Categories of effects

Hi everybody this is Daniel Castellanos from Mexico. In this weeks assignment Im going to teach
the categories of effects which are three: dynamic, delay and filer effects.
Most effects were analog in their origin but when were referring to them as inserts in the DAW
they are called DSP (Digital Signal Processing).

Dynamic Effects
This kind of effects affects the amplitude over time or the volume of the signal. Effects in this
category are compressors, limiters, expanders and gates. Examples of how these effects affect the
signals amplitude are what compressors do.

Compressors squashes or well compresses the amplitude in order to be more consistent and avoid
hitting peaks.

Gates on the other hand, doesnt allow any sound below the gates threshold to go through it. Its
as if certain amplitudes were required in order to open the gates and the signal to go through.

Delay Effects
These effects are related to the propagation of sound. They usually add slight delays to the signal
in order to give the impression and sense of space. Examples of these effects are delays, choruses,
flanger, phasers and reverbs.
Delays and reverb are kind of straightforward in that, they use delays to give a sense of
propagation in a room or hall and hear echoes, but how does the flanger, phasers and choruses
work (sometimes also known as the modulation effects)?
The Flanger effect was originated in studios in the sixties. It was generated by recording then
playing back one piece simultaneously on two tape recorders. The result of the two tape recorder
playback was recorded on a third tape recorder. Because the two tape recorders reading the piece
were slightly out of sync, it created a phasing like sound. This could be emphasized by pressing on
the flange or rim of one of the tape reel to slow down the playback. The delay between the two
tape recorders would then be more pronounced and create a jet plane effect that came to be
known as flanging

Phasers and flangers are often confused but they are in fact very different. While the flanger effect
is created by using very short delays, the phasing is created by splitting the signal into two paths
and using pass filters associated with a low pass oscillator through one of them. When the signals
merge again the frequencies out of phase are cancelled creating nodges.

The Chorus effect is produced by mixing the incoming signal with a slightly delayed and
detuned copy of itself. The pitch difference is modulated to create oscillations. One of the
differences between the flanger and chorus is that delay times are shorter on the flanger.

Filter Effects
These effects control the frequency and therefore the timbre of sound. Examples are EQs, which
are a collection of filters, and individual pass filters such as high, band or low.
An Equalizer is a collection of filters that allow you to boost or cut certain frequencies to make
them louder or quieter.

Reflection
I find looking at the categories of effects and how these effects work, even with if its just a simple
glimpse, is rewarding because it is important to know in which category an effect belongs to in
order to understand how it is affecting our signal. That way, whenever we are experimenting with
an effect or a new plugin we can start to visualize the possibilities that effect gives us and what
certain knobs may do in order to have a more efficient experimentation.