This week, we check out some of the latest guitar pedal news, including the big news that Ernie Ball has just officially acquired Source Audio. In other pedal news, Gamechanger Audio has announced the soon-to-be-released PLUS Pedal II. Finally, we look at the case Boss has just won in court with Behringer over the polyphonic tuner patent.
Guitar Journal
Ernie Ball Acquires Source Audio
Guitar string and accessory giant Ernie Ball is acquiring premium effects pedal maