Bit Crushing: How to Be Creative

[@CyberattackWorld]

Pro-Tip #6: if you wanna buy any of the gear in this video, here's my affiliate links: Alexander Pedals Syntax Error bit.ly/3bYKSCc EAE Prismatic Wall bit.ly/3RMUG3Y Strymon Mobius bit.ly/3C6TH7I (Perfect Circuit) bit.ly/3ZqO3cc (Sweetwater)

[@Darko.mp3]

Money!

[@roscoeswraps2510]

👹 *maniacal laughter*

[@bstoner1300]

I’m here 50% for the music and ideas, and 50% for the dope videos

[@ERMAV]

That solo tone from your song is stellar mate

[@CyberattackWorld]

Thanks man I’m dying to finish this record and unleash it

[@ERMAV]

@@CyberattackWorld unleash the beast!!!

[@emilyharpist]

now this is epic

[@CyberattackWorld]

🥊♥

[@Auroramaya]

I've watched a ton of your videos and wanted to let you know how valuable and helpful your contributions are to the interwebs. Thank you

[@CyberattackWorld]

Thanks i really appreciate it

[@yeoss]

Your channel rules. I learn a lot from these types of videos. You tend to cover things that others don't.

[@juniperus.itoigawa]

The aesthetic of your sound and video production is so unique, awesome man 🤖

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks man

[@kernz160]

There’s a Jeff Tweedy song called From Far Away where he uses what I think is sample rate reduction, along with a high pass filter and maybe some subtle pitch vibrato. The combo makes for this really haunting effect that sounds like the “breathing” of a very sick robot. Great video as usual.

[@CyberattackWorld]

That sounds rad

[@petougao]

Excellent desc. Really like a breathing machine

[@Dethfield]

That bass tone was incredible. Going to steal that trick!

[@BitcrusherTheAcidHorse-bf3oi]

This has given me many oats for my bag and I look forward to the album! When I gain corporeal form I shall certainly try applying these techniques to real life guitars as you suggest

[@CyberattackWorld]

Thanks, good luck with corporeal form

[@ToneSherpa]

I bit crush (well sample rate reduce really) my electronic drums almost every single time. Something about having a lower sample rate just makes a snare come to life for me.

[@CyberattackWorld]

I agree

[@MarcEdwards]

I think it’s totally cool to use “bit crushing” as the umbrella term for bit depth reduction and sample rate reduction. You’re right that these things are typically digital, but… you can do analogue sample rate reduction. How? Use a sample and hold circuit with an audio rate oscillator triggering the sample. It sounds great. Thanks for the video! Great stuff.

[@walterengel7425]

This is genuinely one of the best overall videos I’ve ever seen. Thank you for your amazing work and content as a musician artist and creative you’re inspiring

[@moonstar_connor]

Awesome video, loved the vibes of the last example!

[@derekwiley8990]

You really make some of the best videos on youtube

[@CyberattackWorld]

❤️🥊

[@FakeGlasses]

Excellent shredding this episode sir. I was sad you never worked the sidestep into this episode lol, as you tend to do that at least once per episode. Keep making fun shit.

[@CyberattackWorld]

thank you. yes the Side Step rules my life, although i guess this time i just didn't need it

[@rosquo]

That second one is fucking insane dude im so hyped for that album

[@CyberattackWorld]

Thanks man that might be my favorite solo I’ve ever played in my life

[@BjarniOlsen]

​@@CyberattackWorld that solo is crazy good 👍

[@MortalToaster]

I had stupid girl in my head literally last night after not hearing it for at least a decade, and here we go again

[@CyberattackWorld]

That’s amazing.

[@silkyb9869]

Psychic friends....precognitive

[@williaml.6922]

@MortalToaster: May this twist of fate help you transcend the corporeal world to become, finally, an ImmortalToaster. Praise be!

[@j.d.lawrence1222]

Great tips, great facial expression, great guitar examples!!!

[@sicboi99]

You explain this stuff so well, making it simple and usable. Thank you so much 🤘

[@robdavies9478]

So glad you've got your hands on the Prismatic Wall, as soon as I plugged mine in I thought it was a Cyberattack pedal. So many weird and wonderful sounds in it.

