The incredible, unique high voltage distortion concept from Gamechanger in high quality rack format. Produces a truly gamechanging, harmonic-rich distortion that sounds like nothing else.
The PLASMA RACK is a 1U sized high-end audio effects unit designed for professional and studio use. At its heart is the unique High Voltage Distortion concept – a brand new way of analog signal processing developed in 2018 by Gamechanger Audio.
Brand new product. Pedal version and the totally insane “Jack White” variant also available.
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INFO FROM GAMECHANGER:
By using a High voltage step-up flyback transformer, PLASMA RACK turns your instrument’s signal into a rapid series of electric discharges in a Xenon-filled tube. These powerful discharges (up to 5500 Volts) then get picked up by a specially designed electromagnetic receiver and turned back into audio-level signal. This process results in a large amount of punishingly heavy distortion, and also saturates the sound with a wide range of harmonics and overtones.
The harmonic artefacts, created as a byproduct of the high-voltage discharge are uncommon in traditional signal amplification, and therefore PLASMA distortion is unlike anything you have heard before.
The way PLASMA Rack reacts with different instruments and sound sources simply cannot be recreated with any other analog machine, plugin or by digital sound modelling.
Product Details:
User’s manual: https://www.gamechangeraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Plasma_Rack_User_Manual.pdf
Simplified Signal Chain:
Input -> (EQ if on) -> Transformer to High Voltage -> Xenon Tube -> Antenna that picks up the electromagnetic vibrations surrounding the Tube -> (EQ if off) -> Blend with Clean -> Output
The expected life of the xenon tube is 10,000 to 70,000 hours of active playing. The xenon tube is replaceable.
Extended Description
The PLASMA RACK is a 1U sized high-end audio effects unit designed for professional and studio use.
At its heart is the unique High Voltage Distortion concept – a brand new way of analog signal processing developed in 2018 by Gamechanger Audio.
By using a High voltage step-up flyback transformer, PLASMA RACK turns your instrument’s signal into a rapid series of electric discharges in a Xenon-filled tube. These powerful discharges (up to 5500 Volts) then get picked up by a specially designed electromagnetic receiver and turned back into audio-level signal. This process results in a large amount of punishingly heavy distortion, and also saturates the sound with a wide range of harmonics and overtones.
The harmonic artefacts, created as a byproduct of the high-voltage discharge are uncommon in traditional signal amplification, and therefore PLASMA distortion is unlike anything you have heard before.
The way PLASMA Rack reacts with different instruments and sound sources simply cannot be recreated with any other analog machine, plugin or by digital sound modelling.
Key Features:
Unique Harmonic Saturation
PLASMA pedal converts your instrument’s signal into a rapid series of electric discharges, which results in a large amount of non-linear harmonic saturation that causes extremely rich and responsive attacks, and brings out screeching sharp overtones and harmonics. These harmonic artefacts, produced as a by-product of the high voltage discharge are uncommon in traditional signal amplification, and therefore PLASMA distortion is unlike anything you have heard before.\
Natural Noise Gate, Clean Gate
As soon as you stop playing the electrical discharge within the gas-filled tube is interrupted, and the pedal will not produce any output signal at all. This feature allows you to achieve extreme contrasts between individual notes, by eliminating all in-between noises created by the instrument’s pick-ups or by humming strings. This is noise gate can be set to affect the clean signal without added distortion.
Extremely Wide 3-Band EQ
The PLASMA distortion loses the original dry input signal and creates a new signal from fluctuations in the electromagnetic field surrounding the gas-discharge tube. This allows for a very wide range of frequencies. The EQ can be switched to affect only the wet sound or dry sound.
Additional Features
Specifications:
UNBALANCED INPUT:
Connector: Tip-Sleeve ¼” Jack
Impedance: 1 MΩ
Maximum Input Level: + 11 dBu
Maximum Undistorted Input Level: 0 dBu (Gain setting at minimum)
Type: Instrument input, RF filtered, true bypass to unbalanced output
BALANCED INPUT:
Connector: Combo connector: Female XLR and Tip-Ring-Sleeve ¼” (Pin 2 and Tip hot)
Impedance: 4.38 kΩ; 1.5 kΩ (PAD switch on)
Maximum Input Level: “+17 dBu (Clamped by protection devices) +37 dBu (PAD switch on, clamped by protection devices)”
Maximum Undistorted Input Level: “+2dBu (Gain setting at minimum) +22 dBu (PAD switch on, Gain setting at minimum)”
Type: Mic/Line input, RF filtered, true bypass to balanced output
UNBALANCED OUTPUT:
Connector: Tip-Sleeve ¼” Jack
Impedance: 220Ω
Maximum Output Level: +7 dBu
BALANCED OUTPUT:
Connector: Male XLR (Pin 2 Hot)
Impedance: 200 Ω
Maximum Output Level: + 10 dBu
FX LOOP SEND (1-3):
Connector: Tip-Sleeve ¼” Jack
Impedance: 100 Ω
Maximum Output Level: “+12 dBu (Line level) -6 dBu (Instrument level)”
FX LOOP RETURN (1-3):
Connector: Tip-Sleeve ¼” Jack
Impedance: 1 MΩ
Maximum Input Level: +14 dBu
MIDI IN/OUT/THROUGH:
Connector: 5-pin DIN (180 degree)
Type: Optically isolated input, RF filtered
EXPRESSION PEDAL:
Connector: Tip-Ring-Sleeve ¼” (Wiper tip, CCW ring, CW sleeve)
Type: Designed for potentiometer-based expression pedals, RF filtered
GAIN AND SIGNAL LEVELS:
Preamp Gain Range: -26 to +12 dB
Unbalanced Input: recommended level for 0dB gain setting: -15 dBu
Balanced input (PAD switch off): recommended level for 0dB gain setting: -9 dBu
Balanced input (PAD switch on): recommended level for 0dB gain setting: +11 dBu
FX loop level (Line): +4 dBu at recommended input level
FX loop level (Instrument): -15 dBu at recommended input level
Volume Control Gain: -80 to +12 dB
PAD Attenuation: -20 dB, applies for balanced input only
EQ:
Low Frequency: 10 Hz, -20 to 20 dB Low-pass shelving filter
Mid Frequency: 600 Hz, -6 to 6 dB
High Frequency: 20 kHz, -10 to 10 dB, High-pass shelving filter
Type: Baxandall, MIDI controllable
TREMOLO:
Rate Range: 0.85 to 2600 Hz
Depth Control: 0 – 100%, in (positive range) or out (negative range) of phase between clean and distorted signals
TUBE:
Gas: Xenon
Discharge Voltage: 5.5 kV
Frequency Response: 30 Hz to 20 kHz (±3 dB)
Signal to Noise Ratio: “69 dB clean channel (A weighted); 78 dB drive channel (A weighted);”
Operating Temperature: 0º to 40º C
POWER SUPPLY:
Type: Universal, switch mode
Operating Voltage: 90 – 245 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 60 W
PHYSICAL:
Dimensions: HDW 1.75 x 10 x 19 in / 4 x 25.5 x 48.2 cm
Shipping Box Dimensions: HDW 4 x 15 x 21.3 in / 10 x 38 x 54 cm
Weight: 9 lbs / 4.1 kg
Shipping Weight: 13.8 lbs / 6.3 kg
Brand New!
Switchable voltage for use anywhere in the world.
For sales in UK the price will include 20% VAT. Buyers elsewhere may incur VAT or other local taxes on import.
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