Cooper FX Arcades card comparisons

[Tall Walls]

I noticed that certain programs across the different Arcades cards seemed similar, so I compiled this list to help me decide which cards to get. Right now I only have the Generation Loss and Grains cards so I can't do any direct comparisons, but maybe someone out there has experience with the other cards and can comment on how similar or dissimilar these programs are.

(Descriptions are from the manuals at https://www.cooperfx.com/card-details)

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These two seem the same, except that the Pitch card description implies that it only shifts pitch upward.

Grains: 6. Pitch - This program takes the grains and plays them back faster or slower, resulting in pitch shifted grain. SIZE and FRZ work the same as in the other modes. PIT selects the unquantized pitch shift amount, from and octave down to and octave up, with a "sweet spot" of no pitch shifting towards the middle of the rotation. FBK introduces cascading/additive feedback.

Pitch: 6. Grains - This program will analyze a delay line and adjust the playback speed to create pitch shifting. The SIZE knob adjusts the size of the grain/delay buffer to be pitch shifted, a non-additive feedback loop is controlled with the FRZ knob and can be frozen when fully CW, see the FRZ note above. PIT adjusts the pitch/speed of the grain and FBK will bring in additive feedback creating ascending pitch bends.

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Pitch: 5. Organ

Synth: 6. Organ (looks the same minus the Reverb on the Pitch version)

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Pitch: 8. Crystal - Dual pitch shifted reverse delays, whose proportional mix is set by the BAL knob. P-1 and P-2 determine the pitch of the individual delay lines, from the root pitch to an octave up. The FBK knob creates ascending additive feedback loops within the pitch shifting delays.

Reverse: 4. Dual - Two pitch shifted reverse delays for crystalline like textures. BAL sets the balance or mix between the two delays. CCW you will hear P-1 and CW you will hear P-2. P-1 and P-2 set the pitch of the respective delay line, from an octave down to an octave up. FBK is an additive feedback loop for aggressive decay.

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These seem similar, but I think the DIR parameter is not exactly the same as the SHUF parameter.

Delay: 2. Revrse - A reverse delay with some unique twists. First, like the digital delay, you can freeze the sound with the FBK knob. Additionally, the reverse signal's playback speed and pitch can be adjusted in quantized intervals using the RPIT knob (see PIT note). Finally, using the DIR knob a forward delay can be blended in with the reverse delay (see DIR note) to allow for interesting harmonies and directional bouncing.

Reverse: 1. Revrse - Standard reverse delay with some fun add-ons. PIT sets the pitch and playback speed of the reverse delay. CCW is full tape stop, noon is no pitch shifting or regular speed, and fully CW is double speed or octave up. Turning up SHUF, or shuffle, will randomly shuffle the delay between going forwards and backwards. Turn fully CCW for no directional shuffling.

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Reverb: 2. VHS - Random vibrato, hiss, and extreme filtering all add up to create a reverb with a nostalgic vibe. LPF sets the cutoff frequency of a low pass filter. SPAN sets the depth of the random modulation. Turning up the HISS will introduce random crackles, static noise, and other artifacts into the reverb tails.

LoFi: 5. Reverb - Dusty and spooky verb, inspired from my work on the Dark World. DCY sets the decay of the reverb, the random modulation is introduced with the MOD knob, while NOIS creates more instability and hiss. Darken up the reverb by [LPF knob? Description in manual is cut off.]

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LoFi: 1. VHS - Kind of like a stripped down Generation Loss, but not really. Tape or VHS emulation with pitch modulation and bandwidth reduction. WOW controls the amount of slower random modulation, while FLUT controls the amount of flutter modulation, which is fast and feathery. LPF and HPF control the cutoff frequency of low and high pass filters, respectively.

Generation Loss: 3. ComboA - Combining the wow and flutter characteristics from the W+F patch with the filtering options from the FIDELITY patch gets you a pretty nice sounding VHS emulation. WOW and FLUT control the amount of wow and flutter, respectively. LPF and HPF set the cutoff frequencies of two independent low and high pass filters, respectively. This patch borrows heavily from my work on the Chase Bliss Audio version of the Generation Loss.

