distortion chart

[Steben]

the simple fuzz thread made me think of this.
Feel free to give comment
octavia should come on top middle for example

[Auke Haarsma]

Looks interesting!

Maybe it obvious, but can you explain what 'formulas' you used to pick the position of the effects on the charts.

[FiveseveN]

Funny you should bring this up. As part of my research for my master's degree I'm planning on developing a comprehensive graphical representation of OD/distortion/fuzz pedals' tone. Will it be a 2D chart, a 3D one or a whole system? I can't say yet, school's barely started and it's not an urgent topic, but since we're on the subject...
My approach would be to gather a whole cloud of keywords that describe a distorted tone and gradually eliminate them by abstraction. The end result would ideally be the least ammount of antonymous pairs that can exhaustively describe a tone (i.e. our axes). Any advice is, naturally, welcome.
By the way, maybe you've noticed BOSS have a similar chart: http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/DS-2/images/intro_R_L.jpg And their GT-10 has a similar 2D tone control.

[hday]

I'd love to see a giant, completely full chart. It would also be great to have tone examples too. Perhaps someone that's good with Flash could make a version where you could click the effect name and hear a chord or two.

[FiveseveN]

That I could do, but unless they're all recorded under the same conditions, a compendium of samples is of no use for the user. I couldn't use other people's work anyway and as I don't own (or could borrow or have even seen) every distinctive distortion out there, I'll have to stick to samples of my own effects. Sounds like a nice collective project though, if you guys think the effort is worth it.
And here's another thought: Some effects are pretty versatile, so I'm thinking curves or areas instead of dots on a graph would describe them better. Some can go from mild OD to full-out distortion, from smooth/dark to glassy, and so on. Would that be too much of a hassle or maybe rely too much on subjective observation?

[frequencycentral]

What I really need is a VU meter version of that chart that I can plug my breadboard into. Then I'd know what I just made. 

[Zben3129]

What I really need is a VU meter version of that chart that I can plug my breadboard into. Then I'd know what I just made. 

Actually, I believe what you are looking for is a miracle 

[FiveseveN]

A VU meter wouldn't help you much but a spectrum/THD analyzer is a start.

[DougH]

For some reason, this chart reminds me of this little gem from HC:

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

perhaps Mark Hammer or other psych background person could organise a pairwise comparison like/unlike trials & perform a dimensionality analysis on the results

[WGTP]

When you start thinking about this, you quickly start coming up with problems, but it's is a cool idea.  If you look at the Boss Chart, notice the Overdrive/Distortion OS-2 is listed in 3 places.  The "MIX" control has OD on the left side and Dist. on the right.  It basically "pans" between the 2 different circuits.  It may be necessary to do that or have an "area" or "zone" for devices that have different character at different settings.  I think another argument that came up before when I proposed something like this, is that the design of the circuit, for example a TS, with various mods, may "sound" more like a Distortion + even though it is built like a TS.  Anyway, go for it.   

[Steben]

I see, yet a standard TS is a standard TS.
The chart was not intedended as a large compendium, on the contrary.
I planned to achieve something like an easy guide to get orientation.

The OS-2 is a pedal I would not put in this, since it is in fact two pedals in one, which are almost completely represented by another one.

[liddokun]

Where would a Guv'nor fit in on this?  Or BSIAB2

[Steben]

Where would a Guv'nor fit in on this?  Or BSIAB2

BSIAB on lowest line, next to power tube,
Guvnor on lowest line, next to DS1.

[MikeH]

http://media.bossus.com/interactive/vdg.html

Kind of like this- although I think it's funny; I would have put a lot of these on the other side of the rough/smooth line

[DougH]

Sounds like a good name for a fuzz box: "Virtual Distortion Grid"...