Distortion: Difference between revisions

*''Hornet - Similar to Zircon, but produces a more mellow tone that is more widely useful.''

*''Shear - Subtle distortion that does not effect loud sounds, but clips out the quietest of sounds. Unlike most distortion, quiet sounds are affected more than loud ones.''

In music, distortion is most commonly used on guitars and drums to add power and flavor to their sounds, but nothing is stopping you from using it on each of the instruments available in Online Sequencer. In other DAWs, the gain level to a distortion or the input to its wave shaper can be changed easily. There is no option to do this in Online Sequencer (the Distort Volume setting only fades between a wet and dry signal.

To start, distortion on drums is possibly the easiest way to add distortion to a sequence, as the rhythmic function of drums is not likely to be impaired by distortion. Adding shear distortion is a good way to make things sound a bit tighter and make lingering sounds like cymbals and open hi-hats cut off earlier. Quasar and Styx both add intensity to any percussion track, but may also require you to lower the note velocity of the effected notes, as these distortions can be too much at times.

When using intense distortions, it may help to use such distortions only on the kick and snare, and reserve another drum kit for everything else so that only the kick and snare are distorted.

Be especially careful when using distortion on 808 Drum Kit, as it can cause the toms and kick drums to become too tonal (sound as if they are playing a note rather than a drum). These notes can sound out of place to other notes playing in the song. If you are aware of which notes the drums are creating and/or match these notes to the key of your dong using detune, this tonal quality of distorted 808s can work well.

For most of the instruments in OS, distortion can be difficult to work with. Most of the distortion presets may sound interesting with single notes, but will cause chords or intervals to sound unrecognizable, or even result in static. If you want to distort an instrument, you may have to use only 1 note at a time, which only allows you to carry a melody, or arpeggiate chords. If only simple chords and consonant intervals are used, such as power chords, major chords, or an octave, the result can sound clear. In combination with reverb, distortion on some instruments will produce desirable sounds. Some notable ones are listed below.

* Flute with Styx at 50% and Nova at 50% can sounds like a violin that sustains (this trick was often used before the addition of sustain violin)