effects/ tools
Hardware and Software Effects
Today audio effects devices come in both physical and digital form. Audio signals in electrical format are processed with physical (analog) hardware whereas audio signals in binary format (digital) are processed mathematically by software. Both methods can achieve similar results. In the physical world, effects are usually rack-mounted devices that have cables running to and from a mixing board or they can be something like guitar effect pedals which receive signal from the instrument and alter the signal as it flows to a mixer. On the digital side you can find effects in most music recording software packages. DAWs such as Ableton, Logic, Cubase and ProTools all come with audio effects built-in. Other software packages likeReason, Maschine, Traktor, Audacity, Peak, and Soundforge also come with audio effects. Audio effects are often simple devices that do one specific thing to a sound, although multi-effects processors are also popular for those who want many different effects in one package. It is also worth noting that many instruments (especially synthesizers) come with effects built-in to the machine.
Dynamics
Dynamic effects (aka amplitude effects) modify the volume of an instrument. These effects includecompressors (which increase the loudness of a signal or stabilize volume), limiters (which limit the volume), and noise gates (which aim to eliminate artifacts like hum, hiss and vocal pops.) Dynamic effects can greatly enhance your mix but they are sensitive devices that require attention to detail. Compressors are widely used today in commercial music and sound louder for television and radio use.
Distortion
Distortion effects can create a harmonic (warm) or inharmonic (gritty) sound by amplifying an audio signal until it clips (gets too loud and cuts the shape of the waveform.) By changing this waveform shape the distortion effect creates overtones which color the sound. This is a popular effect/sound in rock music and it’s become widely-used in modern electronic music as well. Distorted signals tend to cut through a mix and bring warmth or grit to a tone.
Time Based
Time based effects alter the timing of a signal which can create short or long bursts of sound. These effects include reverb, delay and echo. These are among the most popular effects in electronic music with reverb and delay used liberally on most recordings. Reverb effects sometimes aim to re-create the sound of an acoustic space and they are sometimes based on “plate reverb” or “spring reverb” effects – which we will discuss further in an upcoming article.
Pitch / Frequency
Pitch and Frequency effects include pitch shifters and harmonizers. These effects modify the pitch of a sound by adding new frequencies to a signal or by simply altering the pitch. Pitch-shifters transpose (raise or lower) the note that is played at certain intervals. A harmonizer is a pitch-shifter that adds more notes to create harmony.
Today audio effects devices come in both physical and digital form. Audio signals in electrical format are processed with physical (analog) hardware whereas audio signals in binary format (digital) are processed mathematically by software. Both methods can achieve similar results. In the physical world, effects are usually rack-mounted devices that have cables running to and from a mixing board or they can be something like guitar effect pedals which receive signal from the instrument and alter the signal as it flows to a mixer. On the digital side you can find effects in most music recording software packages. DAWs such as Ableton, Logic, Cubase and ProTools all come with audio effects built-in. Other software packages likeReason, Maschine, Traktor, Audacity, Peak, and Soundforge also come with audio effects. Audio effects are often simple devices that do one specific thing to a sound, although multi-effects processors are also popular for those who want many different effects in one package. It is also worth noting that many instruments (especially synthesizers) come with effects built-in to the machine.
Dynamics
Dynamic effects (aka amplitude effects) modify the volume of an instrument. These effects includecompressors (which increase the loudness of a signal or stabilize volume), limiters (which limit the volume), and noise gates (which aim to eliminate artifacts like hum, hiss and vocal pops.) Dynamic effects can greatly enhance your mix but they are sensitive devices that require attention to detail. Compressors are widely used today in commercial music and sound louder for television and radio use.
Distortion
Distortion effects can create a harmonic (warm) or inharmonic (gritty) sound by amplifying an audio signal until it clips (gets too loud and cuts the shape of the waveform.) By changing this waveform shape the distortion effect creates overtones which color the sound. This is a popular effect/sound in rock music and it’s become widely-used in modern electronic music as well. Distorted signals tend to cut through a mix and bring warmth or grit to a tone.
Time Based
Time based effects alter the timing of a signal which can create short or long bursts of sound. These effects include reverb, delay and echo. These are among the most popular effects in electronic music with reverb and delay used liberally on most recordings. Reverb effects sometimes aim to re-create the sound of an acoustic space and they are sometimes based on “plate reverb” or “spring reverb” effects – which we will discuss further in an upcoming article.
Pitch / Frequency
Pitch and Frequency effects include pitch shifters and harmonizers. These effects modify the pitch of a sound by adding new frequencies to a signal or by simply altering the pitch. Pitch-shifters transpose (raise or lower) the note that is played at certain intervals. A harmonizer is a pitch-shifter that adds more notes to create harmony.
http://blog.dubspot.com/understanding-audio-effects-an-overview/