Ghammy Harm / Pitch-Shifter

The GHAMMY effect is inspired by the famous guitar / bass pedal WhammyTM where we have enhanced the original with more features in the same vain. GHAMMY includes three fundamental modes: pitch shifting (GHAMMY), harmonizer (HARMY) and DETUNE.

Basic functionality is the main feature of the device, but additional features are available which totally change the main idea of the original effect. 


GHAMMY works with two separate modes (BY MODE and DRY/WET). If the device is set to the “BY MODE” setting, the processed signal is presented as only WET. If the device is set to the “DRY/WET” setting, the DRY/ WET proportions can be set manually.

The Mono/Poly switcher selects between the classic algorithm MONO for single notes with somewhat glitchy sound and POLY for bending of full chords with phase-align shifting.

The DRY/WET functionality adds a dry and wet control for mixing incoming and processed signals for any of three modes (Ghammy / Harmy / Detune) instead of the original pedal with only a WET signal at pitch shifting, and mix of Dry/Wet at harmonizer. If you
set the DRY/ WET control to 50%, it simulates a 12 string guitar fx.

The heart of the effect are the GRANULAR Pitch Settings. The Granular engine includes 5 Mutation modes that totally change the character of the Harmonizer and Pitch-Shifter bendings. The Resolution parameter can set a delay size in ms or quarter notes, to optimise the pitch shifting effect. 


The Granular section includes a delay effect for grains with feedback, limiter/saturation control and high-pass filter. Low-pass filter helps to stop feedback overloading. The Granular pitch shifter can reproduce grains with Vector parameters (Forward, Reverse, Mixed and Random modes) and support Quantization of grains.

This is a new vision to the very classic and popular pitch- shifter pedal that we love, with powerful additions. 

GHAMMY is not only a Guitar pitch-shifter effect. It can also be a Synthesizer Sub/Hi generator, an Octave generator with crossfades, a creative granular pitch- shifter, harmonizer and a powerful detune (chorus/ flanger) effect with various sound mutations from the original signal.

Neo-Classic Harmonizer and Pitch-Shifter FX
GHAMMY MODE: 10 sub-modes with UP/DOWN pitch shifting for incoming signals. 

If the Expression pedal is moved from the back-down (default) position, the signal will bend from the incoming dry signal, to the pitch specified by the selected setting (at max position of pedal)
HARMY MODE: 9 sub-modes adds harmony to the incoming signal. Two harmony notes (lower and upper position of Expression pedal) are mixed with the Dry signal (mid position of Expression pedal).

If the Expression pedal is moved back and forth, the harmony notes change between two intervals specified by the selected mode. The Incoming signal remains unchanged (Dry signal at the middle position of pedal).

DETUNE MODE: 4 sub-modes shift the pitch of the copied signal, then mix it back with the incoming signal, which sounds like a Chorus/Flanger effect.
 If the Expression pedal is moved back or forth, the level of this detuned signal is changed. When the Expression pedal is reset to the back-down (default) position, only the incoming signal is heard with some chorus colours. As the Expression pedal is moved to the full on position, more of the detuned signal is mixed in.

MAIN CONTROLLERS

Expression: Controls the pitch bending amount of the selected HARMY, GHAMMY or DETUNE modes. In active granular settings, this is the playback speed for each grain.
Expr. Disp: The Expression display shows position of the Expression pedal. (works if Granular settings is Off)
Switcher: Switch between Expression pedal controller and Momentary button modes
Momentary button: Alternative controller of pitch-shifting. Short hold of button emulate fast pitch-bending. Long hold of button emulate slow pitch-bending.
Reaction: Time of pitch-bending smooth in Momentary button mode

SHIFT MODES: Selects one of the sub-modes from the GHAMMY, HARMY and DETUNE sections
Mode LEDs: One of these LEDs shows which effect and Mode section is selected
SMOOTH The smooth switch between two modes:
- MONO: Classic pitch-shifting algorithm for single note play
- POLY: Poly pitch-shifting mode which is better for bending of chords
DRY/WET MODE Select to enable or disable Dry/Wet knob.
BY MODE: Default mode (no DRY signal). GHAMMY mode does not have a dry signal, which works like a real pedal. HARMY mode has a dry signal only if Expression position = 50%.
MANUAL: Activate Dry/Wet knob for all modes: GHAMMY, HARMY, DETUNE
GAIN: Controls the level of the master output signal (up to +12dB).
DRY, WET LEVELS: Dry level controls the level of the incoming pre-processed signal. Wet level controls the level of the processed signal (up to +12 dB). Helps to find better proportions of Dry/Wet signals
DRY/WET: Dry/Wet function of incoming and processed signals. Available only in the MANUAL mode. Mid position of Dry/WET (50%) - simulates a 12 string guitar
SOFT BYPASS: Bypass with soft fading of effect activity (without glitches)

