Singer and multi-instrumentalist Courtney Swain discusses her pedal journey with the Chase Bliss Blooper, exploring voice processing, parallel effects, and the blend of pedals. The conversation touches on creativity as a self-sustaining ecosystem and how pedal aesthetics inform performance aesthetics.
Using an Even-Tide Mixing Link preamp allows for XLR vocal processing through pedals like Blooper.
Unclocked looping on Blooper enables continuous layering and manipulation for evolving sounds.
Embracing imperfections and free-form recording with pedals fosters organic music creation.
Innovative use of pedals in vocal processing offers interactive experiences for singers in live performances.
Deep dives
Creative Use of Blooper and Mixing Link for Vocals
Using an Even-Tide Mixing Link preamp and effects loop allows for connecting XLR into pedals, like the blooper, for vocal processing. The mixing link offers switching between mic and instrument levels and an effects loop for pedal usage. Utilizing EQ, low pass, and pitch modifiers on the blooper creates tape-like sounds and provides flexibility in tonal adjustments.
Unsynced Looping Techniques and Manipulating Loops
Andy's use of unclocked looping on blooper by leaving it in overdub mode creates a continuous recording loop that allows for layering and manipulation. He often lets the loop run its full 30-second record time before overdubbing, using the pedal's max settings for optimal performance. This looping technique enhances his music by capturing spontaneous and evolving sounds.
Free-Form Recording and Embracing Imperfections
Embracing imperfections and free-form recording with pedals like blooper allows for organic and unpredictable music creation. Andy's preference for letting the loop run and capturing moments without precise syncing adds a natural and unrestrained feel to the music. This approach fosters creativity by embracing the uniqueness of each recording session.
Inspiration from Scott Harper's Creative Process
Drawing inspiration from Scott Harper's approach of designing pedals for individual expression and exploration, Andy experiments with unclocked loop recording to unlock creativity. Scott's emphasis on responsive controls that deliver tangible outcomes influences Andy to set pedals to their maximum capacity and rely on their inherent characteristics for musical discovery.
Using Blooper's Modifiers in Vocal Processing
Courntey's preferred blooper modifiers include EQ adjustments, quantized pitch shifting, trimmer for chopping effects, and shuffle for rhythm variations. The dropper function enhances transitions between songs by fading loops progressively to create a smooth and engaging musical flow. The sampler mode offers a practical solution for maintaining tempo consistency during live performances.
Creative Sound Manipulation with Pedals
The podcast delves into innovative ways of manipulating sound using pedals and creative setups. It discusses blending and looping sounds to create unique combinations that offer a distinct and personalized musical experience. By combining different pedals in parallel, the speaker explores how signal blending can lead to new and exciting sound possibilities, encouraging experimentation and individuality in music creation.
Exploring Vocal Processing with Pedals
The episode highlights the exploration of vocal processing using pedals, emphasizing the tangible and interactive experience it provides for singers. The discussion revolves around using pedals to add depth, harmonize, and experiment with vocals in live performances and recordings. It encourages singers to embrace technologies like in-ear monitors for enhanced monitoring and vocal manipulation, paving the way for a more dynamic and personalized approach to singing and music creation.
Today we're joined by singer and multi-instrumentalist Courtney Swain, to talk about her first pedal: the Chase Bliss Blooper. We start with some voicemails about musical flubs because silly old Andy goofed the prompt in Discord, then move into the beginnings of Courtney's pedal journey and how it opened up her creative practice. We talk about processing voice through pedals, the different ways Courtney and Andy use Blooper and other Chase Bliss pedals, blending of effects in parallel, how the aesthetic of a pedal designer can inform the aesthetic of a performer, and how creativity isn't a well to dry up but a self-sustaining ecosystem. It's a big one, get into it!
