Glitch effects became popular around 1980, when music producers started using DAT tapes to create splintered vocal effects. In the audio universe, a glitch is a temporary noise located in a file that and it sounds like a snap. After their first appearance, years later, hardware samplers with time-stretching alternatives appeared. Drum and bass producers used them to create effects such as unique stretched vocal effects, as well as melodic drumbeats.
The Glitch as a Genre
In simple terms, the glitch is a genre of electronic music that has a unique aesthetic of failure for it uses glitch-based audio media, as well as other sound artefacts. Glitching sounds typically come from digital electronic malfunctions or audio recording devices. Kim Cascone, a famous composer and writer, was the person who categorized glitch effects as a subgenre of electronic music. Before glitch effects appeared, users manipulated audio media that involved several distortions.
Some Examples
Many producers, as well as musicians, applied this technique to a variety of music devices. For example, Yasunao Tone wounded CDs with pieces of semi-transparent tape that interrupted the reading of audio information. As another case in point, Nicholas Collins modified his electronic guitar for it to act as a resonator for electric signals in live performances. Plenty of other production techniques create glitch effects: circuit bending, skipping CDs, and scratched vinyl records. The final aim is to add rhythm and emotion.
Nowadays, glitch effects appear when the user chooses several pieces of previous recordings and joins them together. When this happens, beats, clicks, scratches, and other distorted noises emerge. Glitches are usually short and are often replace traditional percussions.
Glitch Effects and VST
Recently, several Virtual Studio Technology (VST) effects have become quite popular. VSTs involve a series of effects that, when used together, provide impressive results. There are three types of VST plugins: VST instruments, VST effects, and VST MIDI effects. Firstly, VST instruments generate sounds using samplers or virtual synthesizers. These plugins mimic the appearance and sound of popular hardware synths. Secondly, VST effects are only capable of processing audio, so they operate like hardware audio processors. Last but not least, VST MIDI effects process messages and send data to both instruments and hardware.
