Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin Pedal with Buffered Bypass and Stereo Audio

The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin Pedal is a new type of product that transcends the limitations of traditional DAW plugins to bring the unique qualities of analog sound to digital recording. Analog hardware has a magical warmth, beloved for its sound and feel. That was the genesis behind this product. Take the world’s most beloved harmonic distortion and sustainer and transform it into a plugin. It works like a standard DAW plugin, but recorded tracks go through the actual analog circuitry of EHX’s Big Muff Pi, injecting analog warmth into your session. Of course, it integrates seamlessly with all the most popular DAWs like Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Cubase, GarageBand, Logic Pro X, Reaper, and more. Connect the Big Muff to your DAW by USB, select a track, and open the plug-in window. Instead of software emulation, you have real clipping diodes, overdriving transistors, and nature itself coloring your sound. The analog circuit is pushed over the edge and loses control. The sound you hear is the natural warmth of electromagnetic chaos.
Features
The new Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin can even function as a 2-in and 2-out USB audio recording interface, which enables the user to record with or without the Big Muff effect engaged. The Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin can be used as a standalone pedal and shares the circuit design of the legendary 1973 Violet Ram’s Head Big Muff. That coveted pedal has set the standard for musical distortion and has been heard on countless classic recordings. It’s renowned for its unmistakable articulation and exceptional sustain, and now it has been updated to be a true stereo. It also features Tone Wicker, Tone Bypass, and presets. With the ability to store up to ten footswitch-accessible presets on the pedal itself and as many as your computer can hold, it is truly a Big Muff Pi like no other. Wailing solos. Crunchy rhythm. Fat drums. Thundering bass. Liven up just about any track or instrument in your mix. Not just for guitar players, the Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin opens the universe of real analog circuitry to all digital recording artists and computer musicians.
Top Panel Controls
Press the PANIC button to reset the USB connection to the computer. This is useful if the BMHP becomes unresponsive to its software plugin either by not processing audio or no longer responding to control movement or automation. Connect the supplied USB cable, or any other standard USB cable, to this port to provide both power and a data connection the BMHP. You must connect the USB cable to the BMHP to use it as a hardware plugin. Power may be obtained from the USB cable or from the supplied AC Adapter. Plug the output of the factory-supplied EHX9.6DC 200mA AC adapter into the 9V power jack. The BMnHP draws 120mA at 9VDC with a center negative plug. The BMHP accepts Boss and Ibanez style AC Adaptors capable of delivering at least 150mA. Both the Left and Right Output jack signals are routed to the 1/4-inch Headphone output jack. Use the Headphone LVL knob to adjust the volume at the Headphone jack.
Front Panel Controls
When enabled, Direct Monitor sends the signal headed to the ADC to the stereo output jacks and the Headphone output located on the rear panel. This is particularly useful when using the BMHP as a USB audio interface for recording new audio tracks. Note: the Direct Monitor switch is disabled when using the BMnHP as a standalone guitar pedal. In this case, the audio output is always sent to the stereo output jacks and headphones output. The Headphone LVL Knob controls the volume level at the headphone output jack on the rear panel. The USB Status LED lights are red when the BMnHP is locked onto your computer's USB. The same LED lights are green when a proper audio connection has been made between the software plugin and the BMHP. The USB Gain Knob controls the signal level of the audio sent to the computer before it hits BMHP's internal A and D converter (ADC). Rotate Gain clockwise until you see one or both Clip LEDs light. Then rotate it counter-clockwise a bit so that the Clip LEDs remain off. This will ensure a large enough analog signal is converted to digital audio without exceeding the digital audio's total range. The Clip L and R LEDs will light when the audio signal into the ADC is clipping. If the LEDs light up, the audio signal is too loud for the ADC and the digitized audio signal will be distorted on its loudest peaks. Use the USB Gain knob to set the right amount of signal into the ADC (see Gain Knob above).
Big Muff Circuit Controls
Volume Knob provides output volume control for the Big Muff section. Sustain Knob adjusts the amount of sustain and distortion. Tone Knob provides a range of sounds from high treble to deep bass. As you turn the Tone knob clockwise, the treble increases and the bass decreases. When enabled, the Bypass button completely bypasses the Tone knob and analog EQ, essentially removing the Tone knob from the circuit. When the Bypass button is disabled, the Tone knob is active. Press the Bypass button to enable or disable Tone Bypass. If the button is lit, the Tone knob and its circuitry is bypassed. The Wicker effect opens up the bandwidth allowing more high-frequency signals to pass through for a bright and clear top end. Disable Wicker to obtain the sound of the classic Big Muff Pi. Press the Wicker button to enable or disable the Wicker effect. If the button is lit, the Wicker effect is enabled. Press the Bypass footswitch to enable or disable the Big Muff effect. When the associated LED is lit, the Big Muff effect is enabled and when the LED is off, the unit is in buffered bypass mode.