.  Good unit.

I think that the bad rep Alesis got was due to the first machines they brought out, however the later and latest Alesis gear is pretty much up to the mark and does a really good job, especially for the price.

ghost - 13 July 2009 04:28 AM

Well, thinking about this more, all this pedal is really going to be is a series of different filter effects. Comb filter, band pass, etc… Then something to add a “random” (i use quotes, because most things random are not really random in this world…) noise to keep it interesting.

There are plenty of filter boxes out there that’ll get you these effects with enough tweaking. And for the random noise bit - there’s literally COUNTLESS numbers of random noise pedals on the market now. (bugbrand, lastgasp, devi ever, etc….).

I’d say (not to be a total naysayer, but…) we should all take a minute and listen/watch some old BBC radiophonic workshop materials to remind us of what we can do with what we have already…

Here is the entire, hour long, documentary Alchemists Of Sound (trust me if you’re not familiar, it’ll provoke inspiration to say the least):

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Ghost, thank you for this! I never saw it, it’s awesome.

The Mid-Fi Clari(not) does the warped tape thing at some settings.

The “ZVex Low-Fi Loop Junky” achieves this but on a play-back signal.  Check it out:

http://www.proguitarshop.com/product.php?ProductID=496&CategoryID=24

It alone seems like a brilliant pedal, but it would be interesting if the same technology could be applied to the live signal.
That pedal, BTW, is on top of my want list at the moment.

I can get the Lofi Loop Junky sound with a little bit of dark overdrive + clone theory

There is also the Danelectro Reel Echo which is definitely lofi and has a strange Warble feature. This is one type of pedal which EHX could make brilliantly.