Colorsound Ring Modulator

Easy to use? Yes and no...this is a superfreaky unit. It requires finesse to get something useful other than chaos (which has its uses...) out of it, but it is very simple in design.
Basically, a sweep expression pedal (like a wah wah), and two stomp switches for each of the two modes...one under the top of the pedal like an old vox wah, and one that sticks up through the a hole at the bottom of the pedal when the pedal is in the full-up position.
The sweep range on this thing is HUGE, and the pedal is very sensitive, so it's rather tricky to find the spot you want, if you want to "tune" it (more on this below), and get your foot off of it leaving it where you want it set.
It's also got a power jack, a nice option to constantly replacing the battery since it's kind of a pain to get the unit open.
No manual provided...what would it say? You're on your own.

It sounds awesome for what it is, and you can do a lot with it with some creativity, but the effect is so distinctive and intense that it's kind of limiting. It doesn't seem to introduce much unwanted noise into the signal, or mess with your gain or tone.
This pedal is very very strange...the sound can be somewhat metallic or robotic. Basically, what it seems to do is take the input signal and a reference pitch that it generates itself, and then both add and subtract the waveforms to create interference patterns, generating new pitches that it packs around the dry signal. It's kind of like a multi-voiced pitch shifter/harmonizer...but the trick is, since it's using a reference pitch of it's own, everytime you play a new pitch, or shift the reference pitch by moving the pedal, the "harmonized" pitches it's generating will occur at different intervals in relation to the dry signal because the mathematical relationship between the reference pitch and the signal pitch has changed (did you catch all that? whew!).
Needless to say, playing chords creates major chaos. Setting the pedal and just playing scales/melodies/single-note lines creates a weird electronic/synth-ish sound the texture of which can be varied greatly by moving through the pedal sweep.
Sweeping the pedal while you're playing generates some very strange metallic swooping and de-tuning sounding effects (a lot like the guitar freak-out in the middle Devo's "Too Much Paranoias"?)
One of the coolest sounding things I've found to do with it is to "tune" the pedal to what I'm playing. I play the tonic I'm going to be in, and move the pedal up it's sweep until I get a harmonized interval I'm after (use the beat frequencies just like you do when tuning your guitar). Then, I can play notes that are closely and simply related in the same key and get useful "harmonized" sounds out of it that change with every note I play, instead of pure chaos. For example...if I "tune" it sound like a perfect fifth (with the inevitable funky overtones), then I can play some other simply related pitches and still get harmonies, but each one is different...one sounds like a minor 3rd, one like a major 7th, one like octaves, but all still "harmonized". Just find a good sequence once it's "tuned" and you get some really cool stuff.
The other mode (the stomp switch at the back) I don't find quite as useful, but it's ok...it stops the sweep-pedal from moving the reference pitch around and then it simply controls the intensity of the effect (the reference pitch is fixed in this mode...you may be able to change the set pitch it uses on the inside of the unit, but I haven't explored this).

haven't had it that long, but it seems pretty sturdy. The expression pedal is nicely built with a nice striated rubber grip surface. Hopefully it's as sturdy as it looks since you really have to mash it to get that top stomp switch turned on and off.

Not an issue so far.

I play all kinds of wacky stuff...just weirdness that I make up, and I noodle in all styles I can think of off the top of my head.
If it were lost or stolen, I might have to think twice about buying again simply because it's kind of expensive and I haven't come to rely on it a whole lot yet. I would recommend it though for people who like to make freaky noises and explore experimental sounds and music. It's a great component for unique sounds and textures, particularly when used in conjunction with other effects.

Pretty simple- variable control between high pitch and low distortion.

sounds as noisy and crazy as it is supposed to. If you play ina cover band, you need not dhunt on down Great for noise rock bands ala Sonic Youth

Great Pedal. Gig with it every weekend with no probs. Unlike most colorsound pedal, this one has a power supply jack

Bought it in England at their store, but there is a dealer in the states. Thbey gave me a free back plate to another one of my pedals, so that gives em great support.

Buy it again in an instant- Modern Rock need not apply. This pedal takes creativity so watch out----