effects question

[abcde111]

can someone help me get to know the FX installed in lmms?

i know the best way is to just play around with them, but there's really a LOT of stuff there.
since i noticed that there are some effects with the same name, i was wondering if someone could tell me what types there are, so i can get a start somewhere.

also, how do you use the different effects of the same name (for example there's like four equalizers)

thanks!

[diiz]

That's a really big question, lol.

Equalizers amplify/reduce the different frequency areas of a signal. There are two main types - graphic and parametric eq's. Graphic eq's have fixed frequency areas which they adjust, while in parametric eq's you can choose the frequency areas yourself, then choose how much to amplify/reduce each area.

Compressors, expanders, noise gates, limiters and maximizers all modify the dynamics of the sound in different ways. Compressors reduce (or, compress) the dynamic range of the signal, making quiet parts louder without affecting the loud parts as much, hence the name: compressor, it squeezes the dynamics (amplitude changes) to smaller areas. Expanders do the opposite, they increase the dynamic range. Maximizers and limiters are special types of compressor. Limiters are meant to prevent the amplitude going over a certain limit, they look ahead at the signal to know the loud parts in advance and reduce the volume pre-emptively.

Reverbs add "room" and a feeling of space to the sound. Echos and delays add echo.

Choruses, phasers and flangers are used to fatten and widen up the sound, make it more alive.

Then there are some tube amp simulators, speaker simulators, distortions, bitcrushers and all kinds of weird and novel effects. Your best bet is to just try them out and see what they do and how they affect your sounds.

What are the best ones in each category is a subject of debate and a matter of taste. Most of the effects are reasonably good, and a few of them are very good, some even proaudio quality.

[abcde111]

thank you

is there documentation page for the effects controls?

[diiz]

Well there are some pages for the individual LADSPA effect packs which explain more or less well how the effects work.

TAP plugins: http://tap-plugins.sourceforge.net/ladspa/manuals.html
C* (CAPS) plugins: http://quitte.de/dsp/caps.html
CMT plugins: http://www.ladspa.org/cmt/plugins.html
SWH plugins: http://plugin.org.uk/ladspa-swh/docs/ladspa-swh.html

That should cover most of the LADSPA plugins shipped with LMMS. Some are more informative, some less. The TAP plugins are pretty well documented so they're a good place to start. The upside is that once you learn how a particular type of effect works, it makes it easier to understand others of the same type even if they're not documented as well.