4ms Atoner

>There IS analog to digital conversion. Hmm, my bad.

Are you sure about that? The 4151 IC used in the Atoner does get used alot in digital circuits, but I see no indication that it's being used that way in the Atoner. I see no analog->digital conversion going on anyhwere in the Atoner. I'd say it's all-analog like you first stated it was!

I submitted the review immediately below. Oops, the first reviewer (at the bottom) was right. There IS analog to digital conversion. Hmm, my bad.

I agree with the other reviewer that a user has to take some time to learn how to use this thing, but it's worth the effort. A total of ten knobs certainly creates a large number of possible combinations. But I give it a ten because I WANT all those knobs. It's more fun that way.

The sounds you get from this pedal are fantastic. The most fun sounds I get are ones like bagpipe music or something. You can get a great imitation of vinyl record-scratching, too. Very weird, noisy stuff. There is a kind of noise gate (Squelch) built in, too, which eliminates any hiss or hum. The only problem I've found is that the noise gate is a little too good, forcing me to use an overdrive pedal as a booster so that I can get some sustain. Since this is a homemade pedal, that problem is probably due to my failure to tweak it properly. The pedal is also excellent as a straightforward fuzz, too. It throws in so many harmonics that it sounds like an orchestra's playing along with you. I give this a ten because the sounds are unique and very satisfying.
I use a homemade (sort of) guitar with a DiMarzio humbucker of some kind (I forget what model). I've recorded direct to my PC with this thing and it sounds real neat.

I made it myself from their kits page. I've never bought a pedal from 3ms.

I emailed one or two questions about the triwave to the designer Dann Green, and got responses back within a few days. You can also (if you're a DIYer like me) get on their listserv.

I have to pat myself on the back for choosing to build this pedal, since the design is genius. I love this thing. If it were stolen or lost, I would make another one. If I had a little money to burn, I would buy one. It's one of those pedals that help me be creative because it just adds so much.
I love noise bands like the Boredoms or Lightning Bolt, and the standard punk/hardcore. This is really a souped-up fuzz pedal, so anybody who likes a fuzz would love this pedal.
By the way, the other review says (or implies) that the signal is converted to digital and then back to analog. That's not true. The pedal is pure (solid-state) analog.

Well, I wasn't sure where to post this, but the Triwav is under "3ms" so I guess here is fine.

This is a custom made pedal, with many mods added just for me, so keep that in mind.

This is NOT a pedal you can sit down a figure out in 5 minutes. You will need multiple afternoons to see what this pedal can do and how great it is. There are 11 nobs, yup 11: Volume in, Volume out, Mix/Blend, Envelope Depth, Tone, Position, Squelch (noise gate), LFO Depth, LFO speed, Attack, and Rickkle. Let's face it, there is a lot to work with. If you give up on it early, all you will remember is a big buzzy distortion, but give it time and you will have a pedal which can preform such beautiful noise that it makes an MXR Blue Box look like a 80s Ibanez hair/metal pedal. I have had this pedal for a few weeks and I still have fun exploring with it. However, it is difficult to get used to so I have to give it a lower rating. Give it some time and it will be well worth it!

Ok, 10=pristine sound quality by Harmony Central's definition, but this unit is for noise! The pedal has true bypass and I cannot tell if the pedal does anything to my signal when off, but when it is on, there is soooo much going on that you won't believe what is coming out of your amp. I owned a Blue Box and I am a fan of noise (Sonic Youth being my fav band) and this thing is simply great. Although it can be unpredictable as is the nature of these pedals, you can recreate the shifting fizzes very easily.

I probably should explain this pedal a little bit better here. You can go to 3ms/soundshimmer (www.commonsound.com) and read for yourself, but it added 5th and octaves to the original signal and there are LFO modulation controls which allow for the variation in the sound that comes out. Very much like an MXR Blue Box, but with so many more options to control the sound. The signal is processed into a digital chip, then back to analog which creates the "distortion" that is so abundant in this pedal. Very complex little box.

I currently run this setup: guitars (single coil pickups, alternate tunings) - Arion Stage Tuner- ElectroHarmonix Bad Stone phase shifter (2 nob version, for phase, eerie vibrato shifting and pseudo-ring modulation sounds)- DOD FX51 Juice Box (better than a TS-9 for boosting, slight overdrive sounds) - Atoner - MXR Phase 90 - ElecroHarmonix Big Muff (green reissue) - Digitech PDS20/20 Multiplay (delay pedal with modulation controls)- Ampeg R12R Reverberocket 1x12 combo (looking to trade ths for a Fender tube amp combo with vibrato/reverb, email me!). This pedal compliments and complicates my set up well!

Well, the paint is post-nuclear orange-rust and the box looks plenty tough. Only problem I have had with it was no sound for a few minutes, but a tap on the bottom and the switch hasn't failed since. I keep my pedals in a modified suitcase with mattress liner (email me for instructions if interested, cost=less than $20) in it, so my pedals are always well taken care of.

Dann is the best. I have had some great emails back and forth with him. He was very open to suggestions when pre-designing the pedal, and is a good guy.

Go to www.commonsound.com to see pic (mine is the one made by Mitzi and is orange-ish). I need to rush now because I was typing this at the doctor's office (!) but I will probably update in the future, or just email me at hangwire@angelfire.com with anything else.