The Mantic Effects Flex TMR PLL Monophonic Synth Fuzz is a synth style fuzz pedal built around a Phase Locked Loop, or PLL. Instead of simply clipping your signal, the circuit uses the input signal's frequency and phase to control the output of an internal oscillator, a VCO, in lock step, so the pedal tracks the pitch of what you play and turns it into synth-like tones1. As the name says, it is monophonic: it follows one note at a time, which suits single-note lines far better than chords.
Pedal of the Day's review describes the range of sounds it covers as "the thick, phase sweeping squarewaves, pitch divebombs, brutal bitcrushed octaves and fluttery theremin-esque squawks"1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| FOCUS | Sets the frequency lock range; behaves like an "attack" kind of function, working together with PUMP to determine the VCO's tracking stability1 |
| PUMP | Controls the resistance amount between the VCO input and the phase comparator; also changes the length of the VCO discharge, the divebomb effect1 |
| LVL | Sets the output amplitude level1 |
| "$" switch | Lets you choose between two ranges of decay length1 |
The FOCUS and PUMP knobs work as a pair. FOCUS sets how wide a frequency range the loop will lock onto, while PUMP shapes the resistance between the phase comparator and the VCO input and stretches or shortens the divebomb discharge. Together they determine how stably the oscillator tracks your playing1.
The Third Man Records connection
The TMR in the name stands for Third Man Records, Jack White's record label. According to Pedal of the Day, "Jack's record label Third Man Records and Mantic have teamed up for today's featured pedal," making the Flex TMR a collaboration between the two companies1. The review also notes that "the Flex has also been used by" Adrian Belew1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What is a PLL in a guitar pedal?
PLL stands for Phase Locked Loop. In the Flex TMR, the circuit uses the input signal's frequency and phase to control the output of an internal oscillator, called a VCO, in lock step. The pedal tracks the pitch of what you play and uses it to steer a synth style oscillator, which is why it responds best to single notes rather than chords.
What does the PUMP knob do on the Mantic Flex TMR?
PUMP controls the resistance amount between the VCO input and the phase comparator. It also changes the length of the VCO discharge, which is the divebomb effect. Working together with the FOCUS knob, it helps determine how stably the oscillator tracks your playing.
Is the Mantic Flex TMR a limited edition?
The Flex TMR is a collaboration between Mantic Effects and Third Man Records, Jack White's record label. The TMR in the name refers to that partnership. Pedal of the Day's 2019 review describes it as the two companies teaming up on the featured pedal.
What is the Third Man Records connection to this pedal?
TMR stands for Third Man Records, Jack White's record label. Third Man Records and Mantic Effects teamed up on this version of the Flex, which is why it carries the TMR name. The pedal has also been used by Adrian Belew, according to Pedal of the Day.
Does the Flex TMR work with polyphonic playing or only single notes?
It is a monophonic design. A phase locked loop locks onto the frequency and phase of the input signal, so it follows one pitch at a time. Single notes and lines are what it is built for; chords do not give the tracker a single frequency to lock onto.
Sources (1)
- Mantic Effects Flex TMR PLL Monophonic Synth Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2019-06-17