BASS_BFX_DISTORTION

BASS FX

BASS_BFX_DISTORTION structure

Used with BASS_FXGetParameters and BASS_FXSetParameters to retrieve and set the parameters of a distortion effect.

typedef struct {
    float fDrive;
    float fDryMix;
    float fWetMix;
    float fFeedback;
    float fVolume;
    int lChannel;
} BASS_BFX_DISTORTION;

Members

fDrive Distortion drive [0....5]
fDryMix Dry (unaffected) signal mix [-5..+5]
fWetMix Wet (affected) signal mix [-5..+5]
fFeedback Output signal to feed back into input [-1..+1]
fVolume Distortion volume [0...+2]
lChannel The affected channels using BASS_BFX_CHANxxx flags   

Info
Similar to Pre/Post Gain & Drive controls on amps. They were first introduced as a trick to added color to a guitar's tone. Usually produced back then by turning the amp all the way up, or slightly pulling out a tube from its socket. These tones are now today referred to as Overdrives. Today, there are an almost infinite variety of these effects, and they range in 3 classes: Distortions, Fuzz, and Overdrive. One common feature to mostly all of these types of pedals is a volume and drive (also noted as distortion, fuzz, gain, ...etc.). Overdrives are usually a sustain and volume boosting pedal. Used by more traditional rock and country bands. Next are the Distortions, which range from punk style to death metal screams. They are similar to Overdrives, but have more buzzing quality to them. Finally, there are the Fuzzes which are more distorted than distortions, but are more mellow and compressed sounding. Many pedals can be confused within these names, and some may be named other than what they are. Towards the end of this era, the back-to-back diode pair became popular as a technique to provide soft clipping (with germanium diodes) and hard clipping (with silicon diodes). Today, overdrive effects usually means soft clipping, where gain is reduced beyond the clipping point, while distortion usually means hard clipping, where the level is fixed beyond the clipping point. Distortion is a little harder sound, good for rock, while overdrive gives a more natural sound.

The fDrive controls the amount of overdrive. The fVolume to balance the effect volume with the bypassed level. It can also be used to boost the signal for solos. The fDryMix is the volume of input signal & the fWetMix is the volume of distorted signal. The fFeedback sets feedback of distortion.

    Normal Sin Wave              Wave distorted by algorithm
                                     *
                                    * *
    ****                            * *
   *    *                           * *  *
  *      *                         *  * * *
 *        *                       *   * *  *
*          *                     *    * *   *
*          *                     *     *    *
------------*-------------       ------------*-------------
             *          *                     *     *    *
             *          *                     *    * *   *
              *        *                       *   * *  *
               *      *                         *  * * *
                *    *                           * *  *
                 ****                            * *
                                                 * *
                                                  *

Examples

Drive Dry WetFeedback Volume
Hard Distortion 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0
Very Hard Distortion 5.0 0.0 1.0 0.1 1.0
Medium Distortion 0.2 1.01.00.1 1.0
Soft Distortion 0.0 -2.95 -0.05 -0.18 0.25

See also
BASS_ChannelSetFX