Tones!! Tones!! Tones!!

[64Guitars]

Can I get the dummy guide to this? I shit you not, I pick a patch and play, nothing more.

Unfortunately, I think a lot of BR users do the same thing. That's a real shame because the BRs contain some really great effects that can be used in an unlimited combination of settings. But most users never realise the potential of the BR's effects because they only use the preset patches. To me, that's like buying a bunch of effects pedals and never adjusting the knobs and switches on them. Or buying a new amp and never using any of the controls except the On/Off switch.

I encourage everyone to experiment with the effects settings. A common fear among some users is that they'll mess up the settings and not be able to get back to the original preset patches. But there's absolutely no reason to fear that. It's quite impossible to permanently change the settings of the BR's preset patches because they are stored in Read-only memory.

There are actually three separate banks of effects patches. The patches in the Preset bank are stored in read-only memory and cannot be changed. The patches in the User bank are held in the BR's internal flash memory and can be changed and re-saved. Initially, the User bank contains copies of the Preset bank. So, you can make changes to these patches without any worries. If you mess them up, it's no problem because you can still access the original preset patch from the Preset effects bank. You can even copy patches from the Preset bank back to the User bank, if you like. So you should feel free to experiment with patch settings in the User bank, knowing that it's impossible to alter the patches in the Preset bank.

The Song bank also contains copies of the patches in the Preset bank. The difference is that patches in the Song bank are stored on the memory card with each song. This is convenient when you want to customise a patch from the Preset or User bank for a particular song. However, you won't be able to access your Song bank patches from one song in any of your other songs. So, any patches that you want to use in multiple songs should probably be saved in the User bank instead.

I don't have time to create a tutorial on effects right now. But you should be able to learn how to use them by reading the appropriate section of the manual. If you have any specific questions, ask them here and I'll try to help.

[henwrench]

If somebody wants to take the time, I'm a sponge for information.

   Just say the word, T-Dawg!!!

                                                   henwrench

[Tony W]

Thanks 64, great bit of information there. I've read the manual front to back when I got the MBR, as a non-musician, the majority of the content was lost on me.

I've been reading from Page 61 on (the appropriate section) and I'm now at a point where I can grasp quite a bit more. At the moment, I'm really intrigued by the "Song Patches" Does this work like the drum arranger? Can I have different patches kick in at different measures of the song? That would be a killer feature, although the manual doesn't suggest it (I'm only at page 67).

[Tony W]

Ok, more questions

1.  compression. I don't understand how it works. Reading the manual, it can be used to extend sustain or conversely shorten sustain and emphasize attack. Another use of compression is as a limiter which prevents distortion by suppressing only volume peaks

^ I've read a lot of posts where people talk about how they use compression, but that's a very small term for a lot of shit.

[Gnasty]

Let me just say that i am not against the patches myself. I`ve used them myself and heard many people on here using them and i think they are great and when i find the time i fool around with the settings.

I read in a thread by Greeny that when he uses them he doesn`t even touch the effect settings at all and we know what kind of great recordings he does.


I just find it easier to tweek settings on my amp. It`s faster. I`m an impatient human.  

[64Guitars]

I've been reading from Page 61 on (the appropriate section) and I'm now at a point where I can grasp quite a bit more. At the moment, I'm really intrigued by the "Song Patches" Does this work like the drum arranger? Can I have different patches kick in at different measures of the song? That would be a killer feature, although the manual doesn't suggest it (I'm only at page 67).

No, the Song patches work the same as the patches in the other two banks. The only differences between the three patch banks is where the patches are stored and whether you can change them (read/write) or not (read-only). The User bank and Song bank are read/write and the Preset bank is read-only. The Song bank is stored on the memory card in the song's folder. The User bank is stored in the BR's internal flash memory. And the Preset bank is stored in the BR's ROM (read-only memory).

On the Micro BR, each bank stores 120 patches (80 GTR, 20 MIC, 10 LIN, and 10 EXT). However, since there's a separate Song bank for each song, you can store an unlimited number of patches on the memory card (and backed up to your computer).

One other point: the 120 Song bank patches are stored on the memory card whether you use them or not. So you don't have to worry about using up space on the memory card by creating Song bank patches. Whether you use them or not, they take up the same amount of space (ie; the space is pre-allocated on each song).

[henwrench]

Ok, more questions

1.  compression. I don't understand how it works. Reading the manual, it can be used to extend sustain or conversely shorten sustain and emphasize attack. Another use of compression is as a limiter which prevents distortion by suppressing only volume peaks

^ I've read a lot of posts where people talk about how they use compression, but that's a very small term for a lot of shit.

    Compression is an area that freaks people out a bit. It sounds like you possibly understand the basics, so now go and do some listening.....
       That beautiful, fat, squidgy lead tone that Mr Neil Young gets? All squashy and huge? Compression.
       That gorgeous ringy, picky, hard and flat 'country' tone, usually on a clean Tele, played by, say, James Burton? Compression.
       That percussive, scooped, glassy, every-chord-is-equal-volume, Nile Rogers disco rhythm guitar sound? Compression.
       That thumping, round, thuddingly smooth, pumping fingerstyle of a certain Paul McCartney's bass? Tape and valve compression.
        Just a couple of quick examples, use your ears and really have a good listen. Decide what you like and don't like, or try and get close to something for the hell of it, listen and learn. Dinner's ready....


                                            henwrench

[64Guitars]

Compressors alter dynamic range (the difference between the loudest sound peaks and the lowest levels). They can be used for different purposes depending on the settings. The milder settings are usually used to control overall recording levels or limit "peaky" signals such as a bass guitar. Here's an excellent tutorial on this usage:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CViY7xWWak


As a guitar effect, the settings are usually more extreme. By applying a lot of compression to the guitar signal, you can keep the signal level more even. Normally, when you pick a note on the guitar, there's a high peak (the attack part of the signal) which quickly drops (the decay part of the signal) to a much lower level (the sustain part of the signal), then fades out completely (the release part of the signal).



But, with a lot of compression applied, the peak is reduced and, as the signal fades, the compressor increases the gain to compensate, resulting in greatly extended sustain. On many compressors, you can alter the attack portion of the signal separately so that you can emphasise the attack and reduce the sustain. A lot of country players like that sound.

[Tony W]

I'm totally digging this thread. Great information fellas. I'm going to play with compression for a while before I start beating up another specific. Speaking of which, I would not be opposed to a chronological order in which I should be learning how to find my true tones.

I think compression is going to help me immediately. I've been turning down the input Sns: to -8 so I don't clip. Then I get ridiculously aggressive with a pick to get the dynamics that I want. From what I'm learning, Compression will give me the dynamics I'm looking for without clipping or dropping the input level. Sweet.

**Edit**

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=9587.0

The above link is very close to what I want in tone, but the 5th and 6th string just don't pop the way I'd like them to. I guess muddy would be the descriptor that I'd use. If you have suggestions, feel free to keep them in this thread. It will make it easier to follow and track.

[Greeny]

I read in a thread by Greeny that when he uses them he doesn`t even touch the effect settings at all and we know what kind of great recordings he does.

I use lots of the pre-set patches but have never EVER tinkered with the settings / parameters. That's partly because I'm a bit stupid with stuff like like that, and partly because I take my hat off to Boss for loading the MBR with a sh*tload of great fx. I can always find the tone I'm looking for.

And for bass, I always use the same one: BassCrnch, with everything turned up.

I do admire / envy those with a bit more of an expirmental / technical mind-set, but I know my limitations!