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How does the Heaven’s Gate [actually] work? Heaven’s Gate is a unique, specialty reverberator, and as such, it was designed following a somewhat “unconventional” approach and methodology. Let’s take a moment to walk through the simplified (and I mean HIGHLY simplified) block diagram below. (Bypass system, power-supplies, all filtering, LED indication, etc. have all been omitted from this diagram in an effort to provide only the information necessary for a solid understand of the basic operation of the circuit.) So lets get right into it, eh? (click the image below to open a high-resolution version in a new window for...

Don in Portland, OR asks: "What is the difference between additive and subtractive flanging?" On the surface, this seems like a quick and easy question, but there's a lot more to flanging than meets the ear.  This edition of Straight Jive will be pretty in-depth, so if you're looking for a quick answer here it is: "Flanging" is the practice of mixing at least two identical signals, with a small delay applied to one or more of the signals.  This process creates a complex and incredible, albeit sometimes cheesy sound:  the swept comb filter. As their respective names suggest, additive...

What's a buffer?  What's an impedance?  What's an internetz? We've all heard about the benefits of a "buffer" and how fuzz pedals don't "like" buffers, right?  Your best buddy insists of having a buffer at the front of his pedalboard-- after his favorite fuzz pedal of course, and even recommends putting a buffer at the end of his pedalboard to "drive his cables" and "maintain his signal strength."  So, the question(s) is/are:  WHY do we want these buffers, and do we even need them at all?  Pop a pop, crack a beer, put on a record and lets'd debunk the...