Red Panda Lab Bitmap

Red Panda Bitmap
Of all the certifiable types of effects, bit reduction is probably the newest one. Only a handful of pedals out there do bit reduction, and nearly all of them are built in small batches and impossible to get ahold of. Enter: the Bitmap from our friends at Red Panda Lab.
Many “bit crushers” on the market aren’t actually bit crushers at all; they’re actually sample rate reducers, which are markedly different. Sample rate reduction is an effect that occurs when the guitar’s signal is sampled (in this case 44.1 KHz) and then the quality of the sample is reduced to achieve a lo-fidelity quality. Bit reduction is actually a resolution control; reducing the bits causes the waveform to approximate to a sort-of square wave. Most pedals of this type only reduce the sample rate. The Bitmap does both.
On the Bitmap, the freq control affects sample rate, while the crush/rate control affects the bit depth. On most bit reducers, the pedal samples your input signal in at eight bits and lowers it to one with a sweep of the knob. The Bitmap samples the signal in at 24 bits and reduces it to one with the crush knob fully clockwise.
Two interesting features of the Bitmap that aren’t usually found on pedals like this: An input gain switch, which helps you match the Bitmap to your guitar or line-level signal, and a mix control, which allows the user to mix a dry guitar signal in with the effected signal. This is handy because implementing a bitcrusher live is no easy task when there’s no mix control.
There’s also a “mod” setting which uses an LFO to sweep the frequency knob. In this mode, the crush/rate knob acts as a rate only, and it controls the speed at which the LFO sweeps the freq knob. In this setting, the input gain switch chooses a waveform: random, square or triangle.
The Red Panda Bitmap is made one at a time in Michigan. It accepts a standard 9v center-negative Boss-style power supply. The current draw is 100mA, please consult your power supply’s manual to ensure you’re powering the Bitmap properly.


Features

Fractional bit reduction
Sample-rate modulation
Expression pedal input for sample rate (CV-compatible)
Blend control to maintain bass or add subtle crushing
Input gain switch to accommodate single or dual coil pickups and line-level signals
Output level control for consistent volume, can also provide extra boost
3 color screen printed enclosure
Soft-touch knobs
True bypass


Made in USA, from PCB to final assembly (enclosure made in Canada)





Controls

mix: blend control, from dry to wet
crush/rate: bit reduction or modulation rate
freq: sampling rate, counterclockwise to reduce frequency
level: output volume
crush/mod: selects function of crush/rate knob
lo/hi: 3-position input gain (crush mode)
waveform: triangle/square/random sample rate modulation (mod mode)
Expression pedal input controls freq





Specifications

Sampling Rate: 500 Hz - 32 kHz
Sample Resolution: 1-24 bits, including fractional bits
Frequency Response: 20-16,000 Hz, +/- 3 dB
Headroom: +8 dBu
Output gain: -20 to +8 dB
Input impedance: > 500k ohms
Output impedance: < 1k ohms
Size: 4.35" x 3.25" x 2.5" (111 x 83 x 64 mm)
Power: 9V center negative, 100 mA









www.music-blvd.com

Hotone - Skyline Wally Looper Pedal
(8 reviews)

B&H#
HOSKYWALLY


MFR#
SKYLINE WALLY




You Pay:$76.00





DigiTech - JamMan Solo XT - Looper Pedal with USB and microSDHC Slot
(2 reviews)

B&H#
DIJMSXT


MFR#
JMSXT




You Pay:$149.95





DigiTech - JamMan Stereo - Looper/Phrase Sampler
(2 reviews)

B&H#
DIJMST


MFR#
JML2




You Pay:$249.95





Behringer - VD400 Vintage Analog Delay Effects Pedal
(6 reviews)

B&H#
BEVD400


MFR#
VD400




You Pay:$24.99





VOX - Lil Looper - Multi-Effect Pedal

B&H#
VOVLL1


MFR#
VLL1




You Pay:$159.99





DigiTech - HardWire Supernatural Ambient Reverb Effect Pedal

B&H#
DISUPERNAT


MFR#
USM-SUPERNATURAL




You Pay:$169.99





Behringer - VINTAGE TIME MACHINE VM1 - Analog Delay/Echo/Chorus/Vibrato Pedal

B&H#
BEVM1


MFR#
VM1




You Pay:$49.99





DigiTech - DOD250 Overdrive Preamp/250 (2013 Reissue)

B&H#
DIDOD25013


MFR#
DOD250-13




You Pay:$99.95





DigiTech - RP55 Guitar Processor

B&H#
DIRP55


MFR#
RP55




You Pay:$49.95





Hartke - VXL Bass Attack - Preamplifier and Direct Box Pedal

B&H#
HAVXL


MFR#
HPVXL1




You Pay:$99.99





Behringer - FX600 Digital Multi-Effect Pedal
(5 reviews)

B&H#
BEFX600


MFR#
FX600




You Pay:$39.99





Behringer - ULTRA FEEDBACK DISTORTION FD300 Ultimate Feedback & Distortion Effects Pedal

B&H#
BEFD300


MFR#
FD300




You Pay:$24.99





Behringer - EM600 Ultimate Echo Modeling Effects Pedal

B&H#
BEEM600


MFR#
EM600




You Pay:$49.99





Zoom - MS-60B MultiStomp Bass Pedal

B&H#
ZOMS60B


MFR#
ZMS-60B




You Pay:$99.99





Behringer - BSY600 Ultimate Bass Synthesizer
(6 reviews)

B&H#
BEBSY600


MFR#
BSY600




You Pay:$49.99





Akai Professional - Headrush Echo/Delay Simulator with Loop Recorder
(8 reviews)

B&H#
AKE2


MFR#
E2 HEADRUSH




You Pay:$149.00





Behringer - BUC400 Ultimate Bass - Chorus Stompbox Effect Pedal
(1 reviews)

B&H#
BEBUC400


MFR#
BUC400




You Pay:$24.99