Damian Kastbauer and the Modded Crybaby Expression Pedal
May 16, 2024
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Damian Kastbauer, Founder of Pedal Brainz, shares his journey from modding a Crybaby pedal to creating unique expression control products. The podcast explores the evolution of expression pedals, innovative features like the Expression Ramper X3, and the creative realms opened up by nonlinear sound. Discussions include syncing actions across pedals, voltage manipulation in effects, and the versatility of expression pedals in modulating effects.
Innovative devices enable expressive control over effects with modular synth-like surprises and delights in performance.
Dan prefers depth control for dynamic tremolo effects, while Damien explores light as a visual and physical medium for modulation.
Transitioning from photo resistors to digital potentiometers enhances expressiveness, safety, and creativity in control voltage systems.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Expression and Control Voltage Devices
Damien shares insights into the evolution of devices that allow control over effects parameters using light-dependent resistors initially, moving on to digital potentiometers. The versatility and innovation in these devices provide a modular synth-like experience that adds surprises and delights to performance.
Exploring Favorite Ways of Expressing with Pedals
Both Damien and Dan discuss their favorite ways to express using their devices. Dan enjoys controlling the depth of tremolos, creating dynamic effects with the interaction. Damien, on the other hand, appreciates using light as an expressive medium, offering a physical and visual performance aspect to modulate effects parameters.
Creating Innovative Expression and Control Voltage Systems
Damien delves into the development of his expression and control voltage devices, explaining transitions from photo resistors to digital potentiometers for modulation. Offering accessible methods to interact with effects, these new systems enhance expressiveness and deliver surprise and delight in sound manipulation.
Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of Control Voltage
Discussions around the challenges and possibilities of control voltage systems arise, highlighting the need for standardization across effects pedals. Damien's exploration into different voltage ranges opens up creative paths while emphasizing the importance of safety and understanding voltage compatibility.
Innovative Control Voltage Features
Pedal brains introduces innovative control voltage features in their products, such as the Tomcat Cloudy with granular delay. This pedal incorporates open source algorithms from the modular world, offering expression control and toggles for position and density adjustments. The Cloudy pedal allows for both unipolar and bipolar control, uniquely enhancing modulation possibilities.
Expansion of Expression and Control Voltage Use in Effects Pedals
The podcast highlights the growing trend of expanding expression and control voltage functionalities in effects pedals. By incorporating more expression jacks on pedals and allowing for power transmission through expression connections, pedal creators are pushing boundaries in signal processing and modulation. The conversation delves into the potential benefits of standardizing expression functionalities and providing open APIs for enhanced user creativity.
Today we, well, forgive us but: express ourselves. We're joined by Damian Kastbauer of Pedal Brainz to talk all things expression. His journey starts with a gutted Dunlop Crybaby adapted to control the trimpot on an Ibanez DM1100 delay, and leads to his own unique expression control products. We get some calls from the hogs about their favorite pedals to express, and try to give some technical info on both expression and CV while exploring the creative realms that open up when you don't take sound so linearly. Andy and Damian find a commonality in their approach to musical gear setups while Dan periodically reminds the listener that Old Blood just came out with the Expression Ramper X3.
