Multimode Decimation: Bitcrushing, Distortion, Modulation, and More
As Catalinbread continues its inspiring expansion into the furthest reaches of sound-scaping, the company’s journey has reached an unexpected, exciting destination that channels the distinct shades of early-aughts digital sound mangling. Enter, Bitters. This seismic stompbox of multi-effects modulation magic reaches through time with its voltaic suite of phasing, distortion, and texture-crafting tools, inspired by a 2000s lineup of DJ- and electronic-focused effects from Alesis. Like its spiritual predecessors, the Catalinbread Bitters pedal conjures a distinctly turn-of-the-millennium array of digital decimation, forging beauty from the glitchy madness that defined the era’s electro panache. With over two decades of industry innovation between the periods, Catalinbread has crafted Bitters to support many configurations, with detailed blending and signal chain controls that have Sweetwater’s sound hounds thoroughly enamored by its versatility. Beyond guitars and basses, Bitters introduces a digital deluge of snarling sonics and warping modulation that will redefine your sound, from drum machines and keyboards to synths and DAWs.
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Spin the sonic wheel: four shades of pliable programming
Despite its humble appearance, Bitters is capable of evoking an electrifying terrain of dynamic digital mayhem, exponentially magnified by its quartet of sound-shaping capabilities. The Bitters knob attenuates the effect selected from the program wheel below: Decimator, Bitcrusher, Frequency Modulation, and Ring Modulator. But Bitters has another trick up its sleeve. Each effect is listed twice and color-coded to indicate where in the signal chain this mode-dependent parameter resides, allowing you to place Bitters after the distortion and phaser (in that order) or before it enters the digital distortion dominion.
- Decimator: It samples and reduces the sample rate of your incoming signal, introducing Nyquist aliasing and resulting in numerous shapable shades of sonic detonation.
- Bitcrusher: This wide-ranging effect pulverizes your signal’s fidelity, pounding down to as low as just one bit, yielding a barrage of digital noise that’s gated to preserve the sounds you want.
- Frequency Modulation: This is your pitch vibrato, and its scope of speed ranges from a chorus-capable crawl to signal-shredding slaughter.
- Ring Modulator: Blending a tremolo with a blazingly fast modulation rate, this synth-inspired effect supplements your sound with additive and subtractive frequencies to conjure the clanging, glitching textures of a deep-space dimension.
Not just a phase(r)
Where Bitters differentiates itself from its forefathers is the level of fine control over its sound design tools. Its primary parameters comprise Distort, Dual, and Mix. Distort, aptly enough, is a deliverance of digital distortion, rich in harmonics and capable of being entirely removed from the signal path when turned fully counterclockwise. The Dual control introduces a sine-wave phase shifter, starting at 0Hz, moving from slow and subtle to a roaring 20Hz, far exceeding the limits of most phasers. Finally, the Mix parameter elevates Bitters to an echelon of control beyond its inspirations, allowing you to blend your sum armada of digital destruction with your dry signal. You’re only limited by your inspiration and ambition.
Catalinbread Bitters Features:
- Multi-effects pedal channels distinctive early-aughts digital textures for multitudes of raucous, exciting sound design possibilities
- Versatile suite of capabilities means diverse use with guitar, bass, DAWs, synths, and more
- Multimode quartet of Decimator, Bitcrusher, Frequency Modulation, and Ring Modulator can be selectively placed before or after the distortion-phaser chain for expanded musical madness
- Distortion parameter supplies malleable harmonic-rich digital sound mangling
- Dual parameter lets you attenuate a sine-wave phase shifter from slow and subtle to a blistering 20Hz
- Mix parameter allows you to blend wet and dry signals to achieve chorus-like shimmer and untold worlds of parallel-processed sonic sculpting
- Accepts a center-negative DC power-supply unit, from 9- to 18-volt sources (not included)
