Gen Loss MKII mods

 
 
 
 
 

posted by Joel Korte

 

Hello!

We’re releasing a couple modifications for the Generation Loss MKII.

Each one has its own update process and can be done independently:

  1. A software modification for lower latency.

  2. A hardware modification for increased bass response.

 

The main thing to note before we dive in here is that these modifications are pretty subtle overall. Both are based on user requests, and their usefulness will really depend on your instrument and context. So if you already like the way your pedal sounds, good! You probably don't need them. But for something like a drum machine—full-frequency, percussive—they might be right up your alley.

There are some sound samples in the walkthrough video to help you decide.

And here’s a step-by-step document on the update process.

Both mods come with some trade-offs that I’ll get into below.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Latency / double tracking

We’ve seen a few users asking about a double-tracking sound on the wet signal and wondering about the amount of latency. These are actually related to each other and are both baked into the core of the pedal.

All vibrato / lo-fi / chorus pedals have a short delay between your input signal and the effect, called latency. It’s how they do their thing. The original latency on Generation Loss MKII was set to be as tight as possible while also giving a nice chorus sound, but some users noticed that this can give you a doubling effect with short, percussive sounds like drums.

This update tightens up that latency and really mitigates the perceived 'double tracking' on the wet signal. The specific amount of latency at any moment depends on the pedal’s settings, but with the new firmware it will always be at least half the latency of the original (and sometimes lower).

Trade-offs

  • The sound will be more flange-y than chorus-y when used in stereo or with some DRY mixed in.

  • The tape stop effect now has some gritty artifacts.

  • The noise has a slightly different character.

Originally I was calling these pros / cons but really all of them are just differences. This one is a software update so it’s easy to switch back if it’s not for you.

Here are the links to download them both:

Firmware 1.0.0
Firmware 1.1.0

I would check out the update video above if you want to hear them in action.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bass cut

The Generation Loss MKII circuit has a gentle, analog high pass filter on it. We’ve gotten some feedback that this isn’t so great for everybody, so if you prefer a big full bass response, this mod lets you do that.

Just like the firmware fix, it won’t be for everyone. It can be helpful to tidy up those low-frequencies depending on your instrument and context. So if you already like how your pedal sounds, don’t overthink it!

The other thing to note here is that this is a hardware mod. You’ll need to remove four parts from the circuit board. It’s a very simple mod if you or a friend have experience soldering surface-mount components, but that’s easy for me to say.

If you aren’t comfortable trying this, or if you try it and fail, we’ll take care of you. Just send us the pedal and we’ll either complete the mod or replace it, free of charge. We'll take care of return shipping too. You can utilize our USA HQ, EU Hub, or Japanese distributor (if you bought the pedal in Japan) for this. I would say expect about a week or two (not including shipping time) for us to do the work as we don't know how many people will send in their pedal.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Conclusion

Those are the mods.

I guess the only other thing I want to say is that ultimately these are very minor changes. I know that itch to have the most updated thing but this is different.

Both of these mods will be the default going forward, but it wasn’t an easy choice to make. They get the slight edge because we believe they accommodate a wider range of instruments.

Rule of thumb:

If you haven’t noticed any latency or bass loss in your pedal, it’s probably set up just right for you.

But for some of you those little things mean a lot, so now you have the option.

Up to you!