auto vibrato effect

slateboy · Oct 17th 2014

Anyone got any tips on how to achieve an "auto vibrato" effect?
Im looking to create an effect that applies a bit of pitch variation as a strummed-chord tails off, simliar to what could be applied using a whammy bar (i use a fixed bridge)

the closest thing i have so far is the vintage chorus effect using ducking so that as the "struck-chord" fades out the chorus effect comes in.
However, i'd prefer more like the "vibrato" effect but i cant find a "ducking" setting on this effect. (I'd like to see this parameter added to the vibrato effect please, mr kemper)

thanks

nightlight · Oct 17th 2014

Try the tremolo effect. This should work for what you're looking for, i.e. a tune-detune sort of effect. A bit of chorus or delay could fatten it up too.

The tremolo will work better at higher settings, if the sound I'm thinking of in my head is what you're looking for, but test it out and tweak to taste

slateboy · Oct 17th 2014

thank for the tip. the tremelo does have the ducking parameter but not a pitch variation. i cant imagine it would be too difficult to implement ducking to the vibrato effect, given what the KPA is already capable of.

DonPetersen · Oct 17th 2014

Quote from slateboy

the closest thing i have so far is the vintage chorus effect using ducking so that as the "struck-chord" fades out the chorus effect comes in.
However, i'd prefer more like the "vibrato" effect

hi.
did you try setting the Chorus mix to 100% + ducking?

slateboy · Oct 17th 2014

thanks, i did try this in one of my first attempts, both pre and post amp, but i felt the chorus effect was not enough like the "vibrato effect" i was seeking.
good thinking though

Kempermaniac · Oct 22nd 2014

May I add something general: I notice a wrong usage of the terms "Tremolo" and "Vibrato" quite often. Tremolo = a change in volume, Vibrato = a change in pitch. E.g. the Whammy Bar has nothing to do with Tremolo, but with Vibrato.

slateboy · Oct 22nd 2014

Quote from Kempermaniac

May I add something general: I notice a wrong usage of the terms "Tremolo" and "Vibrato" quite often. Tremolo = a change in volume, Vibrato = a change in pitch. E.g. the Whammy Bar has nothing to do with Tremolo, but with Vibrato.

yes, totally agree. tremelo has, as far as i've been concerned, been a variation in volume level, whereas vibrato is a variation in pitch.
If i recall correctly, the tremelo already has ducking.
Quite often i hear guitarists refer to their "whammy bar" as a tremelo arm. I think that's another instance of incorrect terminology we accept and understand. Funny enough, i dont think i've ever heard it called a "vibrato arm" on a guitar.

DonPetersen · Oct 23rd 2014

Quote from slateboy

Funny enough, i dont think i've ever heard it called a "vibrato arm" on a guitar.

The system developed by Bigsby is one of the few that is correctly called a vibrato: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigsby_Vibrato_Tailpiece

but yes, terrible confusion about these two terms, even though every guitarist knows what 'adding (finger) vibrato' means.

Ingolf · Oct 23rd 2014

I think Fender made the wrong term 'tremolo' popular.

Kempermaniac · Oct 23rd 2014

Really? That's embarrassing...

Ingolf · Oct 23rd 2014

Quote from Kempermaniac

Really? That's embarrassing...

Yes, Leo Fender was an engineer, not musician.
Genius he was, perhaps he couldn't tell vibrato from tremolo.

paults · Oct 23rd 2014

I agree - it was Fender marketing. They likely did it on purpose.

When the Stratocaster came along, they wanted to advertise their new bridge as something different and far superior to Gibson and Bigsby Vibrolas. So, they called it a Tremolo bridge.

So, the tremolo circuit in their amps needed a different name. They picked Vibrato for that

Kempermaniac · Oct 23rd 2014

Lol, sometimes there are things that can't be true!

paults · Oct 23rd 2014

LOL! The revolutionary Tremolo Action Lever :

[Blocked Image: http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/graphics/Fender1954.jpg]

DonPetersen · Oct 23rd 2014

I think I remember hearing it had to do something with the term Vibrato already being a trademark/copyrighted by another company.
Calling it tremolo was a workaround and not done without a reason.

Kempermaniac · Oct 23rd 2014

How can "Vibrato" be copyrighted? It is an ancient musical term!

DonPetersen · Oct 23rd 2014

Quote from Ingolf

Yes, Leo Fender was an engineer, not musician.
Genius he was, perhaps he couldn't tell vibrato from tremolo.

I think an engineer can differentiate between amplitude modulation and pitch modulation better than the average musician.

DonPetersen · Oct 23rd 2014

Quote from Kempermaniac

How can "Vibrato" be copyrighted? It is an ancient musical term!

logic has little to do with this

Kempermaniac · Oct 23rd 2014

Lol, I see...

Ingolf · Oct 23rd 2014

Thanks for backing me up, Paul.

@DonPetersen: Yes, maybe Leo chose this consciously, but maybe not.

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