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Old 07-26-2012, 09:15 PM
tpann tpann is offline
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Default Uneven mono guitar waveform?

I recorded some electric guitar onto a mono track, and the waveform is nonsymmetric. The 'bottom' of the waveform is ragged, meaning the amplitude was free to go its full extent. But the 'top' of the waveform is cut off at a specific level, so that it looks like a buzz cut.

What's causing this?

Thanks!
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Old 07-26-2012, 09:47 PM
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

Do you have a compressor/Limiter anywhere in the signal chain/track/bus?

Have you inadvertently 'Normalized' the track?
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Old 07-27-2012, 03:39 AM
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

Some distortion units give asymetric waveforms. Its just the way they work.
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Old 07-27-2012, 06:43 AM
tpann tpann is offline
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

I'm going through a Digitech RP250 and a Boss distortion pedal.

Either way, is this something I need to correct for?
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Old 07-27-2012, 09:19 AM
WernerF WernerF is offline
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

What does it sound like? To quote a fellow DUC member "if it sounds good it is good". If that's the case there's really no need to worry about what it looks like.
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Old 07-27-2012, 01:07 PM
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

I've seen this depending on how you play. If you're picking hard, the string can vibrate off its normal axis so it's not vibrating in equal distance swings from the relative pickup section. If you're whacking hard at some rhythm part, there may well be more energy coming "back" at the guitar pickup after the first picking swipe then in subsequent vibrations, and if it's a repeated rhythm (Ramones come to mind) the string may not get a chance to recenter itself before the next pick. So you'll see the one side, positive or negative, more than the other side until you let up and let the string vibrate on its own for a moment. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong, unless it sounds wrong. Good to observe, though.
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Old 07-27-2012, 02:22 PM
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

Quote:
Originally Posted by WernerF View Post
To quote a fellow DUC member "if it sounds good it is good"
That originated with Duke Ellington, actually. But I agree. Vertically asymmetric waveforms can be normal for some instruments, including trumpet and distortion guitar.
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Old 07-27-2012, 05:58 PM
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

If you're still worried about it, try using the Audiosuite plugin called DC Offset Removal(or something to that effect) from the "Other" sub-menu. Process the clip and see if that makes any significant visual change to the wave.
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Old 07-27-2012, 06:03 PM
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

And/or recalculate waveform.

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Old 08-02-2012, 03:48 AM
Doug Ring Doug Ring is offline
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Default Re: Uneven mono guitar waveform?

Perfectly normal. Only a pure sine wave is exactly symmetrical. Your asymmetry is causing it to sound as it does, so as was already said, if it sounds good that's all that matters.
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