Poly Effects / Josh Smith Flat V

The Poly Effects/Josh Smith Flat V is a 2-channel drive pedal co-designed by blues guitarist Josh Smith.

The Josh Smith Flat V is a two-channel drive pedal designed by Poly Effects and blues guitarist Josh Smith, with two channels, A and B, and four modes of operation: A / B / A→B / B→A. Flat V features an advanced design with no knobs and 100% digital control of the analog signal path by changing parameters via touch on the control panel.

Channel A creates a simple diode-clip distortion. The diodes are Schottky, Germanium, Silicon, and LED, each with a different gain and tone character. 1 of the 4 types can be selected, and the diodes can be used in a variety of ways: as a single diode, as a single channel, or as a combination of the 4 diodes.

Channel B consists of a cascade of J-FETs to reproduce the characteristics of a tube amplifier. In addition to the general gain and level controls, it also has two resonant filters, similar to those found on synthesizers. The two types of filters, low-pass and high-pass, each have their own resonance control and can produce creative sounds such as screaming, howling, and even wah. These four sound-creating devices - gain, level, and the high-pass and low-pass filters - are collectively called “sides. Channel B has two completely independent sides with the same functionality, and these two sides have completely different sounds and can be switched instantly. Furthermore, these two sides can be morphed, blended, and crossfaded with LFOs and envelope followers to get tremolo, auto-wah, and other unique sounds not found in other drive pedals.

Up to 36 original patches (settings) created by you can be stored and recalled by panel touch or footswitch.

Most of Flat V's parameters are concentrated on the control panel, but all parameters have MIDI control changes assigned to them, allowing you to connect a PC or sequencer to create dreamy sounds such as modulating overdrive or distortion. Poly Effects and Josh Smith are opening up the future of guitar sounds.

Channel A: Diode Clip Drive
Channel A allows you to select one of four different diodes for different overdrive sounds.

Channel B : Tube amp gain circuitry, synthesizer-style filter, and side effects.
Tube amp gain circuit
Channel B consists of a cascade of J-FETs to reproduce the gain circuit of a tube amp. It has two slide volumes, gain and volume (master), whose settings produce the mild overdrive and saturation sounds of a tube amp, as opposed to the diode-clip sound of channel A.

Synthesizer-style filter
Instead of the EQ found on most pedals, Flat V has two synthesizer-style analog filters (low-pass and high-pass). The low-pass filter allows lower frequencies to pass through, while the high-pass filter allows only higher frequencies to pass through. The resonance (Q) of each filter can also be set, so it is possible to create resonances and peculiarities around the cutoff frequency, making it possible to use them to create a sharper and more aggressive sound than an EQ. For example, the low-pass filter can be used to cut overtones for a firmer sound or woman tone, while the high-pass filter can be used to create a crunchy sound suitable for rhythm guitar cutting. The combination of the low-pass and high-pass filters makes up a band-pass filter, which is the type of filter used in wah pedals, and can be used to easily create effects such as auto-wah by using the morphing function described below.

Morphing with two sides and modulation waveforms
Channel B's four sound-creating devices (gain, volume, low-pass, and high-pass filter) are collectively called “sides,” and Channel B has two completely independent sides with the same function. Each of these two sides can be used to create and store completely different sounds, which can be switched instantly each time the symbol (signature button) in the center of the panel is pressed. In addition, these two sides can be modulated and morphed (blended or crossfaded) with the built-in LFO and envelope follower. For example, if the volume of sides 1 and 2 are set to 2 and 6, respectively, morphing with the LFO triangle wave will create a smooth 2→3→4→5→6→5→4→3→2 tremolo, while a square wave will create a 2→8→2 tremolo with repeated rhythmic volume changes, and the filter cutoff frequency will create an auto-wah The cutoff frequency of the filter can be used to create an auto-wah. Of course, the speed (frequency) and sensitivity of the LFO and envelope follower can be set. The combination of these allows for a very unique sound that no other drive pedal can match.

The modulation waveforms include three types of LFO waveforms (sine, triangle, and square) and an envelope follower that can morph between the two sides. This allows for a unique “morphing drive sound.

Memory function, MIDI support, preamp
Memory function
Up to 36 patches (sound creation settings) created on Flat V channel A and channel B can be stored. These patches can be recalled by touching the numbers 1-6 on the top of the panel or by pressing the footswitch.

MIDI compatibility
Most of Flat V's parameters are laid out on the control panel, so you can create sounds simply by touching the panel. In addition, all parameters are assigned MIDI control changes at the factory, so diode selection on channel A, side selection on channel B, and LFO speed adjustment can all be controlled via MIDI. Therefore, when an external PC or sequencer is connected, it is possible to achieve complex and varied sounds that are impossible with the touch of a panel.

As a preamp
The two sides provide volume, distortion, and tone control with two filters, so if you set them up like channel 1 (clean) and channel 2 (drive) on a guitar amp, Flat V can act as a preamp for a 2-channel guitar amp. Furthermore, morphing can be set to add tremolo, wah, and other effects. By connecting and working with the Poly Effects Beebo, which has a wide variety of spatial effects, you can build a powerful system to realize unprecedented guitar playing.

Main Features
2-channel drive pedal
Touch-activated slider interface
Channel A and B bypass switch
Diode selection: Schottky, Germanium, Silicon, LED
Cascaded JFET gain channels
Gain and level controls
Analog resonant low-pass and high-pass filters for tone shaping
6 presets x 6 banks = up to 36 user patches stored and recalled via panel or footswitch
Dual parameter sides
Blend channels A and B using sine wave, triangle wave, square wave LFO and envelope follower
MIDI In/Out (TRS Type A)

Dimensions Width: 102mm
Depth: 112mm
Height: 60mm
Including knobs and protrusions
Weight: 333g
Accessories: Japanese manual
Remarks: *Battery operation is not supported. *AC adapter sold separately (DC9V, center minus, 120mA or more)