[@roscoechance5155]

I like how that last sound example is pleasing and melodic yet edgy and harsh at the same time

[@CyberattackWorld]

this is all i've ever wanted

[@9uapito]

this should have a million views tysm bro

[@Jen-Lea]

9.20 I've listened to this solo so many times. Such beautiful work!

[@CyberattackWorld]

thank you i'm glad you like it

[@jacobtallen]

i literally just dug out my bitcrusher pedal the other day and ran it into a big muff while moving the "krush" control to make it like a glitchy, broken big muff fuzz sound

[@BjarniOlsen]

Everything about this is awesome. Cool video editing and really really good music. It is inspiring to get these ideas for putting pedals together 😅 Thanks man ❤

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks for the comment, glad you're enjoying it

[@davidsummerville351]

So glad you did this. Long overdue topic, very little info to a fascinating effect. Thank you.

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks dude, this one is close to my heart

[@EngineeredNonsense]

Brilliant walkthrough as always! Also, that slow pan with mecha-Godzilla on tip #5 is astounding.

[@CyberattackWorld]

Thank you for acknowledging Mecha Godzilla

[@andersondouglas3470]

I created a particular Pro-Tip I would say, I did an experiment with a bit crusher, I took a rowin flanger (a copy of the electric mistress) I put it in filter matrix mode and let it oscillate, it emits a constant oscillation but without movement of the modulation, then I passed it through the bit crusher and basically I was messing with the knobs as if I were a DJ, so I decided to take my MS 50G and use its Slicer, which is kind of a copy of some rhythms from the BOSS pedal and I literally created a Drum 8-Bit Machine, I recommend it. Something that makes noise -> Bit Crusher -> Slicer (you now have an 8-bit drum machine)

[@CyberattackWorld]

that sounds like it was rad

[@onerandombruh]

Huh. Neat. And to think I kever cared about this type of effect because I couldn't actually find any kind of use for it... Thanks for your upload!

[@blackboy707]

i wish we were friends

[@CyberattackWorld]

we can always be cyber BFFs

[@karlboman]

Jesus that first solo was HOT. Can't wait to hear the album! Great video as always of course, gives me new ideas for music making :)

[@CyberattackWorld]

Thanks dude I’m glad you’re digging it

[@fortressofgraves]

That last demo song you did in this video was incredible! I'd love to see Pro-Tips videos on the Prismatic Wall and Syntax Error sometime. Great video dude!

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks for the comment. The Syntax Error has its own videos here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4ezpaWibJeCsNk kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIenf2qJha6tp6c and the Prismatic Wall turns up in this video I made as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6HFp3uoZbaha80

[@fortressofgraves]

@@CyberattackWorld Thanks man! guess I missed those. I'm still going thru all your videos.

[@thenickbw]

Well I was going to go outside and touch grass today but yet again you've made me want to grab my line6 Helix and mess around with effects I've never tried before. Time to play some 2nd rate Saint Vincent style riffsssssss 🤙

[@CyberattackWorld]

great life decisions

[@AmmoCanAmpMan]

What a beautiful explanation of this effect.

[@81realtime]

Stoked to hear the upcoming album!

[@GreenSkyDill]

All the best kinds of nostalgia wrapped up with the coolest tips and tricks make these the best guitar effect pedal videos on the internet. Never stop making these 🥲🥲🥲

[@RobUttley]

I absolutely loved that solo in pro tip 3. Looking forward to this album!! Very atmospheric stuff in the final tip. I think I'll look around to see if there are any budget bit-crushing options. Thanks!

[@CyberattackWorld]

Thanks dude. I’ll try to think of a good budget one too.

[@musictimewithjoel3020]

Everything about that solo on tip 3 was 🔥 Had to listen to it a few times

[@CyberattackWorld]

❤️🥊

[@juanmoralesvideo]

I loved that Jem vs Misfits reference!

[@CyberattackWorld]

glad you caught that

[@davidhoneyman429]

Man that solo was grindy and cool

[@CyberattackWorld]

Thanks I spent a LONG time writing it and then grinding out takes to get the performance right

[@blazepond5518]

these videos are so good yo

[@gbicci9379]

i just love this channel

[@Telorchid]

Fun and informative! Now I'm going to have to take a second look at the LVX bit-crushing as opposed to the whatever the MercuryX Hazy mod is doing.

[@JamesStrassburg]

Excellent visualization at 2:19!

[@RandomCanEHdian]

Interesting stuff in the most entertaining package possible, as always 🤠

[@mikewolfe9458]

Very nice! Looking forward to checking out your new record when it’s available to purchase. That solo was mighty tasty - I say it’s nearing the tastiness level of Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice Low Acid. I realize this is a hot take, but I stand by it.