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These are similar, except that based on the description I think the NOIS on the LoFi version is more like the NOIS on the FIDLITY program of the Generation Loss card (i.e. there's some hiss and noise constantly, not just when you're playing).

LoFi: 2. Vinyl - Fun emulation of old dusty and warped vinyl. You know the sound. RPM determines the speed of the ptich warbles while DPTH sets the depth. This rate can be tapped in with the tap tempo control. The AGE control adjusts the amount of filtering and saturation. A dynamic and random crackling sound along with static hiss are introduced as you turn up the NOIS knob.

Generation Loss: 4. ComboB - The second combination, COMBOB, is the closest in my opinion to the original Generation Loss. It takes the full wow section with independent speed (SPD) and depth (SPAN) controls from the first version of the Generation LOSS. The AGE control leans into the low pass filter, some slight high pass filtering, and a boost in noise levels. DIST is akin to the NOISE MOD version of the Generation Loss. It adds tape crinkle and distortion (not saturation) to the signal and a little more harsh-warble.

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LoFi: 3. Crushr seems similar to Synth: 7: Mono. Crushr has a suboctave, while Mono has an OCT knob that sets the root note of the oscillator.

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Overall there's not that much overlap, and I wouldn't be surprised if even the ones that seem similar by description have tweaks that make them distinct.

I'm enjoying the pedal so far. ComboB on the GenLoss card does pretty much everything I like from the original Generation Loss, and the CDSKIP and RADIO programs are really nice, I think. I wasn't sure about the Grain card, because I thought it might duplicate the Outward I already have, but while it shares some characteristics it's its own thing. Some of the randomization on the Grain card is possible on the Outward, but those features are hidden in secondary controls I never seem to get around to exploring.

It seems like this card-based model could work well in our current reality, since he doesn't have to fabricate an entire pedal in order create new effects. And maybe I can satisfy my jones for newness by spending $50 on an Arcades card instead of $500 on a Zoia or whatever.

[manymanyhaha]

Mind if I give the short version?

I have six of them (don't have Reverb and Pitch). There is some overlap but for me that is not a bad thing, so I don't have to change out cards all of the time to get a certain sound.

I really like the pedal and the sounds. It's a simple pedal actually. Saving and loading presets is pretty quick for instance. But do have two constructive criticisms: 1) Wish it would remember where I was when I turn it back on. Even Dry Vs. Wet and Clock reset every time 2) The sensitivity knob on some effects, really can't seem to get that down.

But Gen Loss, Lofi and Grains are really great, at least for what I do. Not really sold on Synth yet, I think I have a more traditionally idea of what that should sound like but probably if I let that go, I'd probably find some novel stuff in there. Haven't played enough with Delay and Reverse to form much of an opinion.

[MrNovember]

So I also only have the Generation Loss and Grains card, but I will almost definitely be buying a few more in the future. I'm not really interested in the Reverb, Delay, or Synth cards. I have those things in spades elsewhere. I'll almost definitely buy the Lofi and Pitch cards, though. Maybe the Reverse. That being said, I haven't even plugged in the Grains card yet because I am loving the Generation Loss card!

[Cody_Pole]

Once I saw that there was a Grains card coming out and then saw demo's for it I sold my Outward, Just couldn't bond with it got the Grains card and am loving it for me the functionality serve's my applications much better!

[Tall Walls]

Yeah, I still like my Outward, but it's true that the Grain card scratches some glitch itches more directly.

I put together the list of comparisons to help me decide which cards to get next. I might just get the LoFi. I was tempted by the Synth, but thinking about it I already have synth pedals I never use.

Tom just posted a video on Instagram featuring a built-from-the-ground-up Generation Loss V2, so I guess I'll be buying yet another Generation Loss.

[goroth]

Is there a Hyperion card? Or a Torn's Peaker?

[manymanyhaha]

Always wanted a Torn's Peaker. But then I grabbed a boxcutter and now it is vaporware

[Cody_Pole]

Yeah, I still like my Outward, but it's true that the Grain card scratches some glitch itches more directly.

