How does 3Dxy work? - F.A.Q.
3Dxy© (natural stereo and natural mono)
Is it possible to get a natural stereo sound from a electric guitar or electric bass?
Yes.
Now a days the mono pickup coil position only reads the Y axis of the string movement.
3Dxy pickups read both axis (X and Y), that means vertical and horizontal string movement.
In 3Dxy system each string has two coils. Both coils make a 90º angle, and read the string position in the space. Each coil reads a different signal but complementary. When we ear both signals in a LR sound system producing a natural surround sensation 3D.
Our ear would be in the string no-vibration point and when we pulse the string we are surrounded by the sound that each coil (L and R) is reading.
That's what we call “natural stereo”
How we do create 3Dxy natural mono?
The 3Dxy natural mono is produced by adding both L and R channels resulting from a 3Dxy natural stereo pickup.
The resulting natural mono signal has all the details of the 3Dxy natural stereo, but we loos the surround 3D feature.
We can say that natural mono is more rich (more details) than traditional mono, because now we have a complete string vibration information (X and Y axis).
Are there two 3Dxy pickups? One mono and another stereo?
No.
The pickup is the same. 3Dxy natural mono has both 3Dxy natural stereo pickup (X and L) channels added.
Is the resulting sound like anti-natural?
No.
Because the two coil reading point is the same in each string.
The sound is so natural, that we call it natural stereo and natural mono and 3D because of the surround sensation when we ear it in natural stereo mode.
3Dxy pickups are bigger than other pickups?
No.
The shape is similar to existing pickups.
You don't need to make a bigger hole in your guitar to intall a 3Dxy pickup.
The jack cable is the same?
Yes and No.
Yes, when we are in 3Dxy natural mono mode, because the output is mono.
No, configuring 3Dxy pickup in natural stereo.
There are three solutions:
We can change the female jack mono by a female jack stereo. Then we can use a stereo jack-stereo jack cable.
Make a second hole and install another female jack mono. In this case we need two jack mono cables.
Maintain both configurations, installing in a new hole a female stereo jack. Then we need a stereo jack cable if we want it in stereo or a mono jack cable if we want to use it in natural mono mode.
The output level and sensibility are equal to old mono pickups?
No.
The 3Dxy pickups output level and sensibility is grater than old mono pickups. This is because 3Dxy pickups have more spins in a grater number of coils (two in one string). See table at the end.
The sensibility is something new, and we can't compare with old mono pickups, as 3Dxy is reading de string movement in two axis X and Y. Old pickups only read the Y axis of the string movement.
Which instruments can adapt the 3Dxy pickups?
We can use 3Dxy pickups in all iron string instruments that have place to install it. Electric guitar, electric bass, banjo, laud, mandoline, etc.
The grand piano or pianoforte is also an iron string instrument and could work with 3Dxy systems. Usually they have 88 notes. That means 176 coils (two for note) and I think would be a never heard sound.
Also in classical music or jazz music, we can install 3Dxy systems to the violin, viola, violoncello and double bass or contrabass.
The sound is excellent even playing with the finger (pizicatto) or with the bow. The resulting sound is natural and excellent realism.
Could we find more harmonics with 3Dxy pickups?
Yes.
This was one of the sweet things that we discover. There is no difference with an acoustic harmonic. And that is possible because we read both axis (X and Y) in two separated coils.
Another reason to call it natural stereo and natural mono, even natural harmonics.
3Dxy pickups, are they active o passive?
3Dxy pickups are passive, but can be active.
As you probably know, the difference between active and passive pickups, is the pre-amplifier. Obviously, in the natural stereo mode, we need two pre-amps (two channels, two pre-amps)
In natural mono mode, only one pre-amp is needed.
Do we need to process this stereo signal with a special treatment?
No.
The 3Dxy pickups output signal can be directly amplified. In the natural stereo mode we will use two guitar or bass amplifiers. And then we will have the 3D surround sensation.
What happends with the effects that I bought?
In natural stereo mode we will need stereo effects processors. Obviously, we can also use two mono processors.
When we use natural mono mode, we can use all the effects that we had before changing the pickup.
Do we need a external stereo processor?
No.
Our natural stereo is the direct output of the 3Dxy pickups, and no external stereo processor is needed.
Can we have other sounds with one 3Dxy pickup?
Yes.
By a simple balance control (knob), or switch we could obtain the L and R sound separately.
The sound obtained is similar to old mono pickups, so we don't recommend.
3Dxy sound is more rich in details, so we think that this is an option but...
Is there a 3Dxy "humbucked"?
Yes.
Actually all 3Dxy pickups are "humbucked"Can we see stereo?
Yes.
Using a two channels oscilloscope and the function XY, we can see how wide is the stereo of a sound or recording.
There are also different programs (software) that convert a PC into a oscilloscope, using Line in R and Line in L as two oscilloscope channels (X and Y).
A mono signal is represented as a line and a stereo signal is seen as a cloud of poins or lines. As big is the cloud, as wide is the stereo.
Enjoy...
