Guitar feedback INFINITE sustain? Does it really have an infinite sustain?

In summary, we can now get devices such as the EBow, Fernandes Sustainer, and Sustainiac that can sustain guitar sounds indefinitely. However, even with a fully charged battery, the sustain may decay over time without the player noticing. The physics behind this involves synthesizing the feedback and using a feedback control to maintain the sound level. Circular breathing can be used to sustain notes on wind instruments, but it is not possible for a human to sustain their own vocal indefinitely without external amplification or synthesization. The gain in a feedback loop may limit the excursion of the string and cause the sustain to eventually decay.
  • #1
Munyit
29
0
Now we can get many devices that can make guitar sustain longer, even sustaining it indefinitely or to be more precise, sustaining forever. For example, the EBow,(http://www.ebow.com/home.php) the Fernandes Sustainer and the Sustainiac. But I believe, even when the battery power will not getting low, the sustain will decay from times to times but without we noticing it. What's the physics behind this? Does it really sustain the sound forever?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
The feedback is synthesized (except in the case that the speaker is close enough and loud enough to drive the guitar strings). Imagine that it's a synthesizer that samples the original sound, then loops outputing the sampled sound indefinately. It may deliberately degrade the sound to some simple harmonic wave form, but the volume will be sustained indefinately. It would be like holding down a key on a synthesizer, the sound level will not fade unless it's programmed to fade.
 
  • #3
How about in the case if we played a guitar closed enough in front of a very loud speakers to drive the string infinitely? Does it sustain forever?
 
  • #4
No. Somebody would shoot the guitarist and pull the plug. This result was derived in the late 70's.
 
  • #5
DrewD said:
No. Somebody would shoot the guitarist and pull the plug. This result was derived in the late 70's.

Wow, you're incredible.
 
  • #6
Munyit said:
How about in the case if we played a guitar closed enough in front of a very loud speakers to drive the string infinitely?
Unless there's a volume limiter feedback circuit in the amp, the volume will initially increase until it reaches the max that the amplifier can output and you end up with overdriven harmonics of the amplifier circuitry instead of the original guitar sound. This is what happened with those old amps. The "feedback effect" on a synthesizer can reproduce a similar sound but at any volume.
 
  • #7
rcgldr said:
The feedback is synthesized (except in the case that the speaker is close enough and loud enough to drive the guitar strings). Imagine that it's a synthesizer that samples the original sound, then loops outputing the sampled sound indefinately. It may deliberately degrade the sound to some simple harmonic wave form, but the volume will be sustained indefinately. It would be like holding down a key on a synthesizer, the sound level will not fade unless it's programmed to fade.

Hmm, so can an infinite energy exist?
 
  • #8
Munyit said:
So can an infinite energy exist?
No, the amplifier get's it's energy from an electrical outlet, which gets it's power from some generating station probably hundreds of kilometers away.
 
  • #9
To maintain the amount of feedback so that the sustain is constant (without building up and going unstable or dying down) is 'knife edge' and not achievable without a trick.
This trick involves applying some (long term) feedback control to maintain the sound level by controlling the gain carefully. You could do it with the gain knob if you really wanted to for a short while but it would get out of hand.
 
  • #10
Can a human, esp. a very talented singer, etc. sustain his/her vocal indefinitely? (Maybe with a technique?)
 
  • #11
Munyit said:
Can a human, esp. a very talented singer, etc. sustain his/her vocal indefinitely? (Maybe with a technique?)

Make a hole in the chest and pump in air?
 
  • #12
'Circular breathing' can be used to sustain a note on some wind instruments and the bagpipes achieve a sustain with the bag that it topped up with breath or bellows.
 
  • #13
sophiecentaur said:
'Circular breathing' can be used to sustain a note on some wind instruments and the bagpipes achieve a sustain with the bag that it topped up with breath or bellows.


Can we used 'circular breathing' technique for our vocal?
 
  • #14
Try it.
I think your vocal chords require air to be moving outwards past them - which rather conflicts with breathing in.
I can whistle both ways, though, so it's almost sustained.
 
  • #15
Munyit said:
Can a human, esp. a very talented singer, etc. sustain his/her vocal indefinitely?
Not with his/her own voice, but there are these amplifiers and/or synthesizers that output sound through a tube where the other end is directed at the open mouth of the singer, who can then just mouth words (or just make different sounds). I haven't seen this done in a while since microphones can be fed into a synthesizer to get a similar, but not quite as good or versatile effect. Howeve with the sound tube setup, breathing doesn't affect the sound (at least not noticably). An example old song using this device was Peter Frampton's - do you feel like we do - a bit past the half point of the live version song (plenty of youtube versions of this). In this case, a guitar amp fed the sound tube. Funk bands did this also.
 
Last edited:
  • #16
sophiecentaur said:
To maintain the amount of feedback so that the sustain is constant (without building up and going unstable or dying down) is 'knife edge' and not achievable without a trick.
This trick involves applying some (long term) feedback control to maintain the sound level by controlling the gain carefully. You could do it with the gain knob if you really wanted to for a short while but it would get out of hand.


Guitar feedback is self-limiting. The excursion of the string is limited. The sound reaches a maximum and stays there until someone shuts it off.
 
  • #17
ImaLooser said:
Guitar feedback is self-limiting. The excursion of the string is limited. The sound reaches a maximum and stays there until someone shuts it off.

Makes sense. This must be because, somewhere in that feedback loop, the gain limits. That could be due to the Pickup / String interaction, which is pretty non-linear aamof.
 
  • #18
sophiecentaur said:
Makes sense. This must be because, somewhere in that feedback loop, the gain limits. That could be due to the Pickup / String interaction, which is pretty non-linear aamof.

Oh I see, then after sometime the so-called infinite sustain will be started decaying. Right?
 
  • #19
I don't think that follows. If gain increases slightly as level falls, the sustain should continue.
 

FAQ: Guitar feedback INFINITE sustain? Does it really have an infinite sustain?

1. What is guitar feedback INFINITE sustain?

Guitar feedback INFINITE sustain is a phenomenon that occurs when an electric guitar's sound is amplified and fed back into the guitar's pickups, creating a continuous, sustained sound. This sustained sound can continue indefinitely, giving the impression of infinite sustain.

2. How does guitar feedback INFINITE sustain work?

Guitar feedback INFINITE sustain works by amplifying the sound of the guitar and feeding it back into the pickups. This creates a loop of sound that continues to sustain as long as the guitar is played and the feedback is maintained.

3. Is guitar feedback INFINITE sustain a natural occurrence or is it created through technology?

Guitar feedback INFINITE sustain is a combination of both natural and technological elements. The natural element is the sound of the guitar being amplified and fed back into the pickups. The technological element is the use of amplifiers and effects pedals to control and manipulate the feedback.

4. Can any guitar achieve infinite sustain through feedback?

Technically, any electric guitar can achieve infinite sustain through feedback. However, the type of pickups, amplifier, and effects pedals used can affect the quality and duration of the sustain. Some guitars are also specifically designed for creating and controlling feedback, making them more suitable for achieving infinite sustain.

5. Does guitar feedback INFINITE sustain really have infinite sustain?

While guitar feedback INFINITE sustain does create a sustained sound that can continue for an extended period of time, it is not truly infinite. Eventually, the sound will fade out due to factors such as the natural decay of the guitar strings and the manipulation of the feedback by the musician. However, with the right equipment and techniques, the sustain can last for a significant amount of time, giving the impression of infinite sustain.

Back
Top