11/14/02

Here are some clips that show what the ENV control does.

The setup for these clips is as basic as it gets:

Guitar > Tube Screamer>TZF>Computer

No amps, simulators, mics, etc... i

Env0.mp3

This one is in mono. Tube Screamer is on and drive is up. At the beginning I strum the strings to make a steady noise. I'm turning the ENV knob up slowly until it starts responding. Then I play a riff, going out of my way to make it dynamic.

Env1.mp3

Here's a little riff that starts out soft and then gets louder. Listen to how the envelope controlled flange kicks in.

Env2.mp3

This one has clean guitar. At first I strum and use my free hand to set the ENV control. Once I zero in on it, I play some chords and stuff. Half way in I crack open the WIDTH control for some LFO sweep. Listen to the range go up and down.

Env3.mp3

More Tube screamer stuff. On this one I find the sweet point with the ENV control and then crack the DEPTH open a little. Listen to the LFO sweeping, while the entire range gets shifted up and down.

Env4.mp3

This one is crazy - I dialed in some regeneration to create erratic gurgling sounds.

Here are tips for getting the best ENV sounds:

Use distortion or fuzz, and turn it up to a decent level.
Set up the TZF like Example #3, but turn the ENV pot all the way down. Neg TZF

With one hand, strum your strings open just to get a steady, distorted sound (just make noise)

While doing this, use your other hand to slowly turn the ENV knob up. Turn it slowly!!

At some point, you should hear the sweep happen, it will sweep right over the zero point.
Still making steady noise, slowly turn down and tweak the ENV until you find the sweet spot.
There will be a point where you are hovering over the zero point depending on how hard you hit the strings.
Stop strumming the open strings, and play a riff soft and then hard, you should hear the flange point reacting to your dynamics. Tweak the ENV knob to get the best sound.
If your turn up the MAN knob, you will be raising the lowest point that the sweep can sink to.
If you turn up the DEPTH just a hair, you can hear it sweeping, and when you hit your strings the range of the sweep will shift.
Experiment by turning the REGEN each way. This will create erratic gurgling sounds because the ENV circuit senses the signal after the REGEN control.

Once you do this, you can experiment with clean sounds. I think it's the best with distortion.