The 4 Track Syndicate Niagara Bitstortion is a pedal presented as a "Bitstortion," in other words a bit crusher and distortion combo in one box. It features two effects in one, analog bit crushing and a classic distortion, run in parallel for an indirectly adjustable mix1. It is the first offering from the international collaboration known as the 4-Track Syndicate, itself the fruit of a collaboration between Rare Buzz Effects, SoundsliceFX and Shoneswood Effects1.
How it works
Because the bit crusher and the distortion run in parallel rather than in series, the pedal lets you set an indirect mix between the two: the crushed signal and the clean signal are combined before they reach the overdrive circuit, rather than one effect feeding the other in a fixed chain1. That parallel arrangement is what gives the pedal its name and its character. As Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio put it:
"Mixed together, the Niagara gives a gnarly rip to traditional distortion sound, and there's enough volume on tap to push your amp even further into breakup"1
For players used to a straightforward distortion pedal, the parallel design means the crushed texture sits alongside the drive rather than stacked in front of it, which changes how the two interact1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Freq | Acts as a "mix" control for the amount of bit crushed tone vs clean signal fed into the overdrive circuit1 |
| Falls | Controls the rate of the Bit Crusher's oscillation; higher settings deliver more crushed results, lower settings create an effect similar to a ring modulator, where the oscillation ends up creating an underlying note that can be tuned to the song's key1 |
| Volume | A final passive volume control1 |
| Overdrive controls | On the top right of the pedal, described as pretty straightforward1 |
The Falls knob's low settings are worth noting: by tuning the oscillation's underlying note to the song's key, the bit crusher can behave something like a ring modulator, a use that goes beyond simple crushing1.
Background and availability
The Niagara Bitstortion is the first offering from the international collaboration known as the 4-Track Syndicate1. The first run was available for pre-sale on February 14th, 2020, and pre-sale units were expected to ship from Soundslice Fx in mid-March1.
Videos
collector//emitter
Harsh Tones, Inc.
Rare Buzz Effects
Questions
What is a bitstortion?
A bitstortion is a bit crusher and distortion combined in one pedal. The Niagara is presented as a "Bitstortion," meaning it pairs analog bit crushing, which reduces the resolution of the signal for a gritty, digital-sounding grit, with a classic distortion circuit. The two effects run in parallel, and the blend between them feeds the overdrive stage.
What does the Freq knob do on the Niagara?
The Freq knob acts as a mix control for the amount of bit crushed tone versus clean signal fed into the overdrive circuit. Because the two effects run in parallel, this knob indirectly sets how much crushed character sits under the distortion.
What does the Falls knob do?
The Falls knob controls the rate of the Bit Crusher's oscillation. Higher settings deliver more crushed results, while lower settings create an effect similar to a ring modulator, where the oscillation ends up creating an underlying note that can be tuned to the song's key.
Are the bit crusher and distortion in series or parallel?
They run in parallel. The Niagara features two effects in one, analog bit crushing and a classic distortion, run in parallel for an indirectly adjustable mix, with the Freq knob setting how much of each feeds the overdrive circuit.
Sources (1)
- 4 Track Syndicate, Delicious Audio, 2020-03-03
