NEW To Here Knows When Guitar Sound

[@strayfromlight]

fun fact: this is the video Kerry McCoy used as a reference for Deafheaven's delayed guitar sound

[@post.hack.depression]

where does he say that? That's awesome!

[@Breszko]

around 13:30-> kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJjKZKiln556jMk

[@Raiyne123]

Oh shit that's fucking awesome

[@rainbowrotcod]

woah!!!

[@brendanmalone-ewing6535]

But can you play the outro? 😉

[@xRyuzakii]

4:05 jaw dropped

[@JulianA-tr6pt]

This almost 10 year old video is still closer to the Shields "reverse reverb" than almost any other. Most don't realize he didn't use the typical washed out reverse *reverb* on Loveless. He used the SPX-90 on early reflections setting, which basically does a clicky, delay-like sound that simulates the sound bouncing off of walls (early reflections). The setting is on reverse, so it ramps up in volume rather than tapers off. He didn't feed the reverse verb into a fuzz/drive, but that's a decent way to recreate the To Here Knows When sound specifically, since Kevin did some weird re-amp technique to make the guitar sound ridiculously distorted. It was either guitar into the SPX straight to tape or the SPX to an amp then tape. Then the tape was fed through the amp again. So simply, it ended up sounding like guitar > reverse reverb > overdriven amp. On Loveless, it's only on 2 songs, maybe 3. You can hear the effect super clearly on the drum intro to Soon. It's the clicky delay you hear. It's amusing how their earlier stuff is far more drenched in this effect than Loveless. On some of their EPs and Isn't Anything, he used a Midiverb patch which has a more expected huge reverb wash. The SPX was also used on some of the EPs, and certainly was live on songs like Slow and Thorn.

[@aizek333]

Julian A excellent read, thank you!

[@JulianA-tr6pt]

@a w yeah, some get issues. Capacitors only last so long, so pretty much any decades old piece of equipment can have cap failures. Some of the resistors get pretty hot, so it's not a bad idea to check their accuracy and replace in the unlikely case that their value drifted. Just like old amplifiers or other serviceable equipment. On top of that, they used a brown foam-like glue on many of the components on the power supply. Not only does this stuff become slightly conductive over the years, but it also was corrosive and could eat at the copper legs on resistors, capacitors, and diodes. My SPX-90 worked fine when I got it, but I removed all of the glue they put on it and replaced some of the capacitors just for extra reliability and longevity (not that I use it that regularly).

[@JulianA-tr6pt]

​@a w You can use other fx with the classic, smooth reverse gate reverb for sure. MBV used the midiverb initially. I think Bowery Electric used a quadra on their guitars, and I love that sound. I use a Polara usually, if I don't feel like setting the SPX up and also having my bypass signal messed up. Basically, it's just 100% wet, and you have to learn to play things early so you can stay in time. There will be a setting that just feels "right" to play in. With the reverb too short or weak, the sound will be choppy, with the reverb too long, it'll take too long for the note to develop and will be impossible to keep timing. As for the settings on the SPX itself, for anyone interested, it's in the early reflection mode, the type is Reverse (Kevin said he also used the Random early reflection mode) room size is on max, the low pass filtering is off, pre-delay is on minimum. The liveness setting, which changes how "live" and reflective the room is, I usually keep pretty high, like 7/10. On a forum, a poster who apparently set up for MBV shows said Kevin kept it at 3-4, but I've also read he probably just turned everything up pretty high. In live recordings, it doesn't sound like it was set to 3-4 at all. Of course, these settings, won't mean much for other FX units.

[@samueld92]

Where is this info from?

[@JulianA-tr6pt]

@@samueld92 Some is from Kevin himself, in interviews, some is from observation, whether it's listening or looking at photos. I've spent way too much time researching the band. Not all of it I claim to be 100% the hard truth, but it depends on what part. Like, how he got the To Here Knows When sound is from Kevin in an interview. The part about the SPX reverse only being used on 2 (possibly 3) songs on Loveless is just from listening (quite blatantly, imo).

