Sound Switch
Read
Users Manual
Reviews
Crane
Song Home
Products
Dealers
|
THE
SOUND SWITCH
The "sound" switch
changes the amplifier type in the Flamingo. This alternative
amplifier creates a different sound. In the "Fat" mode Flamingo has a
much higher level of second and third harmonic distortion than in the
non fat setting. The amount of color heard will depend on the type of
signal and the operating level. With some material the change will be
heard with the flip of the switch; and with other material, more listening
may be required. Hearing a color change may take time and some ear training.
With the second harmonic being an octave it can have small or great effect
depending on the purity of the sound. For example, it will be easier to
hear second harmonic distortion on a flute than on a guitar chord. The
main use of the sound switch is to fatten, thicken and warm up sound.
If the idea of distortion seems a bit scary, remember that the reason
two different amplifiers with the same frequency response sound different
is because of their distortion characteristics. With careful circuit design
we have created distortion that sounds pleasing. The types of distortion
that the "fat" setting generates are similar to the distortion that tubes
generate.
The sound switch is very useful on
vocals, bass, drums, and any other instrument that could benefit from
a richer sound. Vocal arrangements may require a thicker sound on some
parts but not on others. As an example; using the fat sound for the lead
line and the harmonies, but not on the high vocal line can help separate
the parts in a vocal mix comprised of a lead vocal, vocal harmonies, and
a high answer/echo line.
A trick that can be tried in order
to get more color is to turn up the gain switch by 6 db, and attenuate
the output by 6 db. The higher signal level in the fat amplifier will
result in more harmonic content being generated. This same idea holds
true with the iron amplifier.
Note that the sound switch changes
both channels. An audible pop may be heard when the switch is flipped.
This occurs because a different amplifier is being switched into the audio
path. Be aware that flipping this switch during a recording take is not
advised. At any other time the audible pop is merely a momentary nuisance.
Changing the circuit to eliminate the pop would compromise the audio path.
THE
IRON SWITCH
"Iron"
has a different distortion characteristic than an amplifier. Iron will
distort low frequencies and not higher frequencies. The amount of iron
in the component will determine how much signal level at a specific frequency
that the component can handle before it's distortion levels start rising.
This means that a signal level which will produce 5% distortion at 40Hz,
may only produce a distortion level of .5% at 120 Hz. In recording a bass,
for example, the distortion would be increasing the harmonic content of
its low notes, but would not have much effect on its high notes. Thus
the low notes would be easier to hear because of their increased harmonic
content. The iron setting can be used on anything with low frequency content.
Above 400 Hz the setting has little effect.
Note that the "iron" switch changes
both channels. An audible pop may be heard when the switch is flipped
because a different amplifier is being switched into the audio path. Be
aware that flipping this switch during a recording take is not advised.
Changing the circuit to eliminate the pop would compromise the audio path.
Back
to Flamingo
>>
Crane Song, LTD °
Superior, WI ° USA
tel 715-398-3627 ° scott@cranesong.net
|