ELECTRONIC AUDIO EXPERIMENTS OxEAE Boost Electronic Audio Experiments

The 0xEAE Boost is the first entry in a new pedal series developed in conjunction with the design collective Obstructures.

The 0xEAE collaboration began as an indestructible enclosure created in the distinct, utilitarian-yet-elevated visual language of Obstructures, culminating in a neo-brutalist homage to the iconic sloped fuzz enclosures of the 60s and 70s.

The exterior physical design (and our shared affinity for noise rock) informed the intent of the circuitry within: a versatile signal boost/overdrive with the potential for a razor-sharp treble response and excessively high output levels. The circuit itself is comprised of a discrete op amp gain stage with a treble boost in front, forming a densely textured upper midrange character laden with higher order intermodulation products. A mix of active and passive tone controls allows for dramatic alterations in sonic character. We also took extreme measures to engineer a high-quality power supply that is fully protected from excessive voltage, improper setup, and external interference.

The end result is an object that is maximally robust, designed for a lifetime on the road, on stage, and in the studio.

Specifications

Bypass: Relay switching with op amp buffered bypass; red/green LED indicator. (Note: alternate firmware with traditional on/off action is available upon request.)

Input impedance @ 1 Khz: 2.2MΩ

Output impedance @ 1 Khz: <1kΩ

Power: 9V DC, 2.1 mm center negative barrel. The current draw when active is 120 mA. We recommend a regulated, isolated power supply rated for 200 mA minimum. The PSU input is protected against reverse polarity and over-voltage. Our pedals do not accept batteries.

Dimensions: 6.75” x 3.5” x 2”

Weight: 1.5 lbs

Controls

• Master: Output volume level. Ranges from -∞ dBu to an excess of +20 dBu. (Use judiciously.)

• Filter: Passive, variable frequency low pass filter. Slide right to cut high frequencies. Cutoff frequency ranges from outside the audio range at minimum to 480Hz at maximum.

• Gain: Primary gain stage. Adjustable from approximately +26 dB to +46 dB. Slide right to increase gain.

• Focus: Input treble boost. Ranges from +0 dB to +26 dB for high mid frequencies. Slide right to add saturation and harshness.

• Footswitch: Effect activator.

Changelog

• V1: initial release