So the question is in the title. If it is possible, could you link some pages to build such a circuit? I need to chop the highest peaks just a little bit. If there is no solution like that device side, could I achieve the same by tweaking the pickups to squeeze the dynamic range a little bit?
Is it possible to create a brickwall limiter that doesn't disort on over the limit peaks?
- Thread starter geso
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The Clipping section of Chapter 24 (Gain Control Elements) of Doug Small's "Small Signal Audio Design" details some really good designs for this idea.
It should be noted though that distortion is inevitable in a clipped signal, all a great design does is reduce distortion before the clipping threshold. What you must do is carefully design your limiter (actually a clipper) so that the time the signal is clipped is as brief as possible.
What are you actually trying to achieve?
It should be noted though that distortion is inevitable in a clipped signal, all a great design does is reduce distortion before the clipping threshold. What you must do is carefully design your limiter (actually a clipper) so that the time the signal is clipped is as brief as possible.
What are you actually trying to achieve?
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CheapSuitG
The TubeSchemer
A brickwall limiter is probably not the best choice if you’re just trying to tame a couple of peaks.
With a brickwall, the signal is completely stopped at the ceiling, it’s literally like hitting a wall. Nothing gets through.
A regular limiter is basically a very aggressive compressor at a 10:1 ratio or higher, so some of the signal can still sneak through. For every 10 db, it only allows 1 through.
For occasional peaks, a compressor or limiting usually sounds more natural than slamming everything into a brickwall.
My guitar behaves in a way that the more you come down on the fretboard, the louder the notes are. And there is a significant jump from around the 12th fret. This way it is not possible to set a guitar compressor pedal to apply even compression. Either you get uncompressed signal below the 12th fret, and compressed signal over the 12th fret, with overcompressed segments at the last frets.
However since then I have borrowed a Schecter Omen guitar, that does not do this. That projects every note at even volume. So it seems it is a better solution to change my pickups. But I don't know how to look for such pickups like the one in the Schecter. What term or spec to enter in Google to find pickups that project all notes evenly? As a last resort I can buy the ones like in the Schecter, but I am not satisfied with the sound character of those.
Pickups just translate the vibrations of the strings to electrical energy. They can't even out dynamics.
The problem you describe is down to the setup of the guitar. The best thing will be take it for a good setup so the neck can be adjusted and the frets levelled.
Well, this is not the case thoguh. The Schecter guitar I have here have strings set higher, yet it is totally even. My strings are set so low that there are actually disturbing buzzes from the 1st to the 10th fret approximately.
Nostradoomus
Well-known member
Yeah…your guitar is not set up properly, bring it to a shop for a set up. Higher or lower action makes no difference if all the other adjustments are proper. Just take it in, a pedal isn’t going to help you.
Yeah I know but giovanni mentioned high action and neck relief may cause the problem, I definately do not have that on my guitar but the opposite. . Moreover the Schecter has its string set higher, yet there the signal has even volume all through the neck. So the action or neck relief cannot be the problem.
Nostradoomus
Well-known member
he said a combination of high action and too much relief would be a problem which is correct…”too much” being the operative words. There is legitimately no reason for this to happen on a well set up guitar. There is a problem happening and we can help you solve it…what is the original guitar? The schecter sounds like it has a proper set up regardless of string height. Height is a preference and everything else can be adjusted accordingly.
giovanni
Well-known member
I was just guessing based on the symptoms, I may be totally off. But I can’t think of how a pickup could cause what you are experiencing. Do you know how to measure neck relief?
Edit: you could also measure the distance of the strings from the pickups at different frets to see if that’s problematic.
Edit: you could also measure the distance of the strings from the pickups at different frets to see if that’s problematic.
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giovanni
Well-known member
Thinking about it, the fact that you get buzzing up until the 10th fret may indicate that the strings are choking, which may make them a lot quieter. Do you find those frets quieter than higher frets when the guitar is not plugged in?
You're focusing too much on the specifics, the important take away from this discussion is that the pickups can't be responsible for your problem, but one way or other, the guitar setup is.
As I know the neck relief is the curvature of the neck that you set with the truss rod. I have never measured it, but I checked it by eyesight looking along the side of the neck from the bottom of the guitar. My guitar has no curve it seems to be straight. The Schecter has an easy to see concavity. But!!! This is the recent state. Since I purchased this guitar it has been set several times differently. According to the requirements after string gauge change, etc. I was used in several different shapes of neck cuvature, but the uneven note volumes has been a very audible and serious problem right from the time of the purchase.
But I think the best is if I do some tests for you so you can see. I will also measure the neck relief precisely. One thing I can't do is to alter the neck bow on the Schecter for tests.
Sorry I don't have all the info right now because I am preparing to sleep, but tomorrow will check. But I have checked the guitars an hour ago, and I found that the strings on the Schecter also hit the next fret when you pick them from 12th fret definately, above that towards the headstock less and less. I have just realized now. There is no buzz after that though. On my guitar this is worse, there are hit and buzz problems all through the neck.