[@frytechnician]

OK, I think I speak for every shoegaze and MBV fan here when I say you've done nothing short of a superb job of recreating the sound and being clear about how to achieve it in a no-nonsense and honest way. Great work man, if i ever meet you have a pint on me.

[@WaitingtoHit]

A lot of so-called great guitarists would freely admit that they have no idea how Kevin Shields achieved a lot of the sounds heard on loveless. Punk was all about feel, which stressed that it's not the number of notes you play that matters but the way you play them. Kevin's style represents the most extreme interpretation of that philosophy. It's a texture-based approach to rock music, and no one has come closer to giving music a physical presence.

[@blackmetalemperor]

These settings worked for me on the Stereo Memory Man: Blend: 3 o'clock Decay: 12 o'clock Filter: 12 o'clock Repeats: 12 o'clock Delay: about 10 o'clock - you want to adjust this to where the green light is flashing fastest without just being a solid green light Also play around with the tone knob on your guitar as I found this affects the response of the delay quite a bit.

[@votejello]

EHX needs to send you a percentage for their Memory Man sales haha this video is why I bought one in 2012

[@jom97]

every now and then i remember this video exists and come back to it - absolutely magnificent mate. hope you're doing well all these years later.

[@KidAmnesiack]

Well, I know what pedal I'm getting next (hint, it starts with an "S" and ends with an "tereo Memory Man with Hazarai").

[@alien9422]

Did you ever get it K-On! Bro? Have you cherished it a decade later

[@KidAmnesiack]

@@alien9422 I got a TC Electronic Flashback X4 instead, mainly for the looper. There's a reverse delay on there as well so I could get similar results. Although I tend to use my buddy's Minifooger MF Delay for general delay sounds.

[@Carl3xxx]

I got it after this video and really works!

[@KhrissBliss]

Standing ovation!!!TOTALLY NAILED IT! I saw the Loveless tour twice & picked Mr Shield's brain about production.This gave me a flashback

[@calamislamis7032]

everytime I feel lonely and sad I come back here to watch this video

[@M7Caywood]

this video is why i just bought a memory man

[@memememememe7748]

+Hihi same

[@msimmond]

Same!

[@SlyHikari03]

Same

[@Carl3xxx]

Same!

[@danielcarter3928]

same

[@LuxeXx]

Never enough reverb. I like your attitude.

[@Vivacious_Lenin]

Lol I think this is the video Kerry McCoy was talking about in that rig rundown

[@YoussefAbouzeid]

the use of pedals or effects in general to enhance your sound is a form of art itself, and it's very artistic actually.

[@VictorC53]

Beats being the guy who paints Mona Lisa replicas

[@LuxeXx]

NOTE FOR PEOPLE TRYING THIS OUT: Ignore the idea of "reverse" reverb or echo. You DO NOT use it for this sound. He was not clear about this. The settings listed in the description are correct, using "Multi-Tap 1 Sec". Go to that mode, and enter in the settings. Once you enter them, compare the muted string "clicks" between your guitar and the video. Adjust "Delay" and "Repeats" until the clicks sound and respond the same. This should give you the desired sound from the Memory Man. Then do small tweaks to all knobs until you get it where you like it.

[@onwun4292]

Can I make this sound with my pedal with just 3 knobs : delay time, feedback, level ? And a switch to choose delay note interval : quarter note, dotted eighth, quarter note+dotted eighth

[@100PercentJoseph]

sadly probably not, the SMMH mode he's using here increases volume with every repeat and most delays can't really work like the SMMH multi-tap

[@Humr666]

@@100PercentJoseph I know this is an old comment, but I've got a question - could you do this with the EHX Canyon? The multitap mode has a secondary volume swell setting where you can make the repeats start from complete silence and they get progressively louder. So theoretically you could make the same kind of sound if you set it on super fast repeats, right?

[@ab8817]

@@Humr666 yeah you can. not sure if you have access to all the necessary parameters though. you do on the grand canyon

[@callumnicholson1780]

3:23 soon

[@JulianA-tr6pt]

Yep! I believe Kevin actually used the SPX-90 on the intro drums to soon. The same/a similar setting he'd use on Blown A Wish and To Here Knows When. Sounds just like it.

