Earlier in 2018 we briefly covered the Pladask Elektrisk FORM, a DIY glitch/granular stompbox kit fruit of a collaboration between Norwegian companies Pladask Elektrisk and BandOrg that can only be “acquired” by going to Norway and signing up for the BandOrg pedal-building workshop (if it can be of any consolation, Norway is a country that deserves to be visited – in the summer).
Thanks to Canadian master pedal-videographer Knobs, who has a knack for shooting effects with quirky features, we found out today that there is a new stompbox – within what now appears to be a series of DIY Kits – called FORM2.
Rather than an upgrade on the original FORM, this new effect looks like a complete redesign, if not an entirely different pedal. Presented as a Time Stretch/Granular Synthesys/Glitch/Loop pedal, the FORM2 features 24 algorithms organized in 3 banks, with an extra 4th bank left blank for the owner’s own creations.
The Knobs video below starts explaining how it works from minute 1’50”, here’s a recap:
Banks
Banks 1 and 2 are all variations on sampling – time stretching, pitch shifting, looping, glitch, granular etc. Each bank features 8 programs. These are all new algorithms designed specifically for this pedal, while the sounds found on Bank 3 are inherited from FORM1, which is a multi-effect featuring another 8 separate programs (Ring Modulator, Random Vibrato, Tape Delay Simulator, Texture Reverb, Octave Generator Delay, Reverse Delay, Grain Shuffler and Granular Time Stretch).
Top Row Knobs
The top row of the pedal features straight forward controls that are consistent and analog.
Bottom Row
On the other hand, the I, II and III controls at the bottom vary depending on which Bank is selected.
Switch Funtions
The Switch knob and Toggle Switch “cooperate” to give the player various options when stomping on the Switch Footswitch, which can start/stop loops, trigger recording or other momentary effects.
EXP/CV Switch
A three way toggle switch allows the player to select different configurations for the Expression / Control Voltage output, which allows integration with an expression pedal or modular synths.
P.S. Pladask Elektrisk and BandOrg offer a finished pedal very similar to FORM2 called Fabrikat, which can be purchased without traveling to Norway – if you manage to find a way to order it online! (We haven’t, at least not yet). This pedal only features Banks 1 and 2 and misses a few other features.
We added both the FORM2 and the Fabrik to our comprehensive article about the Best Glitch/Granular Pedals.
Pladask Elektrisk FORM2, Builder’s Notes
FORM2 IS A PROGRAMMABLE EFFECT PEDAL BUILT AROUND THE SPIN FV-1 DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR (DSP). THE PEDAL IS MADE UP OF A DSP CORE, A “WRAPPER” CONSISTING OF AN ANALOG DRY/WET MIXER WITH VARIOUS PARAMETERS AND TWO MAPPABLE EXPRESSION FUNCTIONS FOR OVERRIDING ITS THREE DIGITAL PARAMETER KNOBS. FORM2 COMES WITH 24 PROGRAMS WRITTEN BY PLADASK ELEKTRISK.
