Gamechanger Audio Bigsby Polyphonic Pitch-shifting Pedal

Gamechanger Audio Bigsby Polyphonic Pitch-shifting Pedal

THE BIGSBY PEDAL

A revolutionary polyphonic pitch shifter pedal created in cooperation with Fender Musical Instruments Co.

The BIGSBY Pedal is a revolutionary polyphonic pitch shifter pedal that reproduces the string bending and vibrato effects produced by the BIGSBY Tremolo arm and other traditional tremolo systems.

The idea to create a BIGSBY-style pitch-shifting pedal was born out of a long-standing admiration for the BIGSBY system’s unique feel, sound and design. Now, after a two-year-long design and development period, they are proud to unveil what they believe is one of the most capable and inspiring pitch-shifting tools currently on the market.


ALGORITHM

Powered by the formidable SHARC Audio Processor, the BIGSBY Pedal runs a hybrid algorithm specifically developed by Gamechanger Audio to achieve smooth polyphonic real-time pitch-shifting at low intervals. It has been painstakingly tweaked to preserve the natural timbre and sound of electric and acoustic string instruments, including baritone and bass guitars, guitars, mandolins, banjos, etc.


Another key component of the BIGSBY Pedal’s sound is the DETUNE parameter.

A carefully crafted algorithm that is designed to emulate the imperfections and dissonant properties of traditional mechanical string-bending hardware. As a result, the vibrato effects produced by the BIGSBY Pedal are almost indistinguishable from those of a conventional tremolo arm.


INTERFACE

The unique spring-loaded foot-pedal design opens up a world of new strumming patterns, bend combinations and beautiful lap-steel and slide-inspired licks that cannot be achieved with traditional tremolo systems.


The BIGSBY pedal is always “on” – the only thing you need to do to activate it is to step on the foot-pedal.

The algorithm ensures that transitions between the DRY and WET (pitched) signals are as smooth as possible, allowing you to seamlessly incorporate pitch-bends into complex picking patterns as well as lead and melodic lines.


ADDITIONAL FEATURES

EXP OUT

This allows you to use the BIGSBY as a unique spring-loaded Expression Controller with fully adjustable DEPTH, RATE and OFFSET controls – for modulating any expression parameters of other pedals and effects units (via a TRS 1/4” jack cable).

The BIGSBY Pedal’s Expression Output can be used either in parallel with or independently from the pitch-shifting algorithm.


FSW IN

The BIGSBY Pedal’s FSW IN connector is compatible with all standard momentary or toggle type footswitches with a TS (Tip/Sleeve) 1/4” jack (normally closed or normally open). You can also use a dual-latching footswitch with a TRS jack – in this case, only one side of the footswitch will work.

Pressing the footswitch will activate LATCH mode. When latched, the BIGSBY will hold a constant interval determined by the current position of the DEPTH knob – this way you don’t have to hold down the BIGSBY Pedal for long phrases.

When in LATCH mode you can still use the BIGSBY’s foot-pedal to make momentary dives and detune effects up to two semitones. Pressing the opposite side of the foot-pedal will flip the direction of the pitch shift.


MIDI IN

Connected with a 3.5mm type B connector.

This allows you to control all functions of the BIGSBY Pedal via CC messages, as well as creating and saving presets onto 10 preset slots, syncing the RATE Parameter to a specific tempo (with subdivisions), and more.