A Retro-Inspired Bit Crusher for Guitars, Synths, and More
From cool sample-rate conversion effects to gated fuzz-like tones, the Electro-Harmonix Mainframe Bit Crusher pedal delivers immense sonic textures that remain highly playable — and musical. By digitizing your signal and reducing the sample rate (with reduction ranging from 48kHz–110Hz), you can explore everything from subtle aliasing to chiptune synth sounds and full-on gated fuzz. Bit depth is adjustable from 24-bit to 1-bit, allowing you to render your original signal completely unrecognizable. A built-in filter is ready to smooth out the sound, and the Mainframe’s ability to track your signal’s pitch — or even tune it to the key of your song — ensures melodic results. Whether you play guitar, bass, or synthesizer through it, you’ll find a vast soundscape of retro-themed effects in the Electro-Harmonix Mainframe Bit Crusher pedal.
Related Videos: Mainframe Bit Crusher Pedal
The most musical bit crusher pedal around
Bit crusher effects can sound extremely harsh if you’re not careful (or if that’s what you want, of course). But the Electro-Harmonix Mainframe pedal’s Sample Rate Tuning Mode showed us at Sweetwater just how musical this effect can sound. Simply tap the footswitch twice to enter Sample Rate Tuning Mode — at this point, Mainframe continuously tracks the pitch of your signal exactly (or by intervals, if you choose) and adjusts the frequency of the sample rate to match. The sound will instantly bring to mind classic ’80s video game sounds. And, to lock the sample rate to a specific pitch — like the key of your song — simply press the footswitch one more time while playing any note on your fretboard or keyboard. With Sample Rate Tuning Mode, you can generate extreme effects that still work within your mix.
Electro-Harmonix Mainframe Bit Crusher Pedal Features:
- Retro-themed bit crusher and sample-rate reducer effects inspired by ’80s video game sounds
- Switchable HPF/BPF/LPF filter with resonance helps you smooth out the sound of the effect or make it even more extreme
- Sample Rate Tuning Mode allows you to tune the sample-rate conversion to any note on your guitar or synth
- Sample Rate Tuning Mode can also continuously track your signal’s pitch for classic video game sound effects
- Expression input allows you to sweep multiple effects parameters with an expression pedal (sold separately)
- Sample-rate reduction ranges from 48kHz–110Hz; bit-depth reduction from 24-bit to 1-bit
- Save your favorite settings or expression-pedal mappings with the EXP/Preset button
- Access even more sonic textures like gated fuzz via secondary knob parameters
- High-quality buffered bypass and silent switching
- Includes 9.6-volt DC power supply
