R.I.P. Ken Czepelka and his company Sound Sculpture

S

scratch17

Well-Known Member
I have always admired the Sound Sculpture loop matrix format with its software allowing amazing routing not possible with any other system that I am aware of. Apparently, Ken passed away in late 2023. As a one man shop, his company has closed and the web site with software downloads and hardware products are no longer available.

Ron, I assume you were aware of this sad passing. But I must make a suggestion. Have you considered trying to acquire the Sound Sculpture technology? Of course, I have no way of knowing whether it would make any business sense for you.

However, it would seem like a very natural fit. I can imagine an Effects Gizmo Matrix in your line.
 
Wow, just discovered this. I bought the AB Cadabra unit a few years ago to provide MIDI AB switching control, and was looking for another one. Wondered why their website was gone.

Maybe someone can advise me. I use this on the first Loop of my Mastermind. This Loop goes out to the AB cadabra which then outputs to my whammy pedal followed by a Sans amp so I can create bass loops by dropping the guitar an octave. The AB Cadabra automates selection between bass only or A + B output, in which case the second output returns back to the Mastermind Loop 1, and through the rest of my guitar chain, allowing me to play guitar and bass simultaneously. Works great for songs like Suck my Kiss or Bulls on Parade.

I am looking into another midi Switcher scenario to automate selection of either the acoustic or the electric pickup output of a Cole Clark hybrid guitar. When I discovered how hard it would be to get another AB Cadabra unit, I found Oscillator Devices which makes midi controlled units including Siren, a small stereo mixer pedal that can provide stereo input from the two guitar pickups, after which you can select a b or both outputs through stereo outs.

This is even better for my setup because I can run the acoustic signal completely separate from the electric signal, and back to the PA so no coloration by my amp cabinet emulator.

But a question that came up about the AB Cadabra unit as I was reading on the Oscillator Devices page is about the potential of signal loss when the A and B signals are combined. They recommended their Siren stereo pedal for that application rather than their ABY Midi pedal that is similar to the AB Cadabra.

I cannot detect an issue with signal. The guitar signal seems the same whether running through that loop or not with no volume loss on the peak meter. For the Bass the signal output is same whether the AB Cadabra is in A mode or A+B mode.

They claim that without buffering there would likely be signal loss and I don't see anything referenced about some built-in buffering with the AB Cadabra unit. Part of me is thinking that if doesn't seem broken why try to fix it by perhaps buying two of these Siren units, but the perfectionist is wondering if I am missing out on better sound. Wondering if anyone smarter than me about buffers and such has any thoughts.

Most likely I will leave as is.
 
Ken was a great and sweet guy who never really got the recognition and success in the switching world that he deserved.

The AB Cadabra is a passive device, so no buffering or active electronics included. In short, when splitting a passive musical instrument signal, especially if it's high impedance, it's susceptible to being loaded down and the level of the two signals are halved (if the two loads are identical) from the source signal.

I designed the Switch-Track which is a MIDI and stomp-based ABY. It was meant to compete with the RJM Y-Not which also cleverly featured the ability to flip the signal phase of one of the outputs which is super important when using two multi-channel amplifiers.
 
Mario said:
Ken was a great and sweet guy who never really got the recognition and success in the switching world that he deserved.

The AB Cadabra is a passive device, so no buffering or active electronics included. In short, when splitting a passive musical instrument signal, especially if it's high impedance, it's susceptible to being loaded down and the level of the two signals are halved (if the two loads are identical) from the source signal.

I designed the Switch-Track which is a MIDI and stomp-based ABY. It was meant to compete with the RJM Y-Not which also cleverly featured the ability to flip the signal phase of one of the outputs which is super important when using two multi-channel amplifiers.
Click to expand...
I have double checked the signals and for whatever reason there is simply no volume loss, so for now, as far as that position in my pedalboard, I will keep the AB Cadabra.

