*****Use With Caution! This patch can produce strong, out of control howling feedback sounds which can be unpleasant. While it can’t damage the Zoia, it can be potentially harmful to your hearing! ******

Following the beautiful tradition of giving simple patches very pretentious names, the Underworld patch is a simple feedback loop patch with many controls :)

It is an experiment / work in progress. Initially I was focused on making sure there is no digital clipping in the patch, but as I started messing with the settings I discovered that I actually like the dirty nature of this clipping. It will of course depend on the source you feed into it, but generally speaking I’m pleased with some of the results I achieved. It is possible to almost entirely avoid it with the right settings.

One thing I may consider, is add some EQ which will tame the low frequencies as they are much more eager to cause feedback now. Maybe simply using a different main filter will be the way to go.

There are of course more variables within the patch, most of which I did not even explore myself yet, but the most important ones are on the main page in the form of the nine blue value modules (red pixels next to them light up reminding that the setting is engaged/altered and/or shows levels changes):

***Feedback Amount: self explanatory, this is the feedback connection strength adjustment and impacts how much feedback you’ll get.

***Feedback Aggression / Speed: when set to low, the feedback will build up slowly and gently. When set to high, the feedback will be immediate and aggressive.

***Gate: this setting dictates how long the feedback is on after the initial signal (coming from the guitar, synth, mic, etc.) is no longer present. Set it to max and the feedback will be present only when the Zoia is receiving signal, stronger the signal, the more open the gate is. Set it to low an the gate will stay open allowing feedbacks that stay and evolve. This setting is similar to the gate setting in the Gamechanger Light Pedal.

***Feedback Suppression: controls the strength of the signal which is inverse proportional to the amount of the feedback, therefore when engaged acts as a counter force to the feedback. It goes through an envelope so it does not respond immediately and its effect is quite different than the general Feedback Amount setting. Useful when controlling evolving feedbacks that try to go out of control.

***Feedback Pitch: this setting gives some control over the pitch of the feedback (but not in a crude pitch shifter way).

***Feedback Harmonics Random: this is a subtle effect, when engaged it randomly shifts which harmonics are more likely to trigger feedback (therefore affects the pitch of the feedback but not as directly as Feedback Pitch setting). I recommend using it primarily when you have residual feedback that stays long after the initial signal is gone, it can help make its frequencies evolve over time. Otherwise I’d keep it at low settings.

***Post Verb: this reverb is at the end of the signal path and is not fed back. It is useful for smoothing the effect of the Gate setting set to max in which the sound is cut off abruptly.

***Feedback/Dry Mix: controls the ratio between the dry signal and the one involved in feedback creation.

***Master Volume: self explanatory

When Feedback Amount is set to high, Feedback Suppression to low and Gate set to lowest setting (open gate), the patch will self-feedback nicely, I guess just from the internal noise. Generative. You can keep it in check with Feedback Suppression control and modulate the pitch randomly with Harmonic Random and /or Feedback Pitch.

Enjoy and let me know your thoughts.