Introducing New Signal Process

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I really do enjoy meeting new people through this blog. I get excited when people are making things happen and pursuing their dreams – be it as a musician or as a builder. I came across New Signal Process, and these guys are definitely putting something together that got me excited. It’s a pedal they’re calling the BreakOut Stomp.

At first glance it almost appears to be a simple true bypass single loop pedal, but after looking a little closer, I was pretty excited. It is a loop pedal, but what it loops in is a iPad or iPod for effecting your guitar signal. So now you can use some of the emulators and apps that alter signal run IN your chain and is foot switchable! This is pretty cool. You can safely locate your iPad/iPod away from the pedals though with a long 12′ cable.

The options for this are quite amazing. If you’re already into iPad/iPods this could be quite cool to include some great effects. The BreakOut Stomp also has a Level Knob to adjust the output signal from the app.

Here is a video showing the BreakOut Stomp in action. The distortion/delay effect is coming from the iPod (designed by Signal and Stuff). If you like fire.. you’ll like this vid:

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The BreakOut Stomp is available for $155 (includes cable) directly from their store.

I sent some questions to Seth at New Signal Process about the BreakOut Stomp and this is what he had to say:

– What inspired you to create the BreakOut Stomp?
The BreakOut Stomp was inspired by numerous requests by guitarists since day one. It integrates seamlessly into your pedal board and comes with a custom hand made, 12 foot, pro audio detachable cable so that you can place your iPad safely on your amp, a table, or a keyboard stand near you to interact with while you perform. It is built with audiophile grade components for the warmest possible sound and, housed in a rugged die cast aluminum case, it is designed to last on stage and on tour through many generations of iPads and iPhones.

– Can you describe the basic process of how to use the BreakOut?
Super simple. First there is you. Take your breakout and connect our 1/8″ TRRS cable to both your iPad headphone jack and then to the BreakOut pedal. Then plug into and out of the stomp just like any of your favorite fuzz pedals. Then just launch any of your favorite apps and then your off! Turn your iPhone into a new moog pedal!

– Do you need a special cable from the iPad/iPod to the BreakOut?
Yes. All of our BreakOuts ship with a special, handmade 1/8″ to 1/8″ TRRS cable made from Mogami cable. The Stomp ships with a 12′ cable.

– What app(s) work well with the BreakOut?
Here’s a short list of some of our favorite sounding and most creative apps:
Moog Filtatron! (perhaps the best sounding audio play-through quality of the apps so far!)
RjDj (this is insane psychedelic reality toy! can make and design your own effect scenes)
Glee Singers wanted (amazing harmonizer and voice pitch shifter)
Sampletoy
VoiceBand
PASY02 (amazing japanese grid stretch snap synth?!?!?)
Distort and Delay (awesome distortion, 8 bit, and delay!)
Funk BOX!
Sonic Vox
SrutiBox

Honorable Mention: Magic Piano ( so much fun and the duet function is mind blowing! )

– Is the BreakOut True Bypass?
Yes!

– Is there any latency when switching to the app’s interface?
This is a little different from app to app. With the pedal no, but depending on the program there can be just a little. Just like any effects pedal, it is best to experiment with each app and figure out its quirks and ins and outs and then figure out how to best use that. Sometimes, the way that the apps “don’t work” ends up being the best part of the sound. The app voice band for example – it is made to turn your voice into an instrument, like a flute or a saxophone. When you set it to saxophone on the guitar, sometimes it can’t track the notes correctly and it does these crazy arpeggiated runs. Sounds like a crazy Coltrane solo or something. Here is a link to us turning the Willow Smith song Whip my Hair into a free jazz jam by running the song through VoiceBand: http://www.newsignalprocess.com/site/2011/01/nsp-broken-mix-1/

– How long have you been building/selling the BreakOut?
We have been making and selling these for about 1 year.

– Where are you located?
For our first year we were based totally out of Portland, Or, although recently some of us have moved to Tucson, AZ. So we are operating out of Portland and Tucson now, though the pedals are all still being made in Portland.

– Where and How can I buy one?
We are in some stores in Japan and internationally, but in the states the best way is still to buy them through our online store here: http://newsignalprocess.bigcartel.com/

– How much is the BreakOut?
The BreakOut Stomp sells for $155 and comes with a 12 foot, TRRS mogami cable.

– Are you working on any other products that musician’s will be interested in?
Right now we have been spending our time experimenting and redesigning old fuzz pedals, and are working on developing a blown-speaker sounding Shin Ei FY-2 clone.