Gig-FX debuts revolutionary tremolo pedal
(Dave Molter | Posted 2010-03-15)
In the DBWW -- Days Before Wah-Wah -- reverb and tremolo were just about the only effects available to guitarists. And with today's digital multi-effects pedals in common use, tremolo is all but forgotten. But the Gig-FX Pro-Chop Tremolo promises to give tremolo a new lease on life by providing the ability to produce repeatable, pulsating effects that are in perfect sync with any track.
The Pro-Chop provides two ways to achieve this. One is by setting the frequency readout on the pedal's LCD to a chosen tempo. This allows for the first time ever a precise and repeatable tempo for a tremolo wave/chop/ pan. The second is by syncing the Pro-Chop with any track or synth that has a MIDI clock available. By syncing with the MIDI clock beat, the Pro-Chop can allocate 1, 2, 3, 4 or 8 chops/ pans/tremolo waves, allowing a wide variety of sound patterns. Whenever the device is turned on, it will be instantly in perfect sync.
The output signal from the Pro-Chop tremolo pedal may be mono or stereo, but is infinitely more interesting in stereo. In stereo, the effect can be panned or "chopped" from one channel to another and combined in phase or out of phase in various ways to produce an infinite number of captivating sounds.
There are two waves (oscillators) on the Gig-FX guitar pedal, one is a square wave which produces the chop sound and the other is a triangle wave which provides the tremolo or pan. Both waves run independently. On the left side of the unit, the controls adjust the chop attributes, and on the right side, the controls adjust the pan and tremolo attributes. There is a Mode Selector Switch which allows you to choose Chop only (CHOP), Tremolo / Pan only (STIR), and either of two combinations of both (BLEND and SHAKE).
In mono, when you turn the Chop on, the sound will be turned on and off at the rate and ratio you choose. In stereo, when one side is off, the other side is on, so the signal bounces back and forth across the sound stage. Try it on a big stage and the audience will be knocked out.
In pan/tremolo mode, in mono, the device will provide a versatile tremolo effect that allows the signal to be modulated deeper and slower than all other tremolo units, and the tempo can be set on the fly. In stereo, one side is on while the other is off, so the sound pans gradually from the left to the right at a rate determined by the rate control or pedal. When you select the Blend or Shake modes, in mono, you hear the two waves beating against each other. In stereo, the Gig-FX Pro-Chop gives you rhythmic pulses flying across the room.
Gig-FX Pro-Chop Tremolo Guitar Effects Pedal Features:
* All analog signal circuitry with digital control, crystal clear sound, no coloration.
* Easy to use. Two-button control (scroll / select) of the MIDI synch options / LCD display options.
* Transparent bypass achieved by a FET switch. Open frequency response same as a true mechanical bypass, but more reliable. No signal drop or harmonics suck-out. Noiseless, pop-free switching.
* Versatile: mono in, stereo out / mono in, mono out.
* Reliable, wear-free, noise-free optical operation. Bypassed when pedal is all the way back.
* 9V operating voltage, 20mA current consumption (we recommend using an AC adapter).
* Will accept standard 2.1mm AC adapter supply plug, center negative.
* Flashing blue and red LED's to show modulation rates.
* Compact Size: 9" x 4" (228mm x 103mm).
* Lightweight, high-quality aircraft aluminum casting and rugged construction, only 2.3lbs (1.1kg). Patented ergonomics.
The Gig-FX Pro-Chop has street price of $299 USD.
