Gamechanger Audio Light Pedal Reverb User manual

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.

.

HOW IT WORKS

The LIGHT PEDAL’s foundation is a traditional spring reverb system ­a combination of three elements:

INPUT TRANSDUCER

(spring exciter)

SPRINGS

Much like a speaker driver,
the Input Transducer turns audio signal
into mechanical impulses, thus sending
vibrations along the length of the springs.

The reverb’s sound depends largely
on the tension and length of the springs.

The Output Transducer completes
the circuit by converting mechanical
impulses from the vibrating spring
back into audio signal.

OUTPUT TRANSDUCER

(pickup)

There can be a lot of complexity in the movement patterns
that occur in the spring during the reverberation process,
especially near the input transducer.

However, due to the spring’s elasticity, by the time vibrations travel
to the output transducer we are mostly hearing the spring’s own
resonant frequencies. This is why all spring reverbs

have such a particular sound.

OPTICAL SENSORS

To capture the full range of
the spring’s movements,

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,

thus giving access to a whole range of
additional reverb textures / tones.

Also, the optical sensors are able to detect much finer movements
than the output transducer which makes longer decays possible,
as well as a much wider frequency response,
including subharmonics and overtones.

Additionally, some amazing modulation and

tremolo effects can be achieved by scrolling

through the optical sensors or

by switching them on and off.

CONTROLS

MIXING DRY SIGNAL WITH REVERB

Three separate volume levels for your DRY signal,
for the traditional SPRING signal
(produced by the spring tank’s Output Transducer)
and the OPTICAL Signal.

The TONE control will affect both

the SPRING and the OPTICAL signals
while leaving the DRY signal as is.

EFFECT MODES + CTRL KNOB

This 6-way selector switch gives you access

to a few different playing modes:

1 optics,
2 sweep,
3 trem,

4 reflect,

5 feedback,
6 harmonic.

In each of the modes the CTRL knob adjusts

different parameters to further fine-tune your sound.

1 OPTICAL

Lets you to choose the exact pair
of optical sensors that you

Use the CTRL knob to scroll
through the optical pairs.

want to use.

As a general rule, moving towards the middle of the spring
will produce warmer and richer reverb textures.

2 SWEEP

Sweep is a modulation mode
that rhythmically scrolls back

and forth through the different

optical sensor pairs.
The resulting sound is a very
special and rich type of
reverb/chorus.

Use the CTRL knob to adjust
the rate of the sweeping
motion.

3 TREM

This is an optical tremolo mode,
that will start switching the optical

sensors on and off rhythmically.

4 REFLECT

This mode is a lo-fi delay

that will send all signal back
into the reverb tank
with three repeats.

5 FEEDBACK

Use the CTRL knob to adjust
the rate from slow swooshing
tremolo to an intense

strobe-ing sound.

Use the CTRL knob to adjust
the rate of the delay.

Use the CTRL knob to adjust

Feedback is a self-oscillation
mode that lets you create

very special sound effects

and “wall-of-sound” type
distorted reverb pads.

Lots of potential uses when paired
with an expression pedal.

6 HARMONIC

In harmonic mode the Spring
Tank is driven by an analog
Octavia-inspired circuit,
which produces a huge amount
of overtones and harmonics
within the spring tank.

the amount of self-oscillation:

from subtle trails to complete

out-of-control madness.

Use the CTRL knob to adjust

the shimmer effect’s range and
in many cases to dial in a specific

desired harmonic. It is a very
special and unique sound that
works amazingly well with
all melodic instruments ­from clean guitars to brutally

Think of it as a shimmer reverb

effect, but only produced

naturally within the spring tank.

With these effect modes, you can either use the optical signal on its own,
or also combine it with the spring tank’s output for a multi-layered effect.

For example: Fast Optical Tremolo + constant Spring Tank Reverb.

Determines the amount of signal being sent
into the spring tank in all playing modes.

distorted Sawtooth Synths.

DRIVE

When turned to minimum
there will be no Reverb at all.

Placing it at 12 o’clock is the safe bet.

When maxed out, the spring tank
will start gently breaking into distortion,

as well as affecting the textures

of all optical signals.

ENV (ENVELOPE)

Envelope is another parameter that affects all effect modes.

At 12 o’clock it is neutral, and does not affect the Pedal’s sound.

To the left, all reverb is gated - the more you play, the more reverb.
As soon as you stop, the reverb gets cut out.

To the right, all reverb sounds are ducked - no reverb
while you play, as soon as you stop, the trails appear.

TAILS

With TAILS switched ON,

you will be able to smoothly

turn the LIGHT Pedal off,

while preserving the reverb’s

natural decay trails.

When switched OFF,

the reverb trails will be cut

as soon as the LIGHT Pedal

is shut off.

For example - set your LIGHT Pedal to feedback mode,
turn the CTRL knob all the way up, and use the momentary footswitch

on

off

LATCH

When LATCH is ON
the LIGHT Pedal’s footswitch
will act as a standard

latching on/off footswitch.

When LATCH is OFF
the LIGHT Pedal’s footswitch
will act as a momentary

effect switch.

to add occasional bursts of feedback into your solos.. Just an idea.. ; )

SHOCK SENSOR

in

As we all know, spring reverbs
can be sensitive to shaking stages,
heavy stomping and earthquakes.

That is why the LIGHT Pedal features a special shock-sensor mode!

Powered by an accelerometer chip, the LIGHT Pedal can instantly detect

physical impact (measured as G force) and instantly shut off the audio

output, as soon as a blow or a shaking motion is detected!

The sensor offers three levels of shock protection: Off, Soft and Hard.

shock sensor

off soft hard

9V DC

exp

out

INPUTS & OUTPUTS

The LIGHT Pedal is a MONO pedal with a ¼’ jack INPUT and OUTPUT.

The LIGHT Pedal also features a ¼’ jack expression input that can be
assigned to multiple potentiometers (default setting is CTRL knob).

Product Dimensions

Product Weight

Spring Tank 3 Springs Type, 100mm

Input Impedance 1MΩ

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

1060 g (2.3 lbs)

Max Input Level

Output Impedance

Max Output Level +6.8dBu

Peak Power Consumption 4W

Mean Power Consumption

Power Requirements

+6.8dBu

100Ω

0.9W

500mA min
9VDC
center negative 2.1 x 5.5 mm plug