MATRIXSYNTH: BugBrand BugCrush 08 Desktop Filter/Rate Reducer/CV EXP


Tuesday, August 19, 2008

BugBrand BugCrush 08 Desktop Filter/Rate Reducer/CV EXP

via this auction
"*Info from Tom Bugs @ BugBrand.
BugCrushers:
BugCrushers are Sample-rate Reducer pedals - I guess I confused things by naming them Crushers - just to be clear, they are not actually Bit Crusher effects! If you look at a standard BitCrush plugin you have controls for Bit Depth (thats the part I can't (yet) do - I work in analogue) and Sample Rate -- my pedals just do the second bit. That's not to say they're sonically lacking - the sound of RateReduction is very fine - at high rates you get fizzly distortionary sounds, while turning down the rate brings you into sounds quite like ring modulation (though perhaps more musical?) - really great for droning!
In technical terms the BugCrusher uses a Sample & Hold circuit running at audio rates. Sample & Hold is found in various analogue synths, but generally running at low frequencies to provide randomised voltage steps. The circuit is often fed from a pure noise source (so you've got randomness) and then clocked by an LFO.
BugCrushers currently come in three standard forms:
BugCrusher08, BabyBugCrusher, BugCrusherMicro

BugCrusher08
"Released Jan08 in a batch of 8
Here's the new and updated big version BugCrusher! Its a desktop unit with quite a complex design (check the block diagram in the photos) that packs in many features -> analogue rate reduction followed by a resonant filter, plus voltage control so that rate and/or filter can be controlled with an external CV or expression pedal.

* Input preamp for guitar or line level signals - switchable Hi or Lo gain plus input level control
* Voltage controlled Crusher circuit ranging from fizzle-highs to drone-tone lows, with a large chickenhead dial for the master CrushRate, plus variable modulation depth from an external source
* Pre-filter mixer to blend the dry and crushed signals - also with switchable phase inversion on the crushed signal for a extra mixing possibilities (audio phase cancellations!)
* Voltage controlled Filter with switchable LoPass or BandPass responses and variable resonance. This has a main Cutoff dial plus variable modulation depth
* Switchable output levels for guitar amps (lo level signal) or mixing desk (hi level signal)
* External input switchable between CV or Foot Pedal, with variable modulation depth for CrushMod and/or Filter Mod - ie, you can use a standard expression pedal to change the Crush Rate or the Filter Cutoff - or both at the same time - or use a CV (standard +/- 5v) signal from an analogue synth
* Electronic true-bypass switching with input socket for an external momentary footswitch - the main big red bypass button is NOT suitable for foot operation!
* Powered by an external 12vAC plug-in power pack (supplied)
* Housed in a metal case measuring 12.5 x 12.5 x 7.5 cm"

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