Zhin
312 posts
Jun 06, 2009
1:15 AM
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Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO)...
This is often used by media design artists when talking about using source images and videos. But it applies to all musicians.
What this means is that if your source or the start is no good, no matter what you do with that signal even with the best equipment, you're still going to have crap pop out on the other end.
Or say you feel like making a salad, you'd use fresh veggies. Old ones, no matter what fancy dressing you use, is never really satisfactory to any salad fans. I hate salads btw.
Just like your amplified signal chain, if you don't feed a good sound into the amp, you're not really taking advantage of that nice tube amp or it's alnico speaker...
First thing is your cup, make sure it's tight enough that you don't feedback much at percievable high levels. Ignore how much the gain knob is turned up, it means nothing. Some amps give you a gargantuan sound at 1.5/12 alone. Some maybe 3/12 on the knob.
The next thing which is just as important is IMPEDANCE MATCHING.
You CANNOT hook up a low impedance mic and crank up the amp if you want to really get your moneys worth after blowing all that cash on pedals and amps.
You also CANNOT judge a mic if you haven't matched it's impedance to whatever it's directly connected to.
You CANNOT assume you have a "good" or "bad" setup until you've at least covered the impedance matching.
There are lots of free and easy to find guides if you look it up on the MBH forum archives, harp-l, and Google.
Get your impedance and cupping right, then only focus on tweaking and setting up those pedals and amps. Otherwise you're going to take many steps backwards when you realized you had the start of your signal chain wrong from the very beginning. And when you do that, you may end up changing pedals and amps. This is why it's most logical to be more focused on the start of your signal chain, especially if you've only just started your journey!
There are also other things that should be taken into consideration which you probably hear a lot about too. Your breath control and your harps. There's more than that of course but my point I was trying to make is that, focus more on the start of your signal chain instead of the far end of it (the amp) and you'll actually have better control with your sound.
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http://www.youtube.com/harmonicazhin
Last Edited by on Jun 06, 2009 1:19 AM
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sopwithcamels266
93 posts
Jun 06, 2009
2:37 AM
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Zhin: What is the purpose of this post?
Is this education, a lesson, as a teacher Like Kudzurunner, or are we to say yes your right,or otherwise.
What reaction are you expecting?
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MrVerylongusername
342 posts
Jun 06, 2009
3:03 AM
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Sopwith:
I think it was a very informative post on some points which are all too often overlooked - especially by less experienced players who think better gear will solve technique deficiencies.
My question is what was the point of your response. It seems deliberately provocative? What is wrong with players sharing their experience for the benefit of the beginners? We can all be teachers as long as we have knowledge to share.
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DutchBones
189 posts
Jun 06, 2009
4:07 AM
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Good post Z,
"focus more on the start of your signal chain instead of the far end of it (the amp) and you'll actually have better control with your sound"
Take even one more step back (but I'm sure we all know this) If the acoustic chops aren't there, no piece of hardware is going to safe your butt... GIGO.... I got my micro cube about 2,3 years ago, and only since recently I can stand hearing myself through it.....
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DutchBones Tube
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rustym
32 posts
Jun 06, 2009
4:31 AM
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I love it! Where else but here on MBH can you get instruction on impedence matching, signal chain diagnostics and salad dressing recipes!
Thanks, for the great info Zhin! It's highly relevant to me as I'm looking to go amplified soon.
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sopwithcamels266
94 posts
Jun 06, 2009
8:15 AM
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Mrverylongusername: ha,I will let you work that out for yourself.
I agree with harmonicanick spot on with the french dressing.
Last Edited by on Jun 06, 2009 8:36 AM
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Andrew
350 posts
Jun 06, 2009
8:39 AM
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When making vinaigrette, always dissolve the mustard (a natural emulsifier) in the vinegar first, then add the oil.
btw, GIGO is an old computer-programmer's saying.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIGO
But, to judge from some of the programs I've had to reverse engineer over the last 15 years, Garbage-In-Between seems to have been considered de rigueur by the industry!
Last Edited by on Jun 06, 2009 8:45 AM
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ZackPomerleau
145 posts
Jun 06, 2009
8:43 AM
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Good post man.
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Preston
406 posts
Jun 06, 2009
9:59 AM
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Great thread Zhin! I think any beginner getting ready to amp up needs to hear this advice.
Your salad analogy is right on. A good dressing(amp) doesn't help out with the taste a damn bit if the veggies (mismatched impedence mic and loose cup) are rotten.
Why are you guys having problems with analogies? It isn't Rocket surgery.
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rustym
33 posts
Jun 06, 2009
10:45 AM
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As I said earlier, I'm looking to "amp up" soon. I've read as much of this topic on here that I can because I don't have a ton of money to spend, so I want the best sound I can get for my money.
Before I really started studying up on this, I probably would have bought an amp that would be great for guitar but crap for harp. Then I would have probably bought some mic out of the case at a local music store to go with it and it would have all sucked!
For some reason I'm craving a salad!
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bluesnut
78 posts
Jun 06, 2009
11:03 AM
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When I perchased my amp from SJR I got the mic and delay pedal that was recomended by the builder because I thought he would know better than me. Blue cheese dressing rules.
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jonsparrow
404 posts
Jun 06, 2009
11:59 AM
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im a vegetarian.
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