How It Works
Technical view
This patch keeps the same stereo picked-string preview source and overall drive topology as Transparent Overdrive, but it pushes the 930 Hz peak harder before saturation and starts from a darker post-drive high shelf. The result is still a single tanh stage, but with more low-mid emphasis and a smoother top so the breakup reads as amp-like rather than transparent.
- Drive, Boost & Saturation
- waveshaping / saturation
- delay processing
- oscillator / LFO modulation
- DC blocking
Signal Path
Compiled preview chain
Preview source: An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with a 19-sample right-channel delay and slight left/right shelf-EQ offsets before it reaches the drive stage.
- 1internal picked-string demo phrase
- 2stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
- 3high-pass cleanup
- 4low-shelf boost and stronger 930 Hz mid emphasis
- 5single tanh saturation stage
- 6darker post-drive high-shelf compensation
- 7dry / wet mix
- 8DC blocker
- 9output gain trim
- 10final tanh limiter
Preview source
An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with a 19-sample right-channel delay and slight left/right shelf-EQ offsets before it reaches the drive stage.
Effect core
Single-stage tanh overdrive with stronger pre-drive mid emphasis and darker post-drive shelf compensation.
Signal path
The static waveform and the live player both reflect this compiled signal chain.
- internal picked-string demo phrase
- stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
- high-pass cleanup
- low-shelf boost and stronger 930 Hz mid emphasis
- single tanh saturation stage
- darker post-drive high-shelf compensation
- dry / wet mix
- DC blocker
- output gain trim
- final tanh limiter
Controls that matter
These are the currently active controls detected in the FAUST source for this effect.
- mix: Blends the untouched stereo preview source with the overdriven path.
- output_gain_db: Applies post-effect output trim after the DC blocker and before final limiting.
- drive: Raises the input level into the tanh saturation stage.
- tone: Controls the post-drive high shelf at the end of the drive block.
- contour: Increases both the low shelf and the broader 930 Hz mid push before clipping.
Code-backed analysis
The generated description is tied to the active helper blocks and routing found in the current DSP.
- demo
- fx
- outputStage
- leftDemo
- rightDemo
- driveTone
- phraseMono
- previewShiftSamples
Controls
Audible controls in this DSP
Blends the untouched stereo preview source with the overdriven path.
Lower settings keep the clean attack more obvious; higher settings favor the driven amp-like body.
Applies post-effect output trim after the DC blocker and before final limiting.
Raises or lowers overall level without changing saturation texture.
Raises the input level into the tanh saturation stage.
Moves the patch from light breakup toward thicker, more compressed overdrive.
Controls the post-drive high shelf at the end of the drive block.
Brightens the top for more edge or keeps the breakup darker and smoother.
Increases both the low shelf and the broader 930 Hz mid push before clipping.
Makes the patch feel fuller and more combo-amp-like in the low mids.
Analysis
Code-derived notes
Reviewed against the current DSP. This variant differs from Transparent Overdrive primarily by stronger pre-drive mid emphasis and a darker post-drive shelf, not by a different overall signal-flow topology.
Active blocks
- demo
- fx
- outputStage
- leftDemo
- rightDemo
- driveTone
- phraseMono
- previewShiftSamples
- softsat
- pickedVoice
- fund
- pickEnv
- ampEnv
- triggerAt
- maxDelaySamples
Inactive helpers
- synthVoice
- organVoice
- bellVoice
- quantize
- combLP
- echoOnly
- diffuser
Warnings
No current warnings are attached to this effect.
Source
- library/drive-boost-saturation/amp-like-overdrive.dsp
- Output stage: DC blocker -> output gain trim -> final tanh limiter
- Library position: 2