Feedback loop with photo eye.  Put a pedal in the top send and return jacks to create interesting noises and textures.

The feedback loop is where some amazing stuff happens. To insert an effect into the loop, simply connect a cable from the Send of the loop to the Input of an effect, then connect a cable from Output of the effect to the Return of the loop. Now, turn the Feedback switch on to engage the self-oscillation.

After much experimentation, it has been found that there to be three categories of effects that tend to be effected consistently:

1) Distortion / Fuzz / Overdrive - For the most part, these effects will generate a feedback tone that adds both depth and slight fluctuations to your guitar's signal depending on how, and where on the neck, you play riffs and chords. The feedback knob tends to alter the pitch and intensity of the feedback tone.

2) Delay / Reverb - Self oscillation and delay go hand in hand. Have you ever heard of a delay, that as you increase the feedback knob on the effect, the delay keep going and going, louder and louder, until all you hear is a wall of pulsating noise? Well, not all delays can achieve this, but with the help of the loop, many can. For the most part, the feedback loop will make delay effects feedback into aforementioned wall-of-noise.

3) Chorus / Phase / Flange - Many modulation effects have a knob labeled "Resonation" or sometimes even "Feedback". The feedback loop has been known to act in the same way as this control, adding a bit more resonance and sharpness to modulation effects.

The photo-sensitive Eye:

Next to the foot switch, is a small clear covering that houses the photo-sensitive Eye. Make sure the Feedback switch is in the on position. Now turn on the Eye switch. There will most likely be an alteration in the sound of the feedback loop when the photo-sensitive Eye is on.

The photo-sensitive Eye effects the intensity of the feedback loop just like the Feedback knob. Being a photo-sensitive device, the Eye can vary the intensity of the feedback loop depending on many factors involving the lighting condition of the room you are in. It is generally suggested that it be used in a setting with a decent amount of ambient light, but with a direct light source positioned over the photo-sensitive Eye.

With the above set-up in place, you will find that by moving your hand or foot over the eye, you can alter the sound of the feedback loop in a very manual and organic way.

Though the above set-up is recommended for maximum control over the feedback intensity, it has also been suggested to try alternate setups such as a dark room with a single spot light over the photo eye, or complete darkness and a strobe light or other flashing light source angled towards the photo-sensitive Eye.

Hints and Tips:

Though most pedals tend to self-oscillate fairly well with a feed back loop, not all pedals will. This might seem counter-intuitive in some cases, but electronics can often be mean and tricky things.

With the feedback loop on, pedals become different kinds of devices, which means you may have to re-learn their controls. For instance, the Tone knob of a distortion device might act more as a feedback pitch control, or the Volume knob will actually help increase the amount of feedback. In many cases, you will find yourself with "sweet-spots" where certain very specific knob positions will create just the sound you are looking for.

Don't be afraid to put more than one effect in the feedback loop, but realize when you do, it becomes a whole other world of complexity and experimentation. For instance, you may find that your favorite delay self-oscillates beautifully by itself in the feedback loop, but when you team it up with your favorite fuzz pedal, nothing happens! On the other hand, there are some INSANE combinations of effects that can creates sounds as diverse and complicated as the best analog synth machines out there.

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