Roland VS-CDRII User Manual download pdf (Page 18)

Effects processing is the process of changing, augmenting or otherwise

modifying the audio signal. When an effect is applied to the audio signal it is

considered to be “wet.” When the audio signal has no effect applied to it the

signal it is considered “dry.”

Imagine if you had an aquarium filled with water and you wished to change

the color of the water to red. You could apply a red film over the viewing

area of the aquarium to give the effect of red water but the water is really

clear. You may even want to experiment with various film colors. In regards

to effects, this would be the equivalent of monitoring an effect without

recording it. Now, lets say you turned the same water red by applying red food

dye to the water. The water is now actually red and that cannot be changed.

In recording, this is similar to recording a signal “wet” or “printing” a track

with effects.

So, when is it best to record wet and when is it better to record dry? The

advantage of recording a signal wet is that you no longer need to use your

effects processor to create the desired effect. That effect is part of the recording

and that frees the effects processor to be used on another track or to create a

different effect. The advantage of recording a signal dry is that you maintain

the flexibility to change the effect at a later time. This is especially useful if

you are unsure what effect(s) you want to use.

Another common recording technique is to record the signal dry on one track

and wet on another. This allows you to create a mixture of dry and effected

signal and is particularly useful on effects such as reverb and delay. Also, by

maintaining a dry track, you have the advantage of changing the effect in the

future if desired. This technique can be used if you have lots of available

tracks or, if you have a recorder that offers Virtual Tracks.

17The Basics of Modern Recording

Monitoring Effects

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Roland VS-CDRII User Manual Page 18