Gamechanger Light Pedal

LIGHT PEDAL

Light pedal is the world’s first analog optical spring reverb system that uses infra-red optical sensors to harvest the full timbral and harmonic range of a spring reverb tank.

It takes a lot of energy to transfer an audio signal across the length of a vibrating spring. By the time the source audio signal reaches the spring tank’s output transducer, most of its nuanced harmonic content will be lost converted into mechanical energy.

This is why spring reverbs have such a particular sound, since what you end up hearing is largely the spring’s own resonant frequencies. The light pedal uses extremely sensitive optical pairs, placed at specific regions of the spring to detect very nuanced movements on the spring’s surface, as sound-waves travel through it.

This method opens up a much wider range of frequencies, harmonics, overtones and textures that are otherwise lost in the mechanical reverberation process. Using optical sensors also opens doors to some new effects types, such as optical reverb tremolo, optical reverb modulation and optical harmonic shimmer.

The result is a wide variety of analog reverb sounds ranging from classic to experimental to pure magic.

THE CLASSIC SPRING TANK SOUND

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

THE OPTICAL SPRING REVERB SOUND

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

THE EFFECTS

• optics – lets you choose a specific combination of optical sensors, each with a slightly different texture and timbral quality.
• sweep – sweep is a modulation mode that rhythmically scrolls back and forth through the different optical sensor pairs. The different frequency response properties of each sensor result in a modulation-style effect.
• trem – a tremolo effect is produced by rhythmically switching the optical sensors on and off. The tremolo effect can also be applied to the spring output together with the optical signal or separately.
• reflect – this mode is a lo-fi delay that will send the instrument’s signal back into the reverb tank several times. Long delay times can create powerful, lengthy reverb decays.
• feedback – the feedback mode sets the spring tank into self-oscillation, which lets you produce various drones and wall-of-sound-type pads. Lots of potential uses when paired with an expression pedal or when in momentary mode.
• harmonic – in harmonic mode the spring tank is driven by a special circuit designed to produce added overtones and harmonics. Think of it as a shimmer reverb effect, but only produced naturally within the spring tank.

ATTENTION DR.MARTENS CUSTOMERS:
THE LIGHT PEDAL ALSO FEATURES AN INNOVATIVE SHOCK SENSOR CIRCUIT THAT SHUTS OFF AUDIO SIGNAL AS SOON AS MECHANICAL IMPACT IS DETECTED.
SIMPLY PUT THE SHOCK SENSOR SWITCH TO “HARD” AND STOMP IT ALL DAY LONG WITH NO HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES.