DISTORTION vs OVERDRIVE vs BREAKUP * Who knows what's what??

[Toppscore]

Always had "comparing" Distortion ~ Overdrive ~ Speaker Breakup on my mind.
Just never asked. To me, all three ARE NOT CLEAN. That's what I knew.

But, what are the differences?

I just purchased a rackmount Line-6 Pro Pod 2.0 with tons of guitar and amp effects,
another pedalboard allowing for five differnt effect pedals and added
(surprise ) DISTORTION and OVERDRIVE pedals as well as other pedals.

Therefore, Questions come to mind . . . .

Can anyone explain the differences
Is Distortion a digital way of breaking-up speakers at lower volumes
Is Overdrive an instant volume or power burst of signal
or WHAT


Thanks. Wanna learn something here. Toppscore




.

[xtian]

I'm going to define distortion as what happens to your clean signal when its amplitude exceeds the amount of available headroom in your amp. The shape of the sine wave changes (becomes distorted), introducing harmonics and all kinds of (hopefully pleasing) sonic mayhem.

"To overdrive", as a verb, means to feed a hotter (clean) signal into your amp, causing more or earlier distortion. But "Overdrive" pedals typically create their own distorted signal, before it even gets to your amp.

There's nothing inherently "digital" in these processes, but of course digital gear emulates these processes programatically.

[Toppscore]

I'm going to define distortion as what happens to your clean signal when its amplitude exceeds the amount of available headroom in your amp. The shape of the sine wave changes (becomes distorted), introducing harmonics and all kinds of (hopefully pleasing) sonic mayhem. "To overdrive", as a verb, means to feed a hotter (clean) signal into your amp, causing more or earlier distortion. But "Overdrive" pedals typically create their own distorted signal, before it even gets to your amp. There's nothing inherently "digital" in these processes, but of course digital gear emulates these processes programatically.

Would the "overdrive" floor pedal signal that is "distorted even
before it reaches the amp" actually be distortion, anyway?

Since the distortion floor pedal changes the inbound guitar signal
to become a distorted signal outboud to the amplifier,
how is that different than what the overdrive pedal creates?
Or, what's the difference between distortion pedals and overdrive pedals?

I'm sure ten manufacturers of distortion pedals will do the same thing,
but all ten may "sound" different. Same with ten different overdrive pedals.

I'm not after an answer as to whatever sounds good . . . . but simply wondering if overdrive pedals
and distortion pedals are really the same pedal with differert tones or sounds and a different name?

What do you think?



Also, most of my Fender amps' speakers will break-up at higher volumes,
are overdrive pedals and distortion pedals simply trying to emulate speakers
within the amps high-volume speaker "break-up" stage?


Definitely will A-B my pedal effects when those arrive, but just wondering differences.
Thanks again.

[LeftyStrat]

In the guitar pedal world, it seems these terms get used (or misused) for classification. An overdrive pedal doesn't distort as much as a distortion pedal, and a distortion pedal doesn't distort as much as a fuzz pedal.

The Tube Screamer is considered an overdrive pedal, the Rat, a distortion pedal, and the Big Muff, a fuzz pedal.

But all three are introducing distortion. Some use clipping diodes, while others overdrive a transistor. See, clear as mud.
[/b]

[Toppscore]

In the guitar pedal world, it seems these terms get used (or misused) for classification. An overdrive pedal doesn't distort as much as a distortion pedal, and a distortion pedal doesn't distort as much as a fuzz pedal.

The Tube Screamer is considered an overdrive pedal, the Rat, a distortion pedal, and the Big Muff, a fuzz pedal.

But all three are introducing distortion. Some use clipping diodes, while others overdrive a transistor. See, clear as mud.
[/b]

Thanks, Lefty Strat. It's all in the name as all signals will get distorted.
Words to live by and quote



But, very phunny as I just purchased several Danelectro "all metal construction" pedals:
1) Cool Cat Drive V2 (CO-2)
2) Cool Cat Transparent Overdrive V2 (CT02)
3) Cool Cat Distortion (CD-1)
4) Cool Cat Fuzz
5) Cool Cat Tremolo (CT-1) w/True Bypass

Think I over did it a bit much with the distorted signal approach
My goal for this set is for amps' clean channels and amps without reverb.

But, now you can better understand my inquiry regarding overdrive,
distortion and speaker breakup.

Any comments are much appreciated.
None of the Danelectro has yet to arrive.


.

[d95err]

As previously said, there is no single clear definition about those terms. My interpretation when it comes to classifying guitar pedals, isn't really based on the amount of distortion available, but rather the type of clipping and filtering:

Distortion - hard clipping, usually diodes to ground (Rat, MXR Dist+). Some bass cut before clipping.

Overdrive - soft clipping, often diodes in a feedback loop (Tube Screamer). Bass cut before clipping.

Fuzz - hard or soft clipping with no bass cut before the clipping, resulting in a loose (or farty) bass response (Fuzz Face, Big Muff, etc)

[vibratoking]

Quick, cancel the order on all 5 and buy one GOOD one. Just kidding.

[surfsup]

I'm going to define distortion as what happens to your clean signal when its amplitude exceeds the amount of available headroom in your amp.

I would disagree with this but this is all opinion...

Distortion (IMO) is inevitable and always present. Your ears will distort a sound wave, so this can be as subtle or severe as you want it to be. So when a perfect sine wave is input into your amp (stage: tube or sand) there will be "some" distortion of the signal coming out that cannot be avoided (good or bad).

Overdrive (IMO) is when the amplitude enters the severely grouped grid curve area or the positive swing exceeds the bias of the stage, where there will be significant distortion or the signal actually clips/cutoff.

But in the end as long as you ask and understand what the designer's product is, or his intentions are, all should be good...?

[Reeltarded]

Distortion is the interference between what my girlfriend wants and what she's getting.

Overdrive is the gear I have my car in whan I am speeding away from that crazy bitch.

Break up is the best idea all day.

[vibratoking]

Yes, but what is fuzz? We need ALL the questions answered Miles.

[Reeltarded]

Fuzz caused all this in the first place. Fuzz and blur.

[johnnyreece]

Fuzz caused all this in the first place. Fuzz and blur.

I thought Fuzz is what caught up to you as you were speeding away (too much overdrive)?

[NickC]

Fuzz caused all this in the first place. Fuzz and blur.

I thought Fuzz is what caught up to you as you were speeding away (too much overdrive)?

I'm fairly certain you need Germanium to get Fuzz. Also, the Germanium must be at room temperature; it doesn't like cold.

[Reeltarded]

Too much to consider. Back to basics. Maybe I need a new car..

[M Fowler]

Speaker break up-overdrive-distortion = Dirt - Hair - More Hair