How do I make an 1176 (MC77 rather) sound bad?

[jebjerome]

Just got a Purple MC77 and trying vocals out on it and it sounds f'n fantastic. I can't get it to sound bad. Thanks to all who recommended this piece, particularly Thrillfactor.

I'm sure it can sound bad. I can't seem to get it to ruin a vocal, but maybe I have low standards.

Any settings to you'd never use on this thing? Four buttons in and many combos of attack / release and input gain and it still sounds good to me. What a wonderful piece.

[T-fonk]

LOL! Sorry to hear that, there's just one more option for you then: Sing really, really bad, and make sure it's way out of tune, and make it un-rythmic too!!!
That should do the "trick"....

[MichaelT]

Originally Posted by T-fonk

LOL! Sorry to hear that, there's just one more option for you then: Sing really, really bad, and make sure it's way out of tune, and make it un-rythmic too!!!
That should do the "trick"....

Also make sure the unit is unplugged

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by jebjerome

Just got a Purple MC77 and trying vocals out on it and it sounds f'n fantastic. I can't get it to sound bad. Thanks to all who recommended this piece, particularly Thrillfactor.

I'm sure it can sound bad. I can't seem to get it to ruin a vocal, but maybe I have low standards.

Any settings to you'd never use on this thing? Four buttons in and many combos of attack / release and input gain and it still sounds good to me. What a wonderful piece.

I've worked a Purple 76, but not a 77.

Should be able to get something pretty messed up with the attack and release both floored (all the way clockwise). That's when the release is so close to the attack that it sounds it's crunchiest.

The input control is really, really important, and the threshold changes (I think) with the ratio.

I always think any iteration of an 1176 is best at 4:1, and the other buttons are a diversion. But a lot of people think it does it's "magic" at 12:1 so different strokes. I'm def. not an "all button" guy usually.

But I say leave the little knobs floored and start at 4:1 or 8:1 and work the input. I try not to bury the needle because then it's just all over the top.

Your input signal also has a lot to do with it. Sending it a hot signal should help.

I really should get one of those. Congrats on a nice purchase. Don't ever, ever sell it.

[Bob Ross]

I stopped using 1176's on bass 25 years ago because I hated what they did to them; at that time I couldn't seem to find a setting that didn't conspicuously brutalize the bassist's dynamics. (I know, I know, it's a "dynamics processor", what the hell did I expect?)

But until I read this thread it hadn't occurred to me that my prejudice was based on a 25 year old skill set; I'm sure folks get perfectly usable bass sounds through 1176's & Purple MC76's all the time these days. I suspect if I tried one today I might be able to also.

But man, if you heard those tracks of mine from 1981 you'd agree: I got it to sound bad!

[bpatural]

The only way to make an 1176 sound bad is not to plug it in.
-brian

[WidgetNinja]

Originally Posted by max cooper

I've worked a Purple 76, but not a 77.

Should be able to get something pretty messed up with the attack and release both floored (all the way clockwise). That's when the release is so close to the attack that it sounds it's crunchiest.

Actually, all buttons in and release full clockwise turns mine into a distortion box.

I would definitely say it qualifies as "bad". I would never use it unless I was trying to replicate some old "pre-distortion, but I like to try" attempt at guitar tone.

[Knastratt]

Any Bah!-ringer stuff in front or after will do the trick!

[Tibbon]

Forgetting to wire it properly does the trick pretty well.

[AdamJay]

chuck some phantom power into the input.


(warning, sarcasm - do NOT do this!)