Death By Audio Robot

Description

The Robot is a lo-fi 8-bit electric pitch regenerator with a clock refrequencizer and absolutely no feelings whatsoever.

This cranky computer uses a voice transformation IC from 80s kids’ toys to calculate crazy pitch shifting, bit-crushing distortion, tunable octaves up and down, and ring modulation. There’s also an insane arpeggiator for primitive digital sound mangling that sounds like a squad of sentient automatons from the future-past marched across the uncanny valley, through the singularity, into your music room, and started playing lead in your band.

It sounds complicated (and it is) but you don’t have to know binary code to program this machine. The CONTROL KNOB on the right side of the Robot adjusts the fidelity / pitch / speed of the each of the Robot’s four modes:

Normal: same pitch with 8-bit conversion and distortion. Turn the Control Knob all the way up for maximum fidelity or turn counterclockwise to corrupt the signal.

 Octave Down: The Control Knob turned fully clockwise yields a nasty lower octave. Turning the Control Knob down bends the pitch further downwards.

 Octave Up: The Control Knob turned fully clockwise produces an octave up. turning the Control Knob down bends the pitch lower.

Arpeggiator: The pitch arpeggiates in a sequence just like an old analog synthesizer. The Control Knob adjusts the speed of the arpeggiator.

Besides that, a 4-way toggle switch selects the mode, and the Volume control sets the output level.

NOTE: Due to the technical requirements of the voice transformation IC, the Robot requires a 9v battery or dedicated power supply (daisy chains do not work) and performs best if it’s the first pedal in your signal chain, even before a compressor.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 5.87″ x 4.72″ x 2.62″ (including hardware).
• Weight: 19 oz.
• Power: 9V (runs ons a positive ring, negative tip 9V DC adapter or included 9V battery). Note: Requires a dedicated power supply and will not work with any daisy chain power system.
• Current Draw: 23 mA.