[@CyberattackWorld]

oh my god thank you

[@danielhelderman5228]

Nice use of a RAGE card, now if you can fit in a "cleft in twain" that would be legendary!

[@CyberattackWorld]

oh my god I love this comment. Yes I agree CLEFT IN TWAIN rules, I actually built an entire Rage deck around being able to use it. The trick was putting a bunch of low-renown Bone Gnawers in the pack, giving them the Frankweiler Sword, and having them go after the Zmei. Thank you for knowing what Rage is, I can't tell you how excited I am to be discussing this in the comments here.

[@danielhelderman5228]

@@CyberattackWorld WAYYYY back when, i worked at a game store and we would have huge 8 player multiplayer games of RAGE, such a great time. where has the last 30 years gone lol.

[@CyberattackWorld]

@@danielhelderman5228 oh my god that's incredible. I actually have a bunch of questions about what it was like to run a game store during that era, if you would ever want to dish about it please send me an email at cyberattack.world at symbol gmail dot com

[@jpm9628]

I just recently got a Wave Crusher. Very useful video for me right now. Cheers!

[@mrblablablabla]

6:18 That. Was. AWESOME!! 🤘🏼

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks, that's one of my favorite things i've ever done

[@mrblablablabla]

@@CyberattackWorld Dude, it’s one of MY favourite things YOU have ever done! 😁✌🏼 Bravo! 👏🏼

[@Alex_Martz]

I thought you'd mention the Chase Bliss Mood MK1 as it's on the screenshot of the video and is also a great bit crush/sample rate reducer via its clock control

[@CyberattackWorld]

yes it's a strong candidate for the thing I do in pro-tip #5 especially, but I do have a whole separate video about the Mood if you're interested, which includes using it as a bit-crusher: kzbin.info/www/bejne/in2khn-knZuEeJo

[@Alex_Martz]

@@CyberattackWorld Yes I saw it too, great video too!, I hope you can do a video on the Mood MK2 and Onward

[@TjByers369]

That rendition of Stupid Girl was killer.

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks an

[@darlyngton_nyc]

That last solo was dope yo

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks dude

[@van_daddy_z]

You can analog bit crush if you run a signal through a sample and hold and clock it with a vco. The lower the frequency of the vco the lower the bitrate.

[@reverendg5937]

Thank You for the informative video lesson!!!! 🎸🎸🎸

[@barrelofbugs]

I forgive you for calling it the wrong thing. I already forgot what it was you called it.

[@CyberattackWorld]

it's so important to move on

[@nathanielscott9803]

Analog downsampling is possible to create similar results. Look up the Distortotron and the Trømso by Bastl. Any sample and hold clocked by an audiorate oscillator can do it.

[@thegratefulned]

Probably the best stupid girl cover I've ever heard

[@CyberattackWorld]

what you need is what you'll get

[@stephenpisani5727]

Come for the pedal tips, stay for the Rage card cameos

[@CyberattackWorld]

My favorite comments are the ones that acknowledge the Rage cards

[@dustyaudio]

That was fun! I use an old Sp-404sx sampler to run bass thru for its “Bit Crash” fx. I wish Boss would make a bass bit crash pedal, BBC-1? 🤔

[@trainfantomemusic]

What is that last song ?! It is just magnificent ❤❤❤

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks, that's another one that's gonna be on my next record, called "Friends Again"

[@octoberdx]

Your explanation of bitcrushing isn't quite the most accurate, but it certainly works for people who are new to production stuff. For those curious, a digital sound file is essentially a set of instructions for a speaker to follow, you can't store the exact form of a sound wave within a file, so you have to store a certain amount of positions for the speaker cone to move to, called samples. A sample has a certain amount possible of vertical positions (by vertical I mean in reference to how it looks on a waveform view, with the bottom being the speaker cone moved all the way in and the top being the speaker moved all the way out, or vice-versa depending on how the speaker is wired, phasing stuff, etc. who cares), with 24-bit audio, there are 24 possible positions, 16-bit audio 16 positions, etc. Bitcrushing is the effect of reducing the amount of possible positions for the cone to move to, sample rate reduction is the result of reducing the amount of samples per second. Reducing sample rate reduces the effective "range", or highest possible frequency (also known as a nyquist frequency) of a sound file, which is half of the sample rate. As the sample rate reduces, you lose overtones and other details, but unless the sample rate gets really low, you still keep at least the fundamental frequency. In theory, bitcrushing and sample rate reduction still keep the relative pitch of a note reasonably accurate, even in somewhat extreme cases, which is part of why they're so useful. Sorry for the long-winded comment, this kind of stuff fascinates me too much lol

[@coastercook]

Great lesson! Thanks

[@marcoiacono]

Man! Awesome solo from example 4 (min 9:20) I loved it! Can you tell us the chord progression? Really love your channel! Cheers from Argentina!

