All smashed up. Distortion techniques.

[Marc Edwards]

Distortion--You've got to love it! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Well, I do anyway, and that's the reason for this post. I've listed below a few of my favourite crunching, grinding and smashing techniques, but what I'm really interested in is hearing how other engineers get great coloured clipped sounds.

01> Sansamp PSA-1. Grrrrrrrr. Turns anything into a guitar.

02> Moogerfooger Phaser. Input gain all the way up. May as well add some phasing while you're there!

03> Input gain on most compressors. Compress really hard, but drive the input as well.

04> Misc. pedals...

... Anyone, anyone, anyone ... Bueller, bueller?

[Vedat]

How about a great amp ..like a Diezel..turned up to 11... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[blake eat world]

pro co rat, smooth and adds a lot of harmonics with the filter keyed in[/LIST]

[theexplodingboy]

i distort everything with everything.
i often overload an eq plug where i boost with sharp Q some frequencies.then into another eq where i distort it again and reduce the spectrum (to fit into mix).these eq distortions are really in your face, stuck on the monitors.
and lo-fi is fine.
and the pre of my mackie do have a great distortion color.
in fact, i use every tool i have to smash my sounds. (but i'm a nin addict)

[Joris de Man]

For in your face speaker grinding trailer trash distortion, use a waveshaper like rectify (don't use the filtering) or some extreme settings on duy shape; you're in NiN territory now!

[Marc Edwards]

... I also like using a smashed version to send to reverbs/delays, while keeping the original clean.

[Sofine]

Sherman Filter Bank - adds nice distorted warmth to just about anything - just don't blow your spreakers.

[Marc Edwards]

I actually found it really hard to not distort using the Sherman (so I didn't buy it). It's built like a tank though [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Anyone have any good pedal recommendations?

GGGRRRRRRWWWWWWAAAAAALLLL!

[Marc Edwards]

I actually found it really hard to not distort using the Sherman (so I didn't buy it). It's built like a tank though [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Anyone have any good pedal recommendations?

GGGRRRRRRWWWWWWAAAAAALLLL!

[king mob]

My favorite distortion to use is my vintage 1964 Epiphone Futura 4x8 combo amp cranked all the way. Mic it front and back with a couple 57's... Beautiful. I can run anything through it and it destroys it beautifully. Also has a great spring reverb just perfect for that additional bit of out-thereness.

Pedals: For that really NIN authentic sound. Try to find a Swollen Pickle. I don't remember who made it, but it's pretty easy to remember that name. They aren't made anymore, but they are wonderful. I've been looking for one for a while now. Reznor uses that a lot. There were only like a couple hundred ever made.

[ July 25, 2001: Message edited by: king mob ]