Fuzz Pedal in Max/MSP

After creating my own version of the fuzz box - using a Darlington transisor pair - I wanted to try and re-create the clipping that the fuzz box creates within Max/MSP. This is quite simple to do using a standard MSP overdrive~ object. See details of the patch here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It's also possible to distort or create fuzz using tanh~ and atan~ but not tried these yet.

Anyone got any other suggestions or ideas for creating a similar effect in Max?

I just came across this thread in the cycling74 forums, which might be worth taking a look at: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Once person in the thread points out:

Quote :

My experience is that a good
distortion sound usually is a combination of pre/post filtering, ring
modulation, and any number of other signal conditioning methods.

So I wonder what other factors contribute to our perception of a nice distortion. Also what factors change the tone from Fuzz to Crunch. I know changing the diode in the Fuzz_001 from a silicon (drop voltage ~0.7V) to a germanium (drop voltage ~0.2V - i think) gives the distortion a more crunchy sound. So maybe the clipping point is responsible there.

In the case of Max the overdrive~ object simply increases the amplification whilst limiting the maximum output - thus producing clipping. Increasing the amplification or drive factor will mean that a more of the input sine wave will be clipped.

Decreasing the diode drop voltage will mean more clipping and less output.

I think using the clip~ or tahn~ objects will re-create the diode clipping effect.

In relation to perception of nice distortion - I think this has lots of factors. In my opinion it's either a little fuzz or some full-on degraded distortion. Nothing in-between. I also think that it's extremely difficult to recreate the exact sound of hardware effects using software.

Quote :

In relation to perception of nice distortion - I think this has lots of factors. In my opinion it's either a little fuzz or some full-on degraded distortion. Nothing in-between. I also think that it's extremely difficult to recreate the exact sound of hardware effects using software.

I'm sure someone, somewhere is writing a thesis on it.