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Okay, Brainiac, it's time to put down that graphing calculator and get to work decoding your
brand new Data Corrupter
!
™
The Data Corrupter is a monophonic analog harmonizing PLL with modulation. It takes your
input signal and brutally amplifies it into a crushing square wave fuzz tone that is then multiplied,
divided, and modulated to create a wild, yet repeatable, three-voice guitar synthesizer.
The Master Oscillator (1) is the central nervous system at the heart of the Data Corrupter's
cyberpunk hive mind. The three-position switch on the Master Oscillator control panel labeled
Root (2) feeds your input to the signal harvester in its original octave (Unison), one octave down (-1)
or two octaves down (-2). Use the Master Oscillator's Root Switch to fine tune the Data
Corrupter's tracking response for maximum compatibility with your preferred instrument and
frequency register. Once you've chosen your input octave, the Data Corrupter will perform its
calculations and spit out a synthesized frequency, the octave and/or interval of which may be
selected via the Master Oscillator's eight-position rotary switch.
The Voice Mixer's Oscillator Control (3) adjusts the Master Oscillator blend.
The Frequency Modulator (4) applies pitch-bend modulation to the Master Oscillator. In
Glide mode, you'll hear a smooth portamento as each note slides into the next. In Vibrato mode
the pitch modulates up and down for a retro sci-fi laser effect.
The Subharmonic (5) assimilates the input signal into one of eight lower octave programs
between one and three octaves below the original. For a more stable lower octave, set the
Subharmonic's Root Switch to the Unison position, which divides the Square Wave input
signal, and removes the Frequency Modulator from the Subharmonic signal path.
To unleash the cracked machine lurking within the mainframe, set the Subharmonic Root
Switch to Oscillator and try not to look away as the sonic malware you just installed mangles
your input signal into the sum and difference of both the Master Oscillator and Subharmonic
with the Frequency Modulator applied to the upper and lower octaves.
If you think you're brave enough, set the Subharmonic Root Switch to Oscillator and try
experimenting with different Master Oscillator and Subharmonic programs to wind up the
doomsday clock and inch ever closer to the Singularity. Adjust the Voice Mixer's Subharmonic
Control to set the lower octave volume.
Finally, (or is it?) the Square (6) control located top-left on the Voice Mixer blends in a fuzzed-
out square-wave take of your input in its original octave. That's it. These aren't the droids we're
looking for. Move along.
Each and every Data Corrupter is built one-at-a-time by a team of ensigns aboard the Starship
Enterprise locked in orbit around the Borg Cube of Akron, Ohio, USA. Make it so. Engage.
Nerd Talk
The heart of this pedal is based around a CMOS Phase Locked Loop (PLL) IC. In a nutshell, the
PLL takes your input signal and compares its phase and frequency against an oscillator, generates
an output proportional to their difference then feeds it back to the oscillator. This then causes the
oscillator to lock onto the input signal and generate a synthesized frequency. Pretty cool, right?
This synthesized frequency is referred to as the Master Oscillator on the Data Corrupter.
Design Notes
This device takes its inspiration from the Electrax Synthax and the "Basic Frequency Synthesizer"
by Ray Marston. Neither of these were really intended to be guitar effect pedals and a lot of work
went into creating the Data Corrupter to provide excellent tracking and long sustain. We think you'll
find it more expressive and accurate than pretty much any other PLL based effect pedal around.
<<< Controls >>>
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<<< Suggested Settings >>>
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Equinox
Play esoteric and epic melodies, hair-tossing
bends, and sassy pull-offs above the 12th fret.
Raise your fist as the crimson smoke fills the stage.
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Fisted Fifth Riffs
Say it really fast fifty times while your melting
faces in the front row.
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