GRANULAR CONTROLS

GRANULAR SETTINGS: Activate view panel of the Granular section. If the section is not active, current settings are actual.
MUTATION MODE: Select one of the mutation modes that change the character of the pitch bendings:
- VIBE: Pitch shifting mode with sparse blips of amplitude vibrations.
- BLIPS: Pitch shifting mode with frequent blips of amplitude vibrations.
- THICK: Pitch shifting mode with thick sound.
- THICKER: Pitch shifting mode with more thicker sound.
- DOUBLE SIDE: Pitch shifting mode with alternating between two pitches.
GRAINS PITCH: Adds for even grains pitch value, while odd grains subtracted. Can be synced to the Expression pedal
Granular Expression: Activate sync of the Grains Pitch to the Expression pedal
Pitch Resolution: Set grain duration for the buffer of Pitch-shifting for processed signal
Resolution Sync: Select one of the Pitch Resolution modes: Time (grain duration time in ms), Tempo (adjust grain size relative to the quarter notes)

DELAY TIME: Delay time before grains play
DELAY SYNC: Select Delay mode: Time (milliseconds) or Tempo (quarter note beats)
DELAY FEEDBACK: Feedback from grain output back to Delay input
HP FILTER: Highpass filter before output and delay Feedback
LIMITER / Saturation: Release time of limiter before output and delay Feedback. At low values it works as a Saturation / Distortion effect
DELAY RANDOM: Randomize grain position in the Delay line
VECTOR: Sets the grain playback as modes: Forward, Reverse, Alternating Forward/Reverse, Random for each grain
QUANTIZE: Quantizes the next grain to the specified beat grid

BLACK FRONT SKIN

ON THE REAR PANEL, THE USER CAN SELECT BETWEEN THE DEFAULT (RED) SKIN AND BLACK FRONT SKIN.

DIY EXPRESSION PEDAL CONVERTER (MIDI -> USB)

We highly recommend to you use any Expression pedal with GHAMMY Rack Extension effect. If you a guitar-player, you understand why pitch-shifter must include foot pedal controller. But there can be some problems, if you already have Expression pedal, or Volume pedal.
Problem, because you cant connect to the PC/Mac Expression midi port if you not have any external hardware with Expression pedal input.

If you have any external hardware devices (like a synthesizer, fx pedal, processor), that includes an Expression pedal input, you can use it with Reason.
If you do not have an external Expression pedal, you can use any midi controller to control the GHAMMY Expression element.

VARIANTS? Go and buy cheap pedal like a NEKTAR NX-P. Yes, its cheap and just a midi Expression pedal. You also need converter Midi->USB to work in Reason.
Not find in your setup Expression pedal Input??? Don’t worry!

You can build very fast and easy your own:

a) Expression Pedal MIDI -> USB Converter
b) Add to this converter box some controllers.

We attach PDF instruction how to build Arduino-based controller/converter with .ino sketch file link. Just use Arduino Leonardo, Due (exclude UNO, it not support USB Midi)

UPDATES:

• v.1.1.6:
  New LPF (LowPass) filter, useful to stop feedback overloading.
  LPF and HPF works independently in parallel mode. You can select only one at the moment to control from the panel by filter selection control. But you can automate and controll both off them in parallel.

• v.1.1.5: graphic updated to support 4K resolution.

• v.1.1.4: fix of bug when HARMY modes work in wrong range with previous update.

• v.1.1.3: small GUI bug-fixes and Granular Pitch-Shifter panel design changes.
• v.1.1.2: adds new Momentary Pitch button controller. Main controller of device is a classical Expression pedal for pitch-bending. New mode “Momentary” change expression pedal controller to the Momentary button. Momentary button emulate work of Expression pedal when you not have hardware Expression pedal and need fast result with one button control. Short hold of the Momentary button - emulate fast pitch bending, long hold of the button emulate slow Pitch-bending. Reaction level help to control speed of pitch-bending.
  The response to a momentary button is displayed on the progress screen as current value of the pitch-shifting (when you hold momanatry button, display show Rise of pitch-bending. When you unhold momentary button, display show Fall of pitch-bending.
• v.1.0.2: adds Patch Browser. Some patch examples of basic settings, creative FXs and Combi patches.
• v.1.0.1: Initial release with hot bugfix