While full and cool sounds on your sax are great, it can be interesting to add different effects as well. With your own effects, you can sound just like the sax players you idolise!

If it’s your first time incorporating effects, you need not fret. All you need to do is follow these tips on how to add effects to your sax sound. 

How to Add Saxophone Effects

What you need to do will depend on your location and how you’re playing your sax.

For the Home-Based Sax Player

If you’re only playing your tenor sax in a small room at home, you can always add electronic effects through a software program. 

PC Software

An excellent example of this is the prominent Garage Band program. Other options include Logic, Sonor, or Cake Walk. 

Whatever program you choose, you need to select a preset or template to recreate effects. 

Generally, most players add reverb on a recorded sound. It will play as if your sax music is bouncing around.

You can also add a long reverb, making it seem like you’re using the instrument in a large room. 

Another option is big reverb, which is good if you’re performing an 80’s-type track. 

Apart from reverbs, you can also add a fun chorus effect, which provides an extensive and fat sound to your track. 

There’s also the delay effect, where you play various copies of the sound. 

It’s best to add compression or reverb after recording instead of doing so beforehand. This technique will help you adjust the effects to your desired level before you save your song.

Smartphone or Tablet Software

You can also add effects to your recording through Sax Tracks. This app is a great choice, especially if you’re not well-versed with the programs above. 

Available for use in either your iPhone or iPad, it only requires you to make a few clicks to adjust the reverb. 

After doing so, you can export the final mix you just played. 

For Live Saxophone Players

If you want to create a great sound while you’re playing live, try to use any of the following: 

Mixing Desk

If you guys use the same PA or sound system, you can add digital effects through the mixing desk. 

Also known as a mixing console, it works to combine sounds from differing audio signals. It can pick up sounds from two saxes—and even other instruments, too. 

What’s excellent about mixing desks is they come with built-in effects. All you need to do is apply the signal before everything is mixed. 

Indeed, it’s a simple solution for an average white band. The only downside is you couldn’t control much of the reverb you’re adding. 

Personal Effects Unit

If you want to control your dry sound, you’re better off with a personal effects unit. It’s similar to the effects pedals most guitar players use.

That said, it’s best if you don’t use an ordinary guitar pedal. The best option is to use the pedal board that vocalists have. They have a wireless mic connected to them, which is why they’re better for saxophone music.

One of the more notable pedals in the market is the VE-20, which comes with reverb delay and other effects. You can even make your own presets for whenever you’re playing solo. 

The VE-20 also has a looping feature, which gives you the chance to play and jam with your recording. 

Rack-Mounted Effects Unit

If you want to play saxophone live with amazing effects, this rack-mounted unit is something you should consider. 

It works to condense the various aspects into thin modules. 

When it comes to rack-mounted units, you’ll be glad to know that many options are available out there. 

The prices can go as high as $200. 

The only question is: how much money are you willing to spend on this unit? 

Of course, the more expensive the item is, the clearer the sound will be. However, there are cheaper options that have lesser feedback issues as well. 

Whether you use a personal effects unit or a rack-mounted unit, the same usage processes apply. You need to connect the microphone to the unit, then the unit to the mixing desk or amplifier. 

If you want to change the track effects quickly and discreetly, a pedal unit is perfect for your backing track. 

But if you’re looking to create a better metallic sound for a live performance, you should go for a rack unit.

Final Thoughts

Yes, it’s great fun to add effects because they help improve your wet sound. But how much effect should you add?

Here’s a great rule of thumb: less is always more! 

Adding too much reverb can end up overpowering the sound of your horn. You don’t want to sound like you’re distracting your audience. You want your effects to be pleasing to hear, not grating to the ears.

Remember to do a sound check to make sure you’re making beautiful music!