Description

New Death By Audio Photo Modulator now in stock!

Turn Light into Control

The PHOTO MODULATOR is a compact, light-sensitive controller that allows you to manipulate expression pedal-compatible effects using any light source. Shine a bright light – such as a strobe, flashlight, stage light, or even a lava lamp – onto the sensor to sweep your effect one way. Cover it in shadow, and it sweeps the other.

It works just like an expression pedal: light = toe down, dark = heel down.

Housed in a right-angle ¼” jack for an ultra-small footprint, it’s easy to aim the sensor at your desired light source. No batteries required.

Electrical Details

The PHOTO MODULATOR uses a cadmium-sulfide photoresistor connected between the tip and ring of the ¼” jack. Its resistance changes with light:

Bright light: <1k

Complete darkness: >1MΩ

A 47kΩ resistor connects the ring to the sleeve, mimicking the behavior of the potentiometer found in most passive expression pedals. This configuration ensures compatibility with a wide range of effects that accept standard expression pedal input.