The Chase Bliss Audio / Cooper FX Limited Edition Generation Loss is a pedal that emulates the degradation of tape and VHS: random pitch fluctuations, filters that cut down the signal's bandwidth, sample rate reduction, and noise, all combined to mimic what happens to audio as it passes through worn tape machines and video decks1. It was a collaboration between Chase Bliss Audio and Cooper FX, expanding on one of Cooper FX's own creations, the Generation Loss, a pedal Pedal of the Day describes as familiar to a lot of players1. Only 1,000 units were produced, one time only, and the review noted they were already sought-after and would surely become collector's items down the road1.
What it does to a signal
The pedal gathers the ingredients of tape degradation in one box. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, writing about the Generation Loss concept, put it plainly: "Random pitch fluctuations, filters to cut down on the signal's bandwidth, sample rate reduction, and noise are all brought together" to recreate the sound without needing a broken VHS player2. Pedal of the Day's verdict on the Limited Edition was short: "This is the sound of nostalgia"1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Wow | Controls the lower frequency slow, gentle pitch fluctuation of the wet signal, the kind of drift that affects audio played back on tape machines1 |
| Flutter | Controls the relatively fast, random pitch fluctuations largely responsible for "that" tape sound1 |
| HP / LP | Control the cutoff frequencies of the High-Pass and Low-Pass filters, respectively1 |
| Hiss toggle | Selects from three levels of added noise, using a mixture of white noise and flutter distortion, sculptable with the high pass and low pass filters1 |
| Aux toggle | Selects the function applied when the AUX stomp is pressed: Mod maxes WOW and FLUTTER, Gen alternates between max Gen and knob-defined Gen, Filter bypasses the filters1 |
| Preset toggle | Lets you choose either your real-time settings, or from two separate presets1 |
Dip switches, expression and MIDI
The dip switches on the back of the pedal are where the deeper control lives. The Wow, HP, Flutter, Gen, and LP dip switches on the left side simply turn that parameter on or off for ramping or expression and CV capability; the right-side dip switches control whether parameters rise or fall and how they behave with an expression pedal1. The Buffer dip switch enables the optional noise-less, click-less high-quality buffered bypass1.
For external control there is a 1/4" TRS jack for expression pedal control, with the parameter selectable via dip switch, and it also accepts 0-5V Control Voltage on the tip1. A separate 1/4" MIDI/AUX TRS jack is used to interface the pedal with a Chase Bliss Midibox, or as a secondary switch to activate or bypass the AUX FUNC control with a momentary normally open switch1.
Where it sits in the Generation Loss family
The Limited Edition was the first meeting of the two companies. The idea later evolved under Chase Bliss's ownership: Guitar.com's review of the MKII notes that "the old Cooper FX Generation Loss has evolved under its new ownership"3, and Chase Bliss's own blog says, "When Tom Majeski joined Chase Bliss a couple years ago we knew we had to make a version of Generation Loss MKII"4. Guitar.com has described the original as "the acclaimed VHS-simulating guitar pedal the two brands collaborated on"5. The original Cooper FX Generation Loss itself sold out before the updated version arrived6.
The Limited Edition was a one-time run of 1,000 units1. The continuing version of the design is the Chase Bliss Generation Loss MKII, announced in 2022 as a 2-in-1 stereo tape emulation pedal6.
Videos
Sean Pierce Johnson
Musicmaker
Pedal of the Day
Questions
How many Limited Edition Generation Loss pedals were made?
Pedal of the Day reports that only 1,000 of the Limited Edition pedals were produced, for one time only. The review noted that they were already sought-after when the pedal appeared in 2019 and would surely become collector's items down the road, so the pedal has been a one-off run rather than a continuing product.
What is the difference between this and the Cooper FX Generation Loss?
The Limited Edition is a collaboration: Chase Bliss Audio expanded on one of Cooper FX's own creations, the Generation Loss, which was already familiar to many players. The design later evolved again under Chase Bliss's ownership, with the company saying that when Tom Majeski joined it knew it had to make a version of the Generation Loss MKII, which became the continuing version of the idea.
What do the Wow and Flutter knobs do?
Wow controls the lower frequency pitch fluctuation, the slow, gentle drift that can affect audio played back on tape machines. Flutter controls the relatively fast, random pitch fluctuations that are in large part responsible for what the review calls "that" tape sound. Together they shape the pitch instability at the heart of the effect.
Can the Limited Edition Generation Loss use a buffered bypass?
Yes. The Buffer dip switch enables an optional noise-less, click-less high-quality buffered bypass, so the pedal can run in buffered bypass instead of true bypass if a player prefers.
Does it work with a Chase Bliss Midibox?
Yes. The pedal has a 1/4" MIDI/AUX TRS jack used to interface the pedal with a Chase Bliss Midibox. The same jack can also serve as a secondary switch to activate or bypass the AUX FUNC control using a momentary normally open switch.
Can an expression pedal control it?
Yes. There is a 1/4" TRS jack for expression pedal control, with the parameter it controls selectable via a dip switch on the back of the pedal, and it also accepts 0-5V control voltage on the tip. The left-side dip switches turn each parameter on or off for ramping or expression and CV capability.
Sources (6)
- Chase Bliss Audio / Cooper FX Limited Edition Generation Loss, Pedal of the Day, 2019-11-05
- Cooper FX Generation Loss V2, Delicious Audio, 2021-04-06
- Chase Bliss Generation Loss MkII review, Guitar.com, 2022-12-06
- Onward! | Discover and Innovate Today - Chase Bliss, Chase Bliss
- Chase Bliss Audio teases new pedal that’s “taken two years to get right”, Guitar.com, 2022-03-28
- Chase Bliss Generation Loss MKII: 2-in-1 stereo magnetiser, gearnews.com, 2022-06-15
