ADK Mics Ultimate Drum Giveaway
Killer Home Recording
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Impulses

  1. #1
    michaelt523's Avatar
    Bronze-Plated Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    144
    Liked
    0 times

    Default Impulses

    I feel like i've been living under a rock....in a cave....on mars.

    There are numerous submissions in the metal guitar wars that utilize impulses, can someone explain just what these are and what they do?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    St. John's, Newfoundland
    Posts
    3,827
    Liked
    291 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    Convolution uses several types of noise signal to record a particular space, whether it be a room, concert hall or guitar cabinet. When the noise is removed, all that's left is what that space sounds like. At least, that's the basic theory.

    It's most common use is to create a reverb that is very realistic to the space it represents, by recording the impulse in that space. I've tried it myself, and the practical is a little more complicated.

    This might help a little better than I can... Convolution reverb - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  3. #3
    tacman7's Avatar
    Certified Badass Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    2,856
    Liked
    72 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    There is also use of impulses in guitar modeling.
    I never finish a mix, just abandon it.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    St. John's, Newfoundland
    Posts
    3,827
    Liked
    291 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    But its the same thing though right? Recording a test tone through an amp or stomp or whatever, and then removing the test tone to leave what that device sounds like.

  5. #5
    Metaltyme's Avatar
    Powerhouse Mega Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    1,349
    Liked
    57 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    But its the same thing though right? Recording a test tone through an amp or stomp or whatever, and then removing the test tone to leave what that device sounds like.
    Yes...that's correct as far as I understand it.
    METALTYME

  6. #6
    tacman7's Avatar
    Certified Badass Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    2,856
    Liked
    72 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    In the guitar stuff, seems like you could use any wav file (really short) as a basis for distortion, then there were impulses to model speaker cabs.

    I was looking into this stuff sometime back but it was more than I wanted to get into, I have too much crap for guitar already.

    Quick search:
    NEW Speaker Cabinet Impulse Response Library - Guaranteed to Grow More Hair - Gearslutz.com

    Guitar Cab Impulse Files - Page 2 - Home Recording

    Guitar Amp Modeling • View topic - How to use impulses
    I never finish a mix, just abandon it.

  7. #7
    garww's Avatar
    Old Astronaut Caliber Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Close to Nowhere, Arizona
    Posts
    10,743
    Junk Gear Lover
    Liked
    914 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    I would call it a mask
    pss790&370, K1,K1r, d-5, qy10, x-fi notebook, gina20, turser p90 sg, Ibanez steel string, Bongos, Washboard, Roberts 770 w/dual EF86, cedar ridge acoustic, EKO Ranger 12-string, DeArmond M65, Electromatic JJ bass, DeArmond M75, Fulltone FD2, Tannoy Sixes, DPS,DR1,DR-X m106, dbx128, korg SQ1, akai s2000, tascam PS5, ultraNOVA, dod 866ii

  8. #8
    bozmillar's Avatar
    Astronaut-Caliber Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    5,719
    Couldn't Care Less About Gear
    Liked
    1358 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    basically, if you convolve with an impulse response, it sounds like it would if you were playing the sound through whatever room or filter or speaker that the impulse response came from.

    You can only model linear systems with an impulse response.

  9. #9
    bozmillar's Avatar
    Astronaut-Caliber Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    5,719
    Couldn't Care Less About Gear
    Liked
    1358 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    You can't use an impulse to model distortion, because distortion is non-linear. You can use it to model the frequency and phase response of a speaker, but again, not any of the non-linear aspects of it.

  10. #10
    brandondrury's Avatar
    Supreme Overlord Commander
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Southeast Missouri
    Posts
    31,765
    Pissed Off At High End Gear
    Blog Entries
    33
    Liked
    3186 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    You can only model linear systems with an impulse response.
    Just to explain it a little simpler.....

    If you have an amp set for medium gain and you REALLY dig in, it'll be all distorted. If you play super lightly, it'll clean way up. At this point in time, impulses don't take dynamics into account.

    Brandon

  11. #11
    michaelt523's Avatar
    Bronze-Plated Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    144
    Liked
    0 times

    Default Re: Impulses

    Thanks for the responses. This is some pretty advanced stuff, i'm glad to have at least a basic understanding now.

Thread Info

Recording Toys And Tactics Thread, Impulses in Recording Engineers / Producers; I feel like i've been living under a rock....in a cave....on mars. There are numerous submissions in the metal guitar ...

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •