Making under-saddle pickups sound a bit less crap???

Strat_a_tat_tat · May 2017

Any recommendations?

I've got a L6 Helix incoming... does that have some loveliness to make piezos sound a bit more like an acoustic?

Or should I buy a TC Body Rez... or something else?

Thanks

steamabacus · May 2017

There's a thread somewhere on here discussing using impulse responses in the Helix with acoustic guitar. It sounds like it works very well.

Strat_a_tat_tat · May 2017

@steamabacus. Not totally sure what an IR is (but I guess it's time I learnt!)... I kind of thought they were to do with modelling a speaker cab... but I could we waaay wrong on that... would IRs help to take away the quack of a piezo?

steamabacus · May 2017

Here's the thread ... http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/101246/eqing-for-piezo-quack

I'm not expert at all this digital stuff but, as I understand it, it's the same thing the Fishman Aura, Bodyrez, etc are doing. You are overlaying an acoustic response algorithm to a raw audio signal in exactly the same way as if you were overlaying a speaker response or even amp response (Kemper, etc).

Stuff to do with fourier transforms and clever maths, I think? The work of the devil, if you ask me.

Strat_a_tat_tat · May 2017

@steamabacus. Thanks for the info.

JJW1 · May 2017

Until you have tried it with the Helix, I wouldn't buy anything else. I have heard some pretty impressive acoustic tones using the Helix, even from undersadle piezo pickups. What amp are you using?

Strat_a_tat_tat · May 2017

@JJW1. Thanks... good advice!

I'll be feeding the acoustic into the Helix... and outputting direct into the PA.

TimmyO · May 2017

Yep don't buy anything else on the hardware front - the 3Sigma Audio acoustic IRs work really well - just drop one in an IR slot and you're there. Add further EQ/compression to taste.

Or you can do a manual EQ job with multiple EQ blocks

AliGorie · May 2017

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

Any recommendations?
I've got a L6 Helix incoming... does that have some loveliness to make piezos sound a bit more like an acoustic?
Or should I buy a TC Body Rez... or something else?
Thanks

Hmm, after many years of trying to get an acceptable live 'sound' from an acoustic instrument - I've come to the conclusion that it's the 'information source' that has the most influence on the outcome - so that being the case -
DPA 4099 Guitar Microphone or similar.

Funkfingers · May 2017

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

... make piezos sound a bit more like an acoustic?

Processing the signal from your undersaddle piezo transducer may not solve the problem.

Manufacturers have tried various permutations of the undersaddle piezo, magnetic sound hole pickup and a condenser microphone, suspended inside the guitar. None is perfect.

The Taylor Expression system is pretty much plug in and play/record. I like the L.R. Baggs systems with the Pressure Zone Microphone mounted on the underside of the bridge.

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Making under-saddle pickups sound a bit less crap???

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