2009

Tip: At the maximum stereo breadth, effects based on detuning are not as prominent,
especially when the beats heard in the sound result from signal differences between the
left and right channels. This is valid only to a certain degree, because the motion of the
pickup doesn’t create a true chorus or harmonizer effect. Try it out and see what happens
when the stereo breadth is reduced a little. Also test other modulation targets, such as
Pickup Pos A+B, Pickup Pan A+B, Pickup Pan A−B, and String Stiffness. Have fun!
Adding Reverb and Reflections with Sculpture’s Delay
As a rule, basses are mixed without effects (dry) and you probably haven’t missed any
reverb or delay effects in the examples so far. However, a little bit of reverb can be quite
appealing on a fretless bass, when it’s used as a solo instrument. Use Sculpture’s Delay
section to emulate this.
To create an unobtrusive atmospheric space
1 Load the Fretless Chorus Dry setting.
2 Click the Delay button to turn on the Delay section.
3 Drag the Input Balance slider to 1.00.
4 Click the small Sync button—directly to the right of the Delay Time slider—to deselect
it, which switches off the tempo synchronization of the delay.
5 Drag the Delay Time slider to 90 ms.
6 Set the Xfeed knob to 0.30.
The individual reflections are still too brash. To make the effect more discrete and
unobtrusive, adjust the frequency spectrum and amplitude of the reflections. Start with
the frequency spectrum:
7 Drag the LoCut slider to 200 Hz and the HiCut slider to 1000 Hz in the Delay section.
The LoCut parameter at 200 Hz excludes the low frequencies in the reflections, thus
preventing a muddy sound. The comparatively drastic cut to the highs with the HiCut
parameter blurs the individual reflections, thereby creating the impression of a small
room with soft surfaces.
8 Set the Wet Level knob to 25% to reduce the total level of the effect.
9 Save this setting asFretless Chorus+Ambience.
415Chapter 14 Sculpture