Gamechanger Audio - LIGHT Pedal Optical Spring Reverb

LIGHT Pedal is the World's first analog optical spring reverb system that uses infra-red optical sensors to harvest the timbral and harmonic range of a spring reverb tank.
The result is a wide variety of Reverb sounds ranging from classic toexperimental to pure magic.
User’s manual: see on Gamechanger Audio Website
Power supply is not included. Light Pedal uses standard9V DC center negative pedal power supply of at least 500 mA.

THE CLASSIC SPRING TANK SOUND

The LIGHT Pedal’s central component and main sound source isa traditional spring reverb tank, consisting of three major elements - the inputtransducer (spring exciter), the springs and the output transducer (pickup). Therecan be a lot of complexity in the spring’s movement patterns during thereverberation process, especially near the input transducer. However, due tothe spring elasticity, by the time vibrations have reached the outputtransducer we mostly hear the spring’s own resonant frequencies, which is whyall spring reverbs have such a particular jangly, metallic sound. The LIGHTPedal’s spring output (the spring knob) offers a classic high-quality springreverb sound with the option to adjust the spring “drip” (the drive knob) and thetone of the output signal (the tone knob).

THE OPTICAL SPRING REVERB SOUND

To capture the full range of the spring’s vibrations, theLIGHT Pedal uses multiple sets of special infra-red optical sensors that act asphotoelectric pickups. Each set of IR sensors is directed at a different pointon the moving spring’s surface. The optical sensors detect much finer movementscompared to the output transducer. This makes longer decays possible and moredetailed frequency response, including subharmonics and overtones.Additionally, the pedal can achieve amazing modulation and tremolo effects byscrolling through the optical sensors or by switching them on and off (opticaleffects).

THE EFFECTS

-        optics – lets you choose a specificcombination of optical sensors, each with a slightly different texture andtimbral quality.

-        sweep – sweep is a modulation mode thatrhythmically scrolls back and forth through the different optical sensor pairs.The different frequency response properties of each sensor result in a modulation-styleeffect.

-        trem – a tremolo effect is produced byrhythmically switching the optical sensors on and off. The tremolo effect canalso be applied to the spring output together with the optical signal orseparately.

-        reflect - this mode is a lo-fi delay thatwill send the instrument’s signal back into the reverb tank several times. Longdelay times can create powerful, lengthy reverb decays.

-        feedback – the feedback mode sets thespring tank into self-oscillation, which lets you produces various drones andwall-of-sound-type pads. Lots of potential uses when paired with an expressionpedal or when in momentary mode.

-        harmonic – in harmonic mode the springtank is driven by a special circuit designed to produce added overtones andharmonics. Think of it as a shimmer reverb effect, but only produced naturallywithin the spring tank.

All of the above effects are controlled with the ctrlknob, which can be responsive to playing dynamics. The first three effects(optical, sweep, trem) can be stacked with one of the remaining three effects.

THE CONTROLS

-        3 mix controls: dry, spring(classic spring sound) and optical (optical spring reverb sound);

-        tone – shared between the spring andoptical sounds, and does not apply to the instruments dry signal;

-        6-way effect selector knob

-        ctrl – effect parameter control knob

-        drive – spring tank’s input signal level;

-        gate – primary function: gated andducking reverb control; secondary function – ctrl knob envelope responsecontrol.

-        tails – turns reverb tails on or off

-        latch – sets the pedal into latching mode(on) or into momentary mode (off).

-        shock sensor - shuts off the wet signal output whenmechanical impact or a shaking motion is detected; three levels of shockprotection: off, soft and hard.

-        soft footswitch – the primary function: togglingbypass; secondary functions – effects stacking, adjusting the envelope controlover the effects, and entering the footswitch assignment mode.

I/O

The LIGHT Pedal is a mono pedal with a ¼’ jack input andoutput. The LIGHT Pedal also features an expression input for ¼’ TS and TRSjacks and is compatible with all expression pedal types, as well as CV signal(active range to +3.3 V). The expression pedal can be assigned to the ctrl,spring, optical, drive or the gate knobs.

The LIGHT Pedal uses a standard 9V DC center-negative powersupply of at least 500 mA. The power supply is not included.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Product Dimensions

WLH 105 x 190 x 40 mm (4.1 x 7.5 x 1.6 in)

Product Weight

1060 g (2.3 lbs)

Spring Tank

3 Springs Type, 100 mm

Input Impedance

1 MΩ

Max Input Level

+6.8 dBu

Output Impedance

100 Ω

Max Output Level

+6.8 dBu

Peak Power Consumption

4 W

Mean Power Consumption

0.9 W

Power Requirements

500 mA min, 9 V DC center negative, 2.1 x 5.5 mm plug