Electro-Harmonix looks to bridge the gap between analog and digital music creation with its Big Muff Pi hardware plugin, which is a combination of an effects pedal and audio interface. The $329 unit is said to work like a standard digital audio workstation plug-in (), though you can route your guitar tracks through the Big Muff Pi harmonic distortion sustainer’s genuine real analog circuitry. It’s the real deal, rather than a software-emulated version of the classic pedal.
The device uses the circuit design of the 1973 Big Muff Violet Ram’s Head, albeit with a few tweaks to deliver true stereo audio. Electro-Harmonix says that the unit, what is available nowit has Tone Wicker and Tone Bypass, along with 10 footswitch-accessible presets.
The company claims that the device, which can also be used as a stand-alone pedal, should integrate with DAWs, including , , and seamlessly. The unit can function as a 2-in/2-out USB audio recording interface, so you can record tracks without having the Big Muff effect active.
The Big Muff is one of the most important effects pedals in music history. Artists like the Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr., Pink Floyd, Carlos Santana, Mudhoney, and Sonic Youth have used it to hone their sounds. Being able to tap into those genuine Big Muff tones in a digital environment could help more musicians create more bombastic-sounding songs.
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