My dilemma remains the Cole Clark hybrid. The A or B and A+B can easily be solved by going into either the Siren mentioned above or the Switch-Track. That may be the best I can get.

I am still looking at how I can divide the Acoustic/Electric signals further though. The A+B going into the PBC puts both signals through all loops, so both electric and acoustic would be stuck with the same effects. The Siren has Stereo in and out (not sure the Switch Track does, seems to just be ABY plus a tuner jack). Stereo would allow me to send the electric signal through all loops, then I have figure how to plug the acoustic into the "7-10 in" jack. Wondering if a TS double Y to TS would allow me to input the acoustic signal plus the 5-6 out jack that would have the electric signal into the 7-10 input where the ModFx/DelayReverb live without signal issues. Another option would be an insert cable into the 7-10, and convert my set-up to stereo (the Mod/Delay/Reverb are all stereo Strymon pedals), then use a Double TS to TS Y to convert the stereo back to mono on the output end for my looper.

Would be even better if the acoustic and electric signals could stay fully separated and run into different PA channels, with the electric running through My DirectDrive cab simulator and the acoustic straight to PA, but just cannot do that with the looper.
 
The Switch-Track is strictly a one input and two output ABY. The earlier (development) version was dual in and dual out, but we changed that, though the Head-Track dual head-switcher I also designed still has the dual inputs.

Do you happen to have a sketch or diagram of what your ideal signal path would be?
 
Mario: Thanks for the replies. I have posted a sketch of my signal path to the other "Weird Routing Question" thread since the topic of this thread, which started with ABY Midi switching, has overlapped with my other post. Sorry for the confusion.
 
No need to apologize. I will take a look at the other thread either later on today if time permits otherwise tomorrow.

Thanks for your patience.
 
go2ldook said:
Wow, just discovered this. I bought the AB Cadabra unit a few years ago to provide MIDI AB switching control, and was looking for another one. Wondered why their website was gone.

Maybe someone can advise me. I use this on the first Loop of my Mastermind. This Loop goes out to the AB cadabra which then outputs to my whammy pedal followed by a Sans amp so I can create bass loops by dropping the guitar an octave. The AB Cadabra automates selection between bass only or A + B output, in which case the second output returns back to the Mastermind Loop 1, and through the rest of my guitar chain, allowing me to play guitar and bass simultaneously. Works great for songs like Suck my Kiss or Bulls on Parade.

I am looking into another midi Switcher scenario to automate selection of either the acoustic or the electric pickup output of a Cole Clark hybrid guitar. When I discovered how hard it would be to get another AB Cadabra unit, I found Oscillator Devices which makes midi controlled units including Siren, a small stereo mixer pedal that can provide stereo input from the two guitar pickups, after which you can select a b or both outputs through stereo outs.

This is even better for my setup because I can run the acoustic signal completely separate from the electric signal, and back to the PA so no coloration by my amp cabinet emulator.

But a question that came up about the AB Cadabra unit as I was reading on the Oscillator Devices page is about the potential of signal loss when the A and B signals are combined. They recommended their Siren stereo pedal for that application rather than their ABY Midi pedal that is similar to the AB Cadabra.

I cannot detect an issue with signal. The guitar signal seems the same whether running through that loop or not with no volume loss on the peak meter. For the Bass the signal output is same whether the AB Cadabra is in A mode or A+B mode.

They claim that without buffering there would likely be signal loss and I don't see anything referenced about some built-in buffering with the AB Cadabra unit. Part of me is thinking that if doesn't seem broken why try to fix it by perhaps buying two of these Siren units, but the perfectionist is wondering if I am missing out on better sound. Wondering if anyone smarter than me about buffers and such has any thoughts.

Most likely I will leave as is.
Click to expand...
Hey there, I’ve actually got one I just threw up on Reverb if you’re looking for another one. If you’re having a tough time finding one, this might be the only one listed right now. All the best!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top