TC Electronic BRAINWAVES PITCH SHIFTER, User Manual

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BRAINWAVES PITCH SHIFTER User Manual

4.4  Effect controls

(7) 

FX TYPE knob

 – Select between the 4 pitch effects and TonePrint 1-3 with 

this knob. See chapter 4.5 for effect descriptions.

(8) 

MASH LED

 - This will light up when the MASH function is engaged by 

pressing down firmly on the footswitch. The LED gets brighter as the 

footswitch receives more pressure, indicating a more intense triggering of 

the parameter that is assigned to this function. See section 5.2 for details. 

(9) 

UP/DOWN switches

 – Selects whether the associated Voice knob will shift 

the pitch up or down. 

(10) 

VOICE 1/2 knobs

 – Determines the number of semitones each voice is 

pitch-shifted. 

Note – setting both Voice knobs to the ‘Off ‘ position will cause the signal to be 

muted when the pedal is engaged. 

(11) 

MIX knob

 – Adjusts the balance between the dry and pitch-shifted signal. 

4.5  Pitch FX Types

DETUNE

Rather than shift a voice by a number of semitones, this effect changes the pitch 

by a few cents, which can then be blended with the dry signal using the Mix 

knob. This gives a thicker, double-tracked sound to your tone. You can still use the 

MASH to perform pseudo-bends up 30 cents for V1 and down 30 cents for V2. 

WHAM

With the pedal engaged, both Voice knobs will default to the unison setting 

until MASH is engaged. Engaging MASH will cause each Voice setting to bend 

gradually up or down toward the selected pitch, similar to classic whammy 

pedals. You can even set one voice to bend, say, up a fifth, and the other to drop 

down an octave. There are lots of creative options here!

V1-V2

With the pedal engaged, the Voice 1 knob will already be active, assuming it is 

set to something other than Off. Use the MASH function to shift from the Voice 1 

setting to the Voice 2 setting. This can be used to shift seamlessly from an octave 

up to octave down, change chord tones, or even simulate a B-bender guitar!

PITCH

Both Voice knobs are always active in this setting as long as the pedal is engaged 

(and ‘Off’ is not selected). You can set one Voice as a harmony (with Mix ~50%) 

or as a total pitch shift (Mix fully wet), or set 2 Voices that are always present. 

This can be used to simulate a capo by shifting up a few notes, or detune to play 

songs in flat or drop tunings. The MASH function will work as a pitch bend up to 

3 semitones. 

Knob Position

Up

Down

OFF

OFF

OFF

UNI(son)

Unison

Unison

2

2nd

minor 7th

3

minor 3rd

6th

4

major 3rd

minor 6th

5

4th

5th

7

5th

4th

9

6th

minor 3rd

12(OCT)

Octave

Octave

24(2OCT)

Two octaves

Two octaves

CUSTOM

Custom

Custom

5.  Operation 

5.1  Signal chain placement 

The Brainwaves pedal can be used several ways depending on your situation. While there isn

’

t necessarily a right and wrong use, here are the most common scenarios.  

Example 1: Before the amp’s input

Guitar

Chorus

Brainwaves

Drive pedal

Input

Input

(Optional amp

for stereo operation)

Combo Amp