Pedal Board Presets By Ulterior Motives
For more information on ULTERIOR MOTIVES, please visit their Soundcloud and Facebook pages.
Our New Pedal Board Presets
Welcome to the Ulterior Motives (UM) x Access Analog pedal board presets collection.
To acquaint you with the brand-new AA pedals, we have created three sets of three starting points for your session. For best results, we recommend entering your BPM into the dialogue boxes in the Julianna and the Avalanche Run. Be assured that these won’t lock exactly, but they work best when they’re loosely tied to the tempo of your project.
Pedal Board Presets in the Analog Matrix
When using the Analog Matrix Plugin, you are connecting to real analog hardware in the cloud and streaming in real-time to robotically controlled gear.
Within each set there are three settings with a similar vibe, they’re just a way for you to get to know some of the tones on offer from this fantastic quartet of processors. You’ll find that all four are engaged on the presets but to get an idea of what each does, disengage them and then run your material into them one by one.
What makes this pedal board special is the combination of pedals though, so we recommend deploying all four together for best results. Don’t be put off if you’ve never touched a guitar before, and equally don’t be put off if you’ve never touched anything other than a guitar.
There’s something here for everyone, even you...
UM Denmark Street #1:
This is where to begin. We’ve set it at 168bpm because we’re from London, and that’s how we roll out, but adjust to your tempo of choice. Then, you’ll find that these settings offer a useful, moderate starting point for processing your sounds.
If you run out of options because you want an extra short/long delay, use a multiple or a division of your bpm (so, for instance, if you’re at 168 in your session, try 84).
Sounds good on: Everything.
Ideal input SPL: Begin at -30dbu, expect roughly -12dbu out. As you push into the chain, you’ll find that it returns roughly the same SPL, but the more you push, the more the signal will be limited, so adjust to taste. If you need extra slap, engage the Electro-Harmonix’s ‘knee’ and ‘limiter’ options.
Especially good on: We started with some wide ring mod risers, which returned a tweak to the tone, some wide, wavey chorus, and a highly usable 3/4 delay. Then we put some drums through it, and it sounded like Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, and King Tubby cracking skulls, so that’s good too.
UM Denmark Street #2:
Bass, how low can you go? Well, that’s not really the point, is it? Everyone knows that it’s the sub in your Prius, not the sub in Fabric (London club, try Google), that matters.
However, sometimes you want the smack in the lows and the smack in the highs as well. To that end, use this preset as your starting point.
Default setting is for the gain switch to be engaged on the JHS, but if you’re feeling smug you can disengage it for a wholly more tasteful tone. Enjoy with something pleasant that won’t damage your health or break the law (no we don’t know either…).
Ideal input SPL: Begin around -18dbu. This should be about right for everything from a real bass (boooo) to an actual bass (a synth). As you adjust the input, you’ll also notice the tone change.
Especially good on: Bass. But also on everything else. However, be mindful that like all pedal boards this thing is not exactly silent when you ramp up the drive. Live with it is our advice. Try to enjoy the hiss; you were young once, too…
UM Denmark Street #3:
Drums are a useful commodity in the modern recording landscape. There have been rumours at certain points in history of people making music without them, but there’s no evidence of anyone ever having listened to it so it’s moot.
With that in mind, what better time than now to fire up the drums in your session and treat them to some pedal board magic?
For the optimum amount of gain reduction from the Electro-Harmonix, you want to hit this at around -12dbu. From that, the E-H will return a similar output, which alone is a nice outcome. Smash in harder, and you’ll get a punchier reduction.
The JHS will add tone, but also gain, so attenuate at the end of the chain in the Analog Matrix plugin before you hit the DAW. The Julianna here offers a subtle glow, and the d-c-v (stands for “don’t ask questions”) will give you some stereo image options. Sync the Avalanche Run to the tempo of your project for a spring-style slap and then adjust the blend to taste.
Ideal input SPL: Roughly 12db if you don’t want to sound like Phil Collins, and probably not much more than that even if you do (which is no bad thing).
It’s especially good on Drums, but also other stuff. It’s rumoured that this can even form the basis of a mastering session, but don’t tell your guy who charges £100 a track for digital masters. They’ll probably plant an IED under your car (and arguably stick to the first two pedals). Even a maverick would never add delay to a master, would they?
A Final Word
The Ulterior Motives x Access Analog pedalboard preset collection offers a versatile and creative introduction to the new Access Analog pedals. With three sets of three starting points, you can explore the unique tones of this exceptional pedal quartet. For the best results, input your BPM into the Julianna and Avalanche Run and use all four pedals together.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, these presets cater to all skill levels. UM Denmark Street #1 provides a balanced start for processing sounds at 168 BPM. UM Denmark Street #2 focuses on bass, delivering both low and high-end impact, while UM Denmark Street #3 is ideal for drums, offering optimal gain reduction and tone. Adjust input SPLs as recommended to achieve the best output and enjoy the diverse soundscapes these presets can create.