In order for your guitar to make sense to your computer, its signal has to be converted to a series of numbers that represent the crests and troughs of the waveform. These are called samples; the higher the sample rate, the more high-range frequencies can be accurately expressed. Those samples are then recorded as on/off memory bits that contain the volume information of the waveform. The more bits, the less compressed and more nuanced your signal will be. Bitcrushers take advantage of this music-computer relationship by taking your analog signal into it’s loving, digital arms and manipulating the sample rate and bit depth to create an increasingly crude compression/distortion effect.
If you’re confused, you’re not alone. It was only recently that I became sure I understood the bitcrusher, and I’m still not sure I’m not afraid of it. The bitcrusher sits somewhere between overdrive and Armageddon machine, yielding surreal warmth at its most conservative and absolute mangled mush at the extremes. Originating as a popular offering in the realm of plugin software, a glut of savvy pedal builders have thrown their hat in the bitcrusher ring, reproducing and building on the effect in amazing and unexpected ways.
One such builder is Malekko Heavy Industry, a company one could describe as “enigmatic.” Today we’re taking a look at Malekko’s Scrutator, the first in a series of (so far, three) new units designed with Malekko’s proprietary DSP platform. The word “Scrutator” is an old, almost never used word which means “one who examines,” an appropriate nomenclature for a pedal designed to reduce your signal to its basest attributes and lay bare the grating nature of the bits below.
Features:
- Six Knobs:
Pre Amp control for effect input gain/attenuation
Bit Rate reduction control from 16bit to 2bit
Sample Rate reduction control from approximately 48kHz to 300Hz
Q control for bandwidth and amplitude filter amount
Mix controls the wet/dry
Filter controls a filter sweep - Expression Pedal Input
- Low-Pass or Band-Pass Filter
- Clip LED indicates input clipping
- True Bypass
- 9VDC powered
The post Malekko Scrutator Review – Best Bitcrusher/Filter Pedal? appeared first on Best Guitar Effects - Reviews of the Best Guitar Pedals & Gear.
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