Like me you’ve probably stressed for hours about where each pedal should go in the signal chain. And also moving them about trying different things, listening to the differences. Then when you add a new pedal that can begin all over again… and should you place a tremolo before or after delay?
So, the signal ‘chain’ is what we spend hours over. Is there a right way or a wrong way, and what are the differences…?
Going back to basics (you can skip this bit if you understand the basics of the signal chain), the signal chain is the signal that comes from the guitar and travels into one device, then the next, and finally the amp. That’s a very simplistic way of understanding it. There’s a heck of a lot more to it, but that’ll do for now for what we need to understand.
It means that if we view it simplistically as a signal running from one device to the next, we can start to understand how one type of effect or sound is then affected by the next device.
Tremolo
There are quite a wide range of Tremolo effect, so depending on what you’ve got, or what settings you’ve got going on (pedals such as the Source Audio Vertigo, which is also built into the Source Audio True Spring, have a wide range of options and Tremolo type).
But in essence you could say that the Tremolo effect is a modulation effect (like Phaser or Chorus). In fact Chorus pedals such as the Walrus Audio Julia V2 will give you a vibrato effect. And generally, we place modulation before the Tremolo. Again, nothing is set in stone, it pays to experiment a bit, but generally this is the order we’d go with.
So, for a Tremolo, should it go after or before delay?
Tremolo Before or After Delay?
The truth is either depending on the effect you’re after. But as a general rule the best place to start is placing the Tremolo BEFORE the delay and reverb in the signal chain. So if the signal is flowing from guitar to amp, it would go Tremolo then Delay.
Before a Delay
If you think about the effect of the Tremolo, it’s a bigger, or more fundamental, effect on the signal than the Delay. You’ve got potentially large changes in volume from a Tremolo, so the delay will repeat a previous signal even when the Tremolo has reduced the volume. This way you get a generally pleasing effect as the Tremolo is just affecting one signal not multiple signals coming from a Delay that may not match up with the speed of the Tremolo.
After a Delay
As you may expect a Tremolo after the Delay will give you a very different effect. This time the Tremolo will affect every repeated signal coming from the Delay. It can get messy quick but with the right settings can give unusual but still musical results. Of course if the Tremolo is set to a deep shape you will get complete signal silence at times. Of course that may. Be what you’re after, hence there’s no full on right or wrong here.
Add in a reverb before the Tremolo and things can get weirder.
Summary
Hopefully this blog has given you some food for thought, and it’s worth experimenting with options, that’s part of the fun of a new pedal or a great way to spur some musical creativity.
