Dwarf KickStarter FAQ

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DO I NEED A COMPUTER OR OTHER SIMILAR DEVICE TO PLAY WITH MOD DWARF?

No, you can take just MOD Dwarf to the stage and it works like any other regular multi-effects pedal. The computer/tablet/phone is used to install new effects; create pedalboards (plugin arrangements with control assignments); upgrade the internal software; and share your pedalboards on MOD Cloud.

DOES IT HAVE TO BE CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER TO TWEAK THE INTERNAL SETUPS?

No, with MOD Dwarf you will be able to build and tweak simple pedalboards directly from the device. You’ll only need the computer if you want to build more complex pedalboards.

DO I NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET TO USE MOD DWARF?

No. You can create pedalboards using the plugins that are already installed on your MOD. An internet connection is required only to install new plugins on your MOD Dwarf and to share or download other users’ pedalboards.

HOW IS MOD UPDATED?

The MOD system (software that manages sound processing) is continually evolving. Our team of programmers and engineers work to develop new features and to improve existing ones. You will be informed of new updates, which can be installed in just one click. Simple as that.

ARE ALL THE EFFECTS THAT RUN IN MOD MADE ONLY BY MOD COMPANY?

No. MOD uses an open standard called LV2. It was created by the very active Linux Audio Community and hundreds of LV2 plugins are freely available, made by different independent developers. Most of the plugins available on the MOD Cloud already existed when the project began and many more shall be created independently of MOD's existence.

You can check our online plugin store at https://pedalboards.moddevices.com/plugins

IS IT STEREO I/O

Dwarf has two independent audio channels so, yes, you can use it with a stereo instrument.

You can also use it with two different instruments at the same time, each of them going through a completely independent chain of effects.

HOW MANY EFFECTS CAN I USE SIMULTANEOUSLY ON MOD DWARF?

The only limit to the number of pedals you can use simultaneously is the amount of processing they require.

Certain pedals, such as Pitch Shifters and Tube Emulators, carry out numerous mathematical calculations and, therefore, require more processing. Others, such as delays and chorus, are mathematically simple and require little processing. Therefore, caution is required when assembling a pedalboard with (for example) many pitch shifter plugins.

To help with this, MOD DWARF has a CPU usage indicator that alerts the user when the pedal board they have created is overloading the equipment.

WHAT ARE THE MOD DWARF’S DIMENSIONS?

The current prototype has:

  • 7.5" x 4" x 1.5" or
  • 190mm x 100mm x 40mm

But it might get even smaller

WHAT CAN I CONNECT TO THE MOD DWARF?

Mod Dwarf has:

  • Two mono inputs where you can connect any musical instruments or audio source. The input gains are adjustable so you can connect guitars, basses, keyboards, samplers and even a microphone. Basically anything!
  • MIDI - It also has a Mini-TRS MIDI input, where you can connect any sort of external MIDI controller. These controllers can be used to tweak any parameter of any plugin in your virtual pedalboard, and also perform some system functions, such as switching pedalboards, snapshots or turning the physical bypass on and off
  • USB - You can also connect external devices via USB, such as USB-MIDI controllers, or Bluetooth dongles (so you can wirelessly connect to your device)
  • Control Chain - This is a MOD Devices control port used to connect external MOD controllers, such as additional footswitches, expression pedals, or anything your creativity can come up with using our open-source standard, an Arduino and some sensors .

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WILL DWARF RUN THE SAME SOFTWARE AS DUO AND DUO X?

Mostly yes, but the Dwarf will have a unique embedded software that will give users more options to use it without connecting it to a computer.

It will be possible to assemble and edit simple pedalboards on the fly. It will also be possible to create banks and snapshots. You’ll be able to manage (duplicate, delete, reorder, rename) banks, pedalboards and snapshots from the device too.

WHERE IN THE SIGNAL CHAIN CAN I PUT THE MOD DWARF?

The Dwarf can be placed in various places of the signal chain. You could use it as a completely standalone device, as part of your pedalboard, as an effects box in front of an amplifier, as an amplifier simulator running into the power amplifier of a guitar amp, as an amplifier + cabinet simulator running into a mixer, or as an effects box both in front of the amplifier as well as in the effects loop of the amplifier using the 4-cable-method.

Because of the bidirectional audio-over-USB capabilities, it can also be connected straight to your computer with a single USB cable.

Do I need a power amp?

In order to use the Dwarf with a passive guitar cabinet you will need to run the Dwarf’s output through a power amplifier. Specifically for this purpose, there are companies that make cabinets that include a power amplifier.

The more common use case of bypassing the preamp on combo amplifiers works without any external equipment. Simply hook up the outputs of the Dwarf directly into the power amp input and start playing!

Can I add other analog effects before/after it?

Adding other effects pedals (no matter if they are analog or digital) before or after the dwarf is completely supported.

ARE THE I/O BALANCED?

No. Neither the inputs, nor the outputs are balanced.

CAN I INSTALL PLUG-INS ON MOD THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON MOD CLOUD?

Yes. MOD supports the LV2 standard and any working LV2 plugin should work in the MOD. The plugin just needs to be compiled for the correct architecture and deployed to the device. We do provide open source tools to help with this process, such as our SDK that even helps you to create a nice graphical interface for the plugin. You might want to visit our wiki to get more information on that.