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Effects Processors

Effects processors can be confusing and difficult to operate. I'm going to attempt to help you understand effects processors and what to look for when choosing one.

When I'm running sound, I use effects moderately. I use a pretty basic reverb and change the length depending on the song. For this article I'll be focusing on using effects for vocals.

To choose an effects unit can be a challenging task especially if you're not sure what you're looking for. You may ask questions about what kinds of effects do I need or want and why. There are also many brands and price ranges.

For the southern gospel industry you don't need a lot of various types of effects. At the most I would say find a good reverb and maybe a delay or chorus. The reverb will be your most useful one, especially if you're running sound from stage and can't switch the effect from song to song.

Again this is another item you need to go listen to. Find a unit that is easy to use. My favorite is the Lexicon MP110. It has a simple knob with clearly marked effects all around it. The second knob adjusts time and/or size. Users can create their own presets as well, but I've not found a need to with this unit. This Lexicon also comes with a test CD with everything from vocals to kick drums without effects on them so you can find one you like by running the CD through the unit.

Another thing I recommend with effects is to run it into a regular channel so that it can be EQ'd. This helps it from getting to “crispy” sounding, and can help with keeping the vocals from getting muddy.

Some units also offer the ability to use a foot switch to turn the effects on and off. This can be extremely handy for folks running their sound from stage.

Effects can be great, but don't overuse them. There's no need to make your vocals sound like they're “swimming.”

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