Reverb Machines: Magneto; Know Functions - Strymon BigSky User Manual

BigSky
- User Manual

Reverb Machines: Magneto

A new style of music emerged in the late '50s, featuring the guitar as the 'lead voice' enhanced by the reverberated wash
of a multi-head echo. The Magneto machine sets up a multi-head echo with all heads on, while the PreDelay knob adds
feedback. The Diffusion parameter adds a new dimension of ambience, smearing the response of the heads and blurring
the line between delay and reverb.
PARAMETERS:
Low End:
Diffusion:
Number of Heads:
Spacing:
KNOB FUNCTIONS: In Magneto, two of the
knobs assume different controls than the
other reverb machines.
Adjusts the low frequency response of the Magneto machine. Higher values allow more low
frequency content. Lower values roll off the low end in a manner representative of many
magnetic-media delay machines.
- | +
Controls the effect of diffusors on the magnetic heads. At minimum there is no diffusion effect. As
the Diffusion parameter is turned up, the heads are increasingly smeared, creating a reverberated
quality to the repeats.
- | +
Selects from three, four or six heads.
3
4
6
Even spacing puts the heads at the same distance from one another for equal delay times. Uneven
spacing scatters the head which creates a more complex, less overtly rhythmic effect.
EVEN
UNEVEN
DELAY TIME: Sets the
Delay time of the last
head.
FEEDBACK: Adds
feedback from the last
head back to the input
when Even Spacing is
selected. With Uneven
Spacing, the feedback is
taken from the last two
heads.
TIPS & TRICKS:
The last repeat occurs at the displayed decay time, so a 300ms
decay time with 3 evenly spaced heads would have repeats at
100ms, 200ms, and 300ms. Switching to a 4-head machine
results in delays at 75ms, 150ms, 225ms, and 300ms.
The age, condition, and alignment of the record and playback
heads greatly infl uence on the tonality of magnetic media
delays. As a result, they may bright or dark, high-passed or
fuller in the low frequencies. The Tone knob and Low End
parameters are wide-ranging to allow for a full spectrum of
tones. As the Feedback (Pre-Delay knob) is increased, the EQ
response is regenerative, leading to evolving soundscapes and
ambient washes.
The Mod control acts as a Wow and Flutter generator, adding
hypnotic movement and fullness to the sound.
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