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks for the comment. the solo in that spot is my re-harm of "If I Can Dream," by Elvis Presley. I have an in-depth write-up of how I approach the solo and the chords underneath, like from a hardcore music theory perspective, on my Patreon page if you really want to get geeky about it. Feel free to sign up for one month at the lowest level and read it and then cancel: www.patreon.com/posts/more-thoughts-112367905

[@TheLordcasio]

You would be wrong my friend. In the early 2010’s there was a brilliant circuit bender by the name of “The SquareWave Parade” that made an analog Bit Crusher/Bit Reducer.

[@CyberattackWorld]

I'd be curious to learn more about that. But off the top of my head, using analog methods to force a signal into a square shape sounds like what fuzz circuits are doing.

[@petougao]

How about bugbrand bugcrusher? I think it is too an analog simulation of srr/bc

[@thirstin_more6429]

you're the man! 🤘

[@Lewbert]

When is this new album coming out? These solos are are sick and I'm loving working them out

[@CyberattackWorld]

Oh man thank you for this comment. Probably not until summer. I love that you're working out the solos though.

[@Lewbert]

@@CyberattackWorld Can't wait!

[@niteshades_promise]

ahh i guess this explains the samples i used but changed speed and pitch and got these "artifacts" that i thought sounded cool and different from original samples. 🍻

[@craigwood8862]

I hate bit crush. But that last song and pro-tip, well I’m a convert. Thanks Ivan!

[@s.manuel7969]

Any idea when the new music is coming out??

[@CyberattackWorld]

thank you for asking. it's gonna be 2025 at the soonest I'm afraid

[@s.manuel7969]

@@CyberattackWorld I know how that goes, can’t wait to hear it!

[@HazeAnderson]

My favorite bit crusher is the Hotone Skyline Krush. I bought it because it was cute, but it turned out to be a MONSTER. Oh wait I forgot. You don't like me, something about Rush. 😆

[@CyberattackWorld]

I always liked you Haze. Unfortunately Rush is trash.

[@bengalinsky4300]

You can do analog bit crushing with a vca and an lfo cycling at audio rates

[@ScamLikely9327]

I have two different fuzz pedals that have super wild crushed tones. The Part Garden and Dirt Transmitter. Never really tried them with reverb though. Guess I’ll have to experiment.

[@chrisegonmusic]

That is an awesome version of Stupid Girl.

[@robdavies9478]

My 3 year old daughter started dancing around the room when she heard the sample rate reduction solo.

[@CyberattackWorld]

That’s awesome thank you for telling me

[@robdavies9478]

​@CyberattackWorld she is a tough audience too but her face absolutely lit up

[@ГлебБобков-т2х]

Cool vid man

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

This channel is one of the best gems on YT. It should be compulsory viewing for any musician.

[@SmokinFoolz]

Mario 64 got me like BLJ basement door, yo.

[@bryanbytes]

Great video! I watched it even though bit crushing is probably my least favorite effect haha

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks for taking the chance

[@bryanbytes]

Good content, so no chance to take

[@CyberattackWorld]

@@bryanbytes 🥊♥

[@EricssonB]

@9:30 yo how would it sound if you had 50/50 blend of the crushed/reduced alongside the original sound. Best of both?

[@CyberattackWorld]

I forget what my actual blend was to start with, it may not have been 100% wet for once. But the Super Overdrive came after the bit crushing, and then that was run into an amp that was already breaking up, so by the end everything was 100% crunched

[@NohFyuchur]

Yeah i saw that Beckface…you got it

[@lil_depressed]

Amazing video, again! What preset are you using on Alexander Pedals on your solo? Cube? With sample reduction? Mix 50%? I have this pedal too, want to try something like this. Sounds fresh.

[@CyberattackWorld]

I forget the exact settings on the Syntax Error, but was probably Cube, but with very little of the actual Cube distortion happening, and slightly more of the sample rate reduction. Volume, tone, and I think mix were probably all on 100%.

