For part one look here

For the Gemini we wanted to use our double switch to change between two sets of knobs (Gain and Level). 

In this case the switch is not turning off and on the pedal (there's a classic footswitch for that) but it is to switch between the two different sets so we needed a led-code to tell the user when the pedal is on or off and most of all which side is active in that moment and which mode is on!

So both leds needed to be managed by the micro-controller and the classic footswitch is telling the controller when the pedal is on or bypassed. A brief blinking sequence tells the user everything is working fine.

In Mode 1 - classic mode (press&release to switch) the default active side is the right one and so the right led is on. Pressing the A/B switch turn on the left side and led, and they will stay on till you press again the A/B switch to come back to the right side. To let you know which side is active when the pedal is bypassed we made the led under it blinking. You need to know which side will be ON when you get the pedal active again!

In Mode 2 - press&hold the default active side is again the right one but both leds are ON so you know you're in Mode 2. While you press the A/B switch the left side is active and only the left led is on. When the pedal is bypassed both leds are off and the default side is always the right one.  So when the pedal will be active again the right side will be the one ON.

At a first glimpse this can seem overwhelming but in reality it is really straightforward and it takes little to be mastered! 

Here you can find a recap of the leds behaviour according to pedal state and mode on:

GEMINI’S DOUBLE MODE SWITCH

• Power on: both leds blink twice

• Classic Footswitch Mode:

      ◦ Pedal Active: single led on under the active side

      ◦ Pedal Bypassed: single led blinking under the active side

• Momentary Footswitch Mode:

      ◦ Pedal Active: both leds are on when the FS is not pressed, right side is active; when FS is pressed left side is active, only left led is on

      ◦ Pedal Bypassed: both leds are off

Let's talk a bit more about our new pedal, Gemini. 

First, just focus on the toggles and a single side of the pedal. 

With this toggle you can choose between 3 different kinds of clipping diodes: led for middle position, Si for the right one (1N914) and Ge for the left one (NOS K9D or OA95 depending on which one is available). Please consider the Ge clipping will lower overall volume as usual.

With this toggle you can change the way the clipping diodes actually clip the signal. The soft option is more towards an OD while the hard one will sound more like a Distortion.

With upper toggle you can choose how much of the signal spectrum is cutted off: left position, nothing (great for bass players), middle position cuts the bass, right position leaves you with a treble oriented sound.

Now the two knobs, gain and level!

The gain one controls how much clipping goes into your signal. This means that all the toggles work when this knob is engaged. If you leave this to the zero you have no clipping, so a great and clean boost!

You can now use the level knob to control the output of this boost.

Turn in the gain knob and you will blend clipping into your signal. 

Consider that you have 2 gain knobs and 2 level knobs and that you can switch between then with the A/B footswitch,  but the toggle settings will be the same no matter what set of knob you are using.

The mode pushbutton changes the way the A/B footswitch behave, like a normal footswitch or a momentary one, but we will write more about it in a dedicated post.

Here some samples:
soundcloud

Keep around for more demos and news!