Demos In The Dark - Asheville Music Tools APH-12 Analog Phaser
The APH 12 phaser by Asheville Music Tools is a 12-stage phaser that provides a broad spectrum of sound possibilities, far surpassing the capabilities of a typical one-knob phaser. It includes features such as a phase section with sweep and resonance controls, an LFO section with rate and amount adjustments, a drive section, and the ability to select between 1 to 12 stages. Users can also choose from different mix options, including balance, light, and 100% wet mixes. The phaser offers various LFO options, including fast, slow, and envelope filter modes, and allows for expression control customization. Practical applications demonstrated include creating classic phaser sounds, tremolo-like effects, and envelope filter sounds. The device can also be used to revoice other pedals, showcasing its versatility. The presenter emphasizes the phaser's ability to produce a wide array of sounds, many of which are not typically associated with phasers, highlighting its innovative design and functionality.
Key Points:
- APH 12 offers 12-stage phasing, surpassing traditional phasers.
- Features include phase, LFO, and drive sections with customizable settings.
- Multiple mix options and LFO modes enhance sound versatility.
- Can create classic phaser, tremolo, and envelope filter effects.
- Useful for revoicing other pedals, expanding creative possibilities.
Details:
1. 🎸 Introduction to APH 12 Phaser
1.1. Product Introduction and Features
1.2. Demonstration Setup and Expectations
2. 🎶 Demonstration of Sound Effects
2.1. 🎶 Demonstration of Sound Effects
2.2. Sound Effects and Atmosphere
2.3. Audience Engagement and Reaction
3. 🎛️ Gear Overview and Setup
- The setup features a guitar plugged into a Silk Tone amp, demonstrating the amp's sound capabilities.
- The orange one knob phaser is highlighted with adjustable sections for phase, LFO, and drive, enabling extensive sound modulation.
- Phase section offers sweep and resonance controls for detailed sound modulation.
- LFO section provides rate and amount controls, adding flexibility in sound alteration.
- Drive section adjustments range from 1 to 12 stages, allowing for sound customization.
- Mix options include balance, light, and 100% wet mix, offering diverse sound mixing possibilities.
- LFO options such as fast, slow, and an envelope filter enhance sound dynamics.
- Expression control can be customized by users, allowing specific function assignments within the setup.
4. 🔄 Exploring Phaser Stages
- Classic phaser effects typically utilize between four to six stages, which are essential for creating a sweeping sound effect by altering the phase of the audio signal.
- Adjusting the number of stages, particularly from four to six, allows for a richer and more dynamic sound experience, as each stage contributes to the modulation effect.
- Fine-tuning resonance is critical in this process, as it affects the feedback and intensity of the phaser effect, adding depth and texture to the sound.
- Strategically dialing in the appropriate number of stages and resonance settings can achieve the desired audio effect, making it crucial for sound engineers to experiment with these parameters.
5. 🔧 Modifying LFO Settings
- Increasing the LFO stages from four or six to 12 can enhance the modulation effects, offering richer and more dynamic sound design possibilities.
- Experimenting with the number of stages not only allows for more complex sound textures but also provides a wider range of modulation patterns.
- For example, increasing stages can result in more pronounced vibrato or tremolo effects, making sounds more expressive.
- However, it's important to balance the number of stages with the desired sound clarity to avoid overly complex or muddy audio outputs.
6. 🎵 Creating Tremolo Effects
- Transitioning from a slow LFO to a quick LFO creates a phasy Leslie sound, adding depth to the audio texture.
- Using a slow LFO rate introduces a gentle, wavy effect which can be ideal for creating ambient soundscapes.
- Increasing the LFO speed can produce a rapid, vibrating effect that mimics the sound of a Leslie speaker, often used in rock and jazz music.
- Experimenting with different LFO waveforms (sine, triangle, square) can significantly alter the tremolo effect, providing a wide range of sound possibilities.
- Adjusting the amplitude and frequency parameters of the LFO allows for precise control over the intensity and speed of the tremolo effect.
- Combining tremolo effects with other audio effects such as reverb or delay can enhance the overall soundscape, creating richer audio experiences.
7. 🌀 Envelope Filter Sound
- Using a single stage setting can create tremolo-like sounds, providing a new dimension to the audio output.
- Adjusting the mix to a lighter setting allows more of the clean signal to pass through, which can be beneficial for maintaining clarity when dramatic effects are applied.
- The envelope filter is particularly effective in modulating sound in genres such as funk and electronic music, where dynamic sound variation is key.
- Implementing specific settings, like adjusting the attack and decay parameters, can significantly alter the texture and responsiveness of the sound.
- For instance, increasing the attack time can smooth the onset of the filter effect, creating a more gradual swell in sound intensity.
8. 📻 Tuning like an Old Radio
- The speaker, a fan of envelope filters, highlights the pedal's capability to produce an envelope filter sound, which was an unexpected discovery for them.
- To achieve the envelope filter sound, set the pedal to modulation envelope mode. This setting manipulates the sound dynamics based on the player's attack and playing style, creating a wah-like effect that is popular in funk and rock music.
- For optimal results, adjust the sensitivity and decay controls on the pedal to match your playing style and the desired intensity of the effect. Experiment with different settings to find the perfect sound for your musical context.
9. 🛠️ Revoicing with Other Pedals
- Revoicing involves fine-tuning the equipment akin to adjusting an old radio, particularly by removing the LFO entirely, which enhances the sound quality across three distinct stages.
- To achieve optimal revoicing, operators should experiment with the LFO settings to discover a balance that suits their specific audio needs, emphasizing the iterative nature of this process.
- This technique is particularly effective in scenarios requiring precise sound modulation, such as live performances or intricate studio recordings.
- Users have reported that by focusing on the LFO adjustments, the pedal revoicing process can lead to significant improvements in sound clarity and depth, illustrating the practical benefits of this method.
10. 📈 Expansive Sound Capabilities
- The pedal offers expansive sound capabilities, far beyond traditional expectations of a phaser.
- Users can revoice other pedals, such as a silk tone fuzz, using this pedal.
- Despite being perceived as a complex device, it allows for creating a variety of sounds beyond classic phaser effects.
- The reviewer spent several days exploring the pedal and suggests that only a small fraction of its capabilities have been utilized.
- Classic phaser sounds represent only a small portion of the pedal's functionality, indicating its broad potential.