[@lil_depressed]

@@CyberattackWorld Thanks for the answer man! Yeah, I thought the mix would be 100% because you always go 100% or nothing, but the guitar tone was still ‘distinguishable’, so I thought it was less. Nice!

[@CyberattackWorld]

@@lil_depressed to be honest in this case it might have been less, i just dont remember. anyway the most important thing is always to use your ears to find what sounds best

[@lil_depressed]

@@CyberattackWorld 100%

[@masterofreality230]

Ahh, havent heard "Stupid Girl" for a long time. Nice rendition. I dont know if you could release a song like that in 2024. I am not a huge culture warrior, but I do think creativity has been limited by people that dont understand things immediately. Even if they do understand it, they still need to get a life.

[@jimmixthurtell]

What is that blue guitar? Rips hard as

[@CyberattackWorld]

It was custom built for me by Alex Glasser at Iron Horse Instruments, thanks for the comment

[@jimmixthurtell]

@@CyberattackWorld oh cool, I had a feeling it might be custom. Looks and sounds great, I'll definitely check those guys out. Thanks for the info :) keep up the great vids man

[@kaipulfer8229]

so damn cool!

[@brandontaylor6]

C Y B E R

[@oliverlangrall2014]

I always wondered what bit crushing was. I mean, I heard it and thought "old nintendo sounds" but I didn't understand how it actually worked. I don't see a bit crusher in my future but it looks like fun stuff to mess around with. I try not to limit myself when it comes to sound experiments but this has such a hard distinctive sound I always thought it was a little gimmicky or something. It seems pretty usable on a synth or bass but you make it work really cool and ya sound fantastic but I ain't the musician you are!

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks for the comment, for me it's an irresistible sound, but it's also very specific and I get why it's not going to fit into everybody's goals

[@oliverlangrall2014]

​@@CyberattackWorld Do you gig? If so, what kind of amp do you use? I'm looking for a clean one, I have a peavey delta blues (found it in the attic of an apartment I lived in a million years ago). I modified it for more headroom but I still find myself pushing the tubes to distort and color the sound. I need something that can get relatively loud and stay clean, been thinking of the roland jc40 cause it's cheapo

[@CyberattackWorld]

@@oliverlangrall2014yes to gigging, usually whatever Fender amp is in the backline works fine for me. Hot Rod Deluxe or whatever. Sometimes I bring a vintage JCM800 head I have that was modded to have an FX loop, but depending on the gig that can be overkill.

[@oliverlangrall2014]

@@CyberattackWorld been thinking about that hot rod deluxe as well, I had the 4x10 back in high school but sold it for some dumb reason. I even replaced the volume pot so it didn’t wreck my ears suddenly after turning it up past 3

[@FakeGlasses]

How do you do these graphic effects like with those lines getting pixelated. The aesthetic of your Chan is all lofi, but the visual effects must take serious time/effort.

[@CyberattackWorld]

thanks for the comment. i explain a lot of my tricks in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/inLMhmetm7uagqs, but at some point i'm going to make an updated version, explaining the new stuff i've started doing

[@ericamoretti5148]

[@VSPhotfries]

Audio engineer here: Technically the effect of aliasing isn't actually from the "pixilization of sound," since the recreation of digital sound is a band-limited sine wave (e.g. it's totally as smooth and as accurate as the input, there's no "sound pixels" in the first place, and speakers can't move air like that anyway). The buzzy sound is due to bad (typically older) digital sound algorithms that lack a low-pass filter in them, and not having that can erroneously create weird tones because of what in simple terms is "inferred" to be there, but isn't, because of how the math works. Don't ask me to explain the math in detail. I can't. Just know that low sample-rate recordings with a bad algorithm that doesn't filter out frequencies above the Nyquist (basically half the sample rate) sound weird because of it. That's what bitcrushers tend to do: Badly re-encode audio (or fake the effect of it) to make it sound all zappy and harsh, which is rad AF when it's intentional.

[@CyberattackWorld]

I made a choice not to get into Nyquist for the sake of keeping the video quick and dirty, so all I really meant with “sound pixels” was a figurative way to describe distortion that results from sampling inaccuracies. Thanks for adding some detail.

[@HomeInMyShoes]

I'm totally here for the hot garbage. Syntax Error? BitQuest? Artifakt? Or just admit I'm more of just a lo-fi person and go Generation Loss.

[@petougao]

Video would be great even if you ended it after the tutorial part.