[@samueld92]

Julian A what’s are you opinions on what pedals he uses on Soon live? If you look at 11publishings Instagram you’ll see they got pics of his pedal rack.

[@pstrokeslibsarctic]

@@samueld92 the intro??? They probably play MD (minidisc/the backing track) for the intro and other synth part which is unplayable live

[@tastemaker_87]

This sounds great and indeed very close. Kevin Shields actually stated in the recent interview with The Quietus that " There was less technology involved than people imagine" I think a lot of their unique sound came from manipulating the tremolo arm (see the entire quietus interview online)

[@caseymakeup]

@sanchito1975 I use Blend = 1.00 o'clock Decay = 3.00 Filter = 12.00 Repeats = 11.00 Delay = 11.00 on multi tap 1 sec seems to do the job

[@grungegazer]

literally made me cry. so, so beautiful.

[@luisfelipenicodemus2055]

I dont really listen much to shoegaze but these soundscapes are inspiring as hell So I bought myself a digiverb for gated/reverse reverb and I'm about to try new things

[@Shoegaze88]

I am here 11 years after the original upload. Nails the MBV sound.

[@ghastlyshimmer]

I just recreated this effect through vsts. Sounds fantastic

[@saam6768]

You fucking nailed it man. Nicely done.

[@shoshyboo9897]

am i the only one who thinks he looks like kevin shields

[@mrbsred1]

Nice video mate. You are better than you give yourself credit for. The amount of likes should be a good indicator of that. You seem like a nice bloke too. Keep up the good work.

[@sitruscrum]

You can use the Canyon Delay pedal from EHX for this as well!

[@fuckthisfuckbullshit]

Quite amazing what happens when you combine the two pedals, the sound morphs into something entirely different. I had always wondered how it is possible to make a guitar sound like a melted chainsaw.

[@jorgepeterbarton]

the reverse reverb trick on this is why its my favourtie pedal. i've been trying to tell the spx and midiverb users. the sound on the smmh is so much better than midiverb, though the spx are good but more ambient-it sounds like reverb rather than turning your guitar into a string synth machine like this one. I'm going to try out the cathedral next rather than an spx..

[@lasfinisimas]

Amazing, simply amazing. Been trying to replicate the exact sound for years, buying pedal and pedals but never got the real deal...I'm gonna sell that Deluxe memory man crap and buy a one with reverse delay!

[@Irgendwaslanges]

I was just yesterday to a MBV gig and you nailed the sound really nicely! Especially with such simple setup (oposed to kevin shields pedal board containing tons of pedals!) also compared to other vids on youtube! Great job!

[@Chris_yes]

And now that I listen to it again; I think what they did to make it sound like a 'wheeeeee wooooooooosh' like that soupy sound without the strokes on the strings, is in the mixing on the record, they only used the wet output , and they upped the fx on the mix so it was obscuring all the strumming sounds. Very cool. Thoughts?

[@saatwikkatiha]

+Chris S. I agree - there's no better explanation for the complete absence of strokes.

[@soundbelch1600]

From the tests I've done, the SPX90 reverse gate sounds work best for me at 70% wet (50% means the effect volume is a bit too low against the dry volume). It's the interaction between the straight sound and the effected sound that gives it that rhythmic wash. The dry sound with all the distortion is going to obscure the strumming sounds just as going distorted into a normal reverb takes away the strumming sounds. So SPX90 is 70% wet for me and it's the same with the other Yamaha units with reverse, stuff like the SPX50D and FX500 (which is my current rack of choice). The MBV sound with the Midiverb is a bit different. The big reverbs really do work at 100% to get some sounds you'd recognise from Loveless. Tried a lot of units and nothing sounds quite like the Midiverb II.

[@brenan6]

I'll admit, I bought one after this video. I just couldn't find any other pedal that had that awesome multi-tap delay like this one.

[@ab8817]

electro harmonix should have paid this guy

[@MxLee192]

Without effects pedals you wouldnt have 90% of the great sounds in most great rock albums..... of any rock genre. No wah pedal, no Voodoo Child... would just sound like a guy mute picking for half the song.. No chorus pedal, distortion pedal, no smells like teen spirit., it would just sound like a spanish acoustic guitar jam.

[@alexjtrigs]

Sooo good man, really detailed. Literally sounds identical to the Fuji video.

[@360muse]

FUCK YEAH SHOEGAZE!

[@JackBz]

Used this video as reference 13 years ago when I made an album and oh boy am I back to remember what it was I actually did! Lost my memory man many years ago, may need to buy another

[@muertoscream]

You DID it! Great job, man!

[@elritmonoperdona.]

I can watch this video everyday

[@dukeofyorkshire355]

Dude, love yourself-effacing style. Awesome video, sound and playing.

[@markemoon2]

So i just got the same EHX pedal and am pretty impressed. I've got a Boss ME-50 with a bunch of distortion presets as well as an Alesis Midiverb 4. A touch of reverse reverb from the Alesis and whacking the bottom and the tone up on the distortion (i'm using a crunch OD but this was the first I found that did the trick, there may be better) provides a lot of that 'atom bomb' rumble from the studio version. I can't take out the mid range on my current set up and I strongly suspect that would get it a little closer. I don't think it's ever totally replicable, but it's fun getting close.

[@joshuamauk6759]

The EHX Holy Grail Max has a very close Reverse Reverb to the Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai

[@pstrokeslibsarctic]

Joshua Mauk not even close

[@coltsuperocean10]

Good work fella, nice job.

[@toremyrvold7632]

Cool sound. Tabs works well. You're a kind of hero. Shoegazerstonerhero.

[@SkinnyEMedia]

For a long time I presumed that sound was done by analogue synthesiser. Felt like one. Sounded like the closest thing to a Boards of Canada tune or perhaps Robert Fripp phase of Frippertronics.

[@mktmktmkt]

dreamy, fuzzy, beautiful sound. great!

[@surfstrat59]

No shit- he nailed it. I've never played through a Memory Man, so this is all news to me......

[@LucasSpurrell]

I actually like this better than Kevin's sound in the Fuji video.

[@v1ct0rth3cl34n3r]

Good job there dude. I was doing that sound in the 90s with an SGX3000 rackmount. Valve pre-amp, three-channel internal mixer. Similar to your sound there - multi-tap rvrs'd delay, fair amount of reverb +superdrive distortion but washed out by removing most of the original or main channel. You can hear that sound on "Mock - Skyryder". Still can't work out how to link it but it's now easy to find.

[@Laseragna.]

Thanks a ton man, I was having slight trouble dialing in my EH Cathedral to the exact sound I wanted. It works great.

[@minedarea]

Damn, when you get going it sounds fantastic.

[@2frail]

your video rules, don't listen to the haters, they're just jealous. I like how you kept it minimal, 2 guitars, and that's it. A nice change from all the shoegazer wannabe who need 10 pedals to get the same kind of sound :)

[@StorybookComa]

Stellar explanation, my good man.

[@2blackman1]

I don't normally comment on videos, but this is fuckin amazing!!

[@alligate420]

@spillandambience guitar rig is just taking the place of an amp 'cause it was late. all the effects are what you can see in the video and the whammy bar on the jaguar.

[@TroiaHerr]

this is brilliant.just brilliant.

[@sam64]

You nailed it, definitely. Good job.

[@Shoegaze88]

...and 14 years later it's still a relevant post

[@MrMoog1970]

This is really good an helpful. The I wonder about is how you are strumming. Are you strumming and bending the "whammy bar" at the same time?

[@mynameismark25]

so am i right in thinking Kevin has kept this secret for a long time? Any interview I've heard he says there's no effect used, just his Tremelo wand.

[@Qaisjaan]

Is the memory man going into the distortion, or the other way around?

[@danielcarter3928]

this is what i want to know as well

[@skywardstargaze1768]

Memory Man into distortion

[@skywardstargaze1768]

@@danielcarter3928it’s the Memory Man into the distortion

[@hiki2853]

@@skywardstargaze1768 it's actually distortion into the memory man. he says in the video the memory man is last in the chain before his pc recording rig

[@angel-rq2kx]

Just blew my mind

[@skystudios2474]

Great video! I don't personally own a Memory Man, but do own a Strymon Timeline - wonder if that could achieve a similar effect?

of course

[@ElysiumNZ]

@L2linux You mean the pedal with the blue light? That would be a Danelectro Transparent Overdrive "Cool Cat" I think. Version 1 in the video.

[@TwentyTwenty90]

Really cool video man, and you are a good guitar player !

[@MrMuddyBleach]

Wow man you nailed it! makes me want a memory man, just like caseymakeup said!

[@sportpak1310]

Nicely done sir. It is weird how simple it is to get the sound IF you have the right tools. Not complicated, but you have to have the right gear or it will never work

[@tresenelfondo]

This is absolutely awesome! Thank you very much, regards from Argentina.

[@guitarofdestiny]

You da man! Thanks for doing this

[@johng3975]

that sounds really great. Goob job man!

[@tabernavudu]

Good video, and nice Doug Adams reference.

[@stusam81]

Hey man, great job! How do you have your presets set up at 3.38 and 3.48? I just cant quite seem to get the same sound and its driving me crazy! Cheers and keep up the great work!

[@pineal2012]

Dude, you got high enough and fucked with that stuff until you just fucking nailed it!! Sounds awesome!!!

[@mitchelljermaine]

Maybe ... it's alot easier to nail the sounds on a Quadraverb.

[@RollTheFemurs]

Holy shit, that's beautiful.

[@leadelephante]

you are the chillest guy! cool video :-)

[@paulomureb]

amazingly done dude. you rock so much

[@drunkalfuzzyness]

it made me feel sleepy.. in a good way :]

[@darioandthejicks]

HOLYCOW !! thats awesome thanks man!!! Bravo!!

[@ElysiumNZ]

So it doesn't matter what sort of guitar you use as long as you have the right effect pedals?

[@3keiller]

i see you used a pre-set on the memory man, which means the knobs on the pedal aren't necessarily where they were when you made the pre-set. what were they actually on to get that sound?

[@doppelgangerstudios]

Excellent job.

[@Bubbamiester1000]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR. YOUR A GENTLEMAN AND A SCOLAR

[@xylotehwarrior]

this sounds phenomenal, thanks a lot!

[@starfishantenna]

Spot on really. This is the MVB sound where mere charlatans worship.

[@variusnibh]

In the studio he was using a yamaha spx 90. He talks about it in a tape op interview . awesome vid though

[@WATCHSONICS]

thanks man, this really made my day, I'd used the reversed delay/rev on the SMMH already but never combined like this with transparent OD and a whammy making the bends.... some open droning tuning helps a lot too... sorry but did you ever write which tuning you used for yourself this? Thanks again!

[@yetcop]

Amazing sound, thanks for sharing!

[@theDragonaut]

Awesome video, good work.

[@jarredbrewster]

Fantastic, but what really makes it is the pitch bends. Do you achieve that by holding the whammy bar when you strum?

[@theaspie5161]

I like that sound. Would you like to write us a list of the effect boxes on your board (plz:-) ?

[@ootheca]

your my favorite southern man..

[@ElysiumNZ]

@hawaiianrobot I own a Squire Jagmaster which is surposed to be based off both the Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar and combined into one guitar that is cheap. I'm only learning to play a guitar so have yet to even try this sort of playing, as wel as buy effect pedals!

[@Casperpwn]

He can play guitar good! Did you watch the video without sound?

[@splinter360]

Well fucking done man. Well fucking done.

[@themanmachine125]

fookin masterful man

[@colinpaton3304]

This has serious ASMR energy.

[@elemkay5104]

If anyone owns the Zoom MS50/70/G1on/G1xon multistomp pedals, someone has worked on a preset to match the reverse reverb setting that Kevin Shields uses, which massively shapes the sound in songs such as To Here Knows When. Here is the post with the relevant settings: www.reddit.com/r/zoommultistomp/comments/j619or/post_your_new_patches/g8cj2qr?context=3

[@Playboigorti8574]

Bro you have just made my year holy shit thank you

[@Playboigorti8574]

Have spent months trying to figure out what mix of pedals to use