the
original downgrade
analog sample rate reducer
- plus
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only 10 were
made : SOLD OUT
description -
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this is an analog sample rate reducer pedal based
around the bugcrusher sample & hold
circuit designed by Tom Bugs of bugbrand but
with the modulation removed and battery powered added
along with several other custom features and bends.
at its heart this is the analog counter part of a software
bitcrusher plug-in. wrapped around the reducer section
is a very high gain preamp with a switchable clipping
stage and a feedback loop that will allow you to use
this box as a stand alone synthesizer. added to this
is a power starve that will add a nice chaotic touch
and a switch that will drop it all down to a crawl,
giving you a messy squarewave stuttery tremolo like
effect or if using it as a synth, thick low bass tones.
all of this gives this pedal a very diverse range of
use. enough to convincingly alter any instrument down
into the realm of a circuit bent toy.
controls left
to right - - - - - - -
input : this controls
the input gain but unlike most pedals if set low it
can be feed with a line level signal and not result
in any impedance issues. because of this design feature
there is absolutely no need for any sort of re-amping
device or any other adjustments. there is a huge amount
of gain possible to lend it to more diverse applications,
so use caution when driving low impedance amps as it
can cause both distortion and destruction if not used
wisely.
clean / dirty : if
this switch is set to dirty it will drop a distortion
in line post gain but before everything else. adjusting
the input gain will alter the distortion’s character
from mild to a heavily compressed / limited crunch.
basically giving you two pedals in one. with the rate
reducer running in the higher pitched range the distortion
is still audible but as the reduction gets heavier
it will react more as a limiting stage.
downgrade : this
is the sample rate adjustment. at a lower setting you
will get mild ringmod sort of results, set to high
its complete destruction of the original signal. when
using this pedal as a synth, this knob becomes the
pitch control.
starve : this is
a bend and will send the pedal into chaos at certain
settings. it is slightly unpredictable and non-linear
as far as controls go. small adjustments can yield
anything from no change for two notches, then wild
squeals for the next three, and then mute everything
for the next, so you should spend some time with this
knob before attempting to play live with it. with the
low switch on, this will give you very different results.
with one position acting as a wetness control, another
starts to change the wave shape. yet another is just
a crunchy vibrating stuttery mess, another harsh
chaotic colored static. best results from line level
signals
high / low : with
this switch set to high this box will function as originally
intended. but when set to low it will slow everything
down and give you very different results. first you
will notice the standard reducer drops to lower depths
at what was previously the cleanest settings and what
used to be the simple sample rate destruction at the
highest setting is now more like a filthy squarewave
tremolo with the downgrade knob adjusting the speed.
if you then adjust the dialup and starve knobs you
can get a lot of different character results out of
this trem like stutter effect.
dialup : this is
the feedback control. setting this far to the right
will send the pedal into self oscillation causing it
to squeal and shriek and turn the standard reducer
sound very aggressive crunchy. the input and output
knobs will adjust the results further. this control
will also cause the pedal to function as a synthesizer
if nothing at all is plugged into its input. with the
low switch on this will force the pedal to work more
as a chaos clocked gated stutter effect
right switch : this is
the toggle switch on the right side near the input
that turns on/off the dialup control. it is admittedly
an after thought, as i had not tested this with low
level sources like guitar. if you are in need of more
gain for whatever signal you are using you can turn
this switch off and remove the feedback usually resulting
from having either the input of output set high.
output : this is
the final output volume control and if using a guitar
amplifier you had better start with it at a lower setting.
this has a very high output capable of reaching beyond
line level. so it could cause damage. which, of course,
i am not responsible for.
* optional : i
can add 1/4" send and return jacks that will allow
you to insert external effects pedals into the feedback
loop for an addition $20 charge. please add a couple
days to the delivery time.
samples -
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- turn your volume
down - some of these are loud - |
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no other effects or eq used in making these
samples - |
details -
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each one is handmade - signed and numbered
internally 1 - 10
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every pedal is
extensively tested before its shipped |
powered by 2
- 9v batteries (batteries included) |
heavy duty metal
EH bypass switch (not true bypass due to bipolar
design) |
violet colored
led bypass indicator |
¼” neutrik
chrome hex head in and out jacks |
heavy aluminum
enclosure |
dimensions -
5.7 in. x 4.7 in. |
1 year parts
and labor warranty |
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note :::
no AC adapter option available |
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credits -
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original reducer
circuit design : Tom Bugs
- bugbrand
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thanks
to Tom and Colin for
all the help |
please feel free to contact me
if you have any questions
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