What would you use to conjure up the image of an apple in the mind of the public ?

[eh là bas ma]

Hello,

Using stompboxes and a guitar or a bass, what would be the various possibilities to conjure up the image of an apple in the mind of the public ?

I guess technically speaking, we need to sweetened the signal first, then make it as "round" as possible, and finally add a bit of acidity to the sound.
A crunchy bite feeling could also be interesting. Let's say the apple is green, to avoid any confusions with other fruits.

How would you do that ?

Bass and guitar players who tried lots of circuits are the only ones who can answer this question. That's why I think PPCB forum is a good place to ask this.

Every observations and suggestions are welcome !

Edit : If unfortunately you don't have any ideas, please refrain from posting dismissive comments on this thread. Thank you !

 

[Nostradoomus]

what

 

[carlinb17]

32

 

[Diynot]

Sorry, not sure the assignment here. Are you looking for the Jungian archetype of an apple?

 

[xefned]

Sour Grape Fuzz - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Keeley Rotten Apple

www.pedalpcb.com

 

[eh là bas ma]

Sorry, not sure the assignment here. Are you looking for the Jungian archetype of an apple?

No archetypes, I didn't mean apple as a symbol for some other thing, just a simple apple. However, if you have ideas about how to recall some other kind of fruits with audio effects, it could be interesting too.

About acidity, if I understood correctly the whole Acid Techno movement was created upon the release of the TB-303, featuring some innovative filter controls that gave the "acid effect".

So I guess some enveloppe filters circuit like the Meatball could be interesting, but i am not sure it would be really acid enough. Electric Druid's Filter FX might be more suited...

Are there some guitar or bass circuits that can get close to what the TB-303 is doing to a signal ?

 

[xefned]

The sound sample 4 seconds in on UTFO's Bite It?

 

[eh là bas ma]

The sound sample 4 seconds in on UTFO's Bite It?

Thanks for your replies !

I hear a carrot bite... could also be some fresh radish.

Edit : There are legions of circuits that can give a crunchy bite to guitar or bass. Do you know which ones can combine sweetness, roundness and crunch ?

 

[Alan W]

I think I get what you’re asking… To me, a classic “jazz” sound, full, sweet, comes to mind, but that does not get the tartness, and certainly no crunch. But as soon as I imaging guitar (or bass) with some crunch I just have difficulty relating to apples, or probably any food.

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

I feel like the crunch of an apple is percussive. The crunch of nachos though... now that's some nice harmonic distortion. I say you can find your apple crunch in your articulation and phrasing.

 

[Diynot]

I would think volume swell for “roundness”, however you wish to achieve that, with a gated fuzz for “crunch”, perhaps with another fuzz with longer sustain to imply white noise/pulp/juice dripping, and then of course a delay for repeated bites, or chewing. Interestingly enough, google sources define “green noise” to be in the 500hz range

 

[HamishR]

I'm not completely sure what you are asking. Are you asking for what attributes of a sound conjure the image of an apple in a listener's mind? We all know that players will describe a sound as creamy or crunchy. I would think that a high frequency chirp to a sound might indicate tartness. So single notes in a neck pickup on a semi-hollow guitar played quite clean might signify roundness - maybe using the in-between sound might be more fruity?

I once had a P90 Les Paul which sounded amazing on the neck pickup through a slightly dirty Marshall. A friend called that sound a "chocolate bulldozer" because that's the image it conjured in his mind.

 

[Erik S]

Last nights green apple signal chain - Tso compressor > Klon > Gravitation reverb

A little squeeze into a light crunch followed by a juicy drip. Sour notes were all me.

 

[eh là bas ma]

Are you asking for what attributes of a sound conjure the image of an apple in a listener's mind?

The original question is : "Using stompboxes and a guitar or a bass, what would be the various possibilities to conjure up the image of an apple in the mind of the public ?"

Surely defining the various attributes could be useful, depending on your artistic approach on this "picturing an apple with sounds" exercise.

I mean, it can be an instinctive and spontaneous approach for some of us : for exemple, trying various combinations, playing with effects until we progressively get to the point.

Or it could be a more "scientific" methodical and empirical approach, based on observations and experiences. In this case, defining some attributes would make more sense, in my opinion.

It could start with some basic sensations and shapes related to apples : the observation part.
- roundness
- sweetness
- sourness
- acidity
- crunchy bite
- some colors, let's say green ?
- apple's flesh textures, etc...
- surely there are more interesting attributes that can be found (hardness, lightness, smoothness, etc.).

And then try to restore these words into sounds. Find the means to do the transfer between these pure sensations and the musical language, thanks to the instrument and some audio effects : the experience part.

- roundness = volume swell like Boss SG-1, wah filters or vibrato.
- sweetness = ??? Reverbs maybe ?
- sourness = ???
- acidity = Filters, like TB-303 from the acid-techno world for exemple.
- crunchy bite = gain, compression, etc.
- color = maybe obtained by working on frequencies (mids probably) with EQ circuits. Modulations could maybe also be useful : chorus, flanger...
- apple's flesh textures, etc... = ??? Maybe some gain circuit with the correct texture ?

I say you can find your apple crunch in your articulation and phrasing.

It's probably also possible with articulation and phrasing I agree, but isn't it a whole different exercice ?

Last nights green apple signal chain - Tso compressor > Klon > Gravitation reverb

A little squeeze into a light crunch followed by a juicy drip. Sour notes were all me.

Really ? You found something ?

Maybe a sound sample would be useful to understand what you mean, if you would be so kind ?

 

[giovanni]

“Don’t think about a juicy red apple”

 

[eh là bas ma]

I would think volume swell for “roundness”, however you wish to achieve that, with a gated fuzz for “crunch”, perhaps with another fuzz with longer sustain to imply white noise/pulp/juice dripping, and then of course a delay for repeated bites, or chewing.

Wouldn't a gated fuzz be a bit too much for apples ? I guess your apples are very hard, heavy and crunchy... Probably full of chemical treatments ?

Be that as it may, this is an interesting proposal, i'll try and see where it leads. Zvex Fuzz Factory is the first fuzz circuit that comes to my mind for this "angry apple" experiment.

Thank you very much !

 

[peccary]

I've got Aphantasisa, so I am feeling very left out of this thread.

 

[Feral Feline]

Sour Grape Fuzz - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Keeley Rotten Apple

www.pedalpcb.com

How does that compare to the Armstrong Orange Squeezer?

I've got Aphantasisa, so I am feeling very left out of this thread.

I think the thread's about the African Elephant in the room, not the Asian...
Here you go, Joe: https://aphantasia.com

...
Are there some guitar or bass circuits that can get close to what the TB-303 is doing to a signal ?

OC-2 with some expression mods, a wah or expression controller treadle that can do two controls at a time (the OC-2 and the Wah).

That will get you close to one of the 100 sounds that TB-303 is doing.



Speaking of elephants in the room... I think we should address issues such as

What type of apple?

Flowering, green or ripe?

There are 7,500 varieties of apples in existence throughout the world. Maybe. Give or take.
A Macintosh is just outright sweet. I've never had a tart Mac, and I used to sell them by the box-load every fall for years. They tend to have a granular texture, especially when starting to get over-ripe.

A Granny Smith is what you want if you want tartness, or to bake a pie.

My wife only likes Fujian and Ambrosia, due to the texture of their flesh.

Money Apples are sweet, too, but not as sweet as Honeycrisp Apples — if memory serves correct; it's been a couple decades since I plucked Money Apples right off the tree at a friend's place in Bella Coola.

Compare the dark red of a Spartan to the Golden yellow-green of a BC Golden Delicious... Dang Spartans have a skin like leather, not sure what the appeal is given there are so many apples that taste better.




Yes, I think the type of apple needs to be narrowed down.

 

[peccary]

Auto-correct gets me every time.

 

[eh là bas ma]

I used to sell them by the box-load every fall for years.

Yes, I think the type of apple needs to be narrowed down.

I understand some of us had the chance to spend a lot of time among apples. I'm afraid that if we go down that path and narrow it down too much, it will be harder to translate accurately ?

However, getting all the details right might be the key to get a good rendering, in order to conjure up a clear and beautiful apple in the listener's mind.

I'd tend to focus on a ripe apple, probably a Calville specimen, they are red but often have a green side because of the apple tree foliage blocking the sun rays. It's a late variety, they are ripe quite late in the season, so there's not much sun either.
An average granular texture (35%), average sweetness (45%), and acidity (45%). Some tartness, some sourness, but not too much, almost unoticeable (under 12%).

These Money and Honeycrisp apples sound interesting, i'd be curious to listen to them. What circuits would you use to fully express these two varieties of apples ?