Gamechanger Audio Third Man Records Plasma Coil

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INFO FROM GAMECHANGER:

The PLASMA Coil takes HIGH VOLTAGE DISTORTION to new heights by adding intense, gritty and glitchy octave up and down effects that are achieved by driving the high voltage transformer and are unique:

• 2 Subharmonic modes (bitcrush-style octave down)
• 1 Upper Harmonic mode (Octafuzz-style Octave Up)
• 2 Mixed modes (Upper and Lower harmonics combined)

It is the PLASMA pedals insane brother. The octave effects will add massive low and high end to higher notes and intense overload of gain to lower notes.

Product Details:

User’s Manual: https://www.gamechangeraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PLASMA_COIL_MANUAL_V2_WEB2.pdf

Simplified Signal Chain:
Input -> EQ -> Octave/Effect -> Transformer to High Voltage -> Xenon Tube -> Antenna that picks up the electromagnetic vibrations surrounding the Tube -> Output

The expected life of the xenon tube is 10,000 to 70,000 hours of active playing. The xenon tube is replaceable.

Input Type:  1/4” Unbalanced TS
Input Impedance: 1MΩ
Max Input Level: 7Vpp (+10dBu)
Output Type: 1/4” Unbalanced TS
Output Impedance: 100Ω
Max Output Level: 7Vpp (+10dBu)
Power connector: Center negative 2.1 x 5.5 mm barrel plug (the standard 9V)
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 22kHz
Controls: True bypass footswitch button, Effect footswitch button Potentiometers: VOLTAGE, VOLUME, LOW FREQ, HI FREQ, CLEAN EQ toggle switch, Effect Latch toggle switch
Indicator: Check indicator white LED
Connectors: IN, OUT, DC input
Power Requirements: 300mA, 9VDC
Peak Power Consumption: 2.7 W
Mean Power Consumption: 1 W
Power Consumption While Silent: 0.025 W
Dimensions: LWH 148 x 96 x 70 mm / 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 in
Weight: 840 g / 1.8 lbs

Extended Description

The PLASMA Coil is a revolutionary way of producing distortion by converting your instrument’s signal into a series of high-voltage plasma discharges in a sealed xenon filled tube.

The result is an incredibly sharp and sizzling overdrive that is extremely clear, responsive, and most importantly fun! This patent-pending technology of high-voltage electric discharge also acts as a natural noise-gating device that creates strong contrasts between staccato notes, as well as eliminating all unwanted noise and pick-up hum. The PLASMA Coil’s electric discharge tube produces beautiful visible bolts of lightning that react to the input signal, thus creating a captivating experience for all players. In essence – you are playing a bolt of electricity.

Key Features:

• High Voltage PLASMA Distortion circuit converts audio signal into a series of Electrical discharges at 3.5 kV.
• 2 EQ Controls to boost or cut LOW and HIGH frequencies;
• VOLTAGE Knob – adjusts the amount of electrical current sent to the PLASMA Tube.
• EFFECT Knob allows you to select 1 of 6 different Special EFFECT types:
  • Volume Boost
  • 2 Subharmonic modes (Bitcrush-style Octave Down)
  • 1 Upper Harmonic mode (Octafuzz-style Octave Up)
  • 2 Mixed modes (Upper and Lower harmonics combined)
• EFFECT Footswitch – engages the PLASMA COIL’s special effect circuit.
• Master VOLUME Knob – cuts or boosts the Output Signal level.
• ON/OFF silent footswitch.
• Effect Footswitch TOGGLE – configure EFFECTS Footswitch as a latching ON/OFF switch or as a Momentary switch.

Natural Noise 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 of the in-between noises created by the instrument’s pick-ups or by humming strings.

Extremely Wide EQ

The PLASMA pedal 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. Boost and cut the lows and highs with the dedicated knobs. The EQ can be switched to affect only the wet sound or dry sound, which is especially suitable for bass.

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 artifacts, produced as a by-product of the high voltage discharge are uncommon in traditional signal amplification, and therefore PLASMA Pedal’s distortion is unlike anything you have heard before.