I put together the list of comparisons to help me decide which cards to get next. I might just get the LoFi. I was tempted by the Synth, but thinking about it I already have synth pedals I never use.

Tom just posted a video on Instagram featuring a built-from-the-ground-up Generation Loss V2, so I guess I'll be buying yet another Generation Loss.

I chose the experimental package (Lofi&Pitch) when Tom first released Arcades so I have those cards as well, If I had to choose my favorite's they would be the Gen Loss, Lofi,Grains, and Pitch cards.

I'll prob snag the reverse card next I'm kinda meh on the synth card since I too have other pedals that I use in conjunction with the Gen Loss and Lofi cards to better effect.

Also stoked on the new Generation Loss V2!!!

[fcknoise]

Is there a Hyperion card? Or a Torn's Peaker?

i will let others use this pedal. I know that if I had it I would lose all the cards all the time.

[goosekevin]

Is there a Hyperion card? Or a Torn's Peaker?

i will let others use this pedal. I know that if I had it I would lose all the cards all the time.

new use for all those tgp altoids tins on boards?

[Tall Walls]

i will let others use this pedal. I know that if I had it I would lose all the cards all the time.

It comes with a lanyard you can clip the cards to. Though I'm freeballing it at the moment and eventually my cat will decide the cards are toys. I guess she's not wrong.

I've been interested in Zoia and Beebo, which are obviously more full-featured and flexible multi-effects, but I'm nearly certain that the workflow on those pedals would drive me insane. I don't use presets, and I prefer adjusting things on the fly. Even the Zoom Multistomp is too fussy for me. So far I've been getting along with the Arcades interface really well. The virtual knob display (subscribe to my onlyfans) is even more useful/entertaining than I thought it would be. I hooked up an 8-Step, set the knobs going in different directions, and just enjoyed the show. Didn't even need to play.

[manymanyhaha]

i will let others use this pedal. I know that if I had it I would lose all the cards all the time.

It comes with a lanyard you can clip the cards to. .

Oh shit, THAT's what lanyard is for!

[Teej212]

i can help clear up any confusion between the differences of cards and the programs found on each one:

organ on the pitch and synth cards are differnt. The pitch card is an organ sound similar to the POG organ simulator. just an octave up/down with reverb on the end. On the synth card the patch samples your audio, freezes it, then runs it through a pitch up/down routine and then applies some organ-y modulation on the sampled sound.
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crystal from the pitch card is similar to the dual patch on the reverse card, however the range for crystal is 0-+1 octave while the dual patch goes from -1 to +1 octave
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delay card reverse, you can blend in a forward delay alongside the reversed/pitched signal. on the reverse card, the patch in question pitch is unquantized and goes from tape stop to +1 oct. the shuffle control will randomly jump between a forward delay or a reverse delay
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vhs reverb and the lofi reverb are similar, however the reverb algorithms are different. more allpass smearing and smoother tails on the vhs reverb, the lofi reverb sounds a lot more metallic, junky and 'bad'. the lofi is almost identical to the dark world mod
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lofi VHS and gen loss Combo A are similar, however the lofi has a more quantized/digital algorithm doing the flutter so it wont sound as smooth as the combo A flutter. very slight difference here
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vinyl and combo b have nothing in common
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crusher uses a distortion + polyphonic octave down, where as mono uses a waveshaper that you can adjust the root oscillator of, so gives you the octave range selector. slight difference but it is different
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any other questions, let me know!

[MaxMaps]

I wonder how this would sound on Bass / lower freq instruments

[Tall Walls]

i can help clear up any confusion between the differences of cards and the programs found on each one:
(...)
any other questions, let me know!

Thanks, Tom! I think my only other question is about the Clock control. On my Outward, turning the Clock knob changes the pitch of whatever is in the buffer, but on the Arcades it just changes the fidelity (and the modulation speed, which is handy). Maybe I just haven't experimented enough, or maybe I'm misunderstanding something.

I could have sworn I saw something that said you were working on a looper card, but now I can't find it anywhere. In any case, I'm looking forward to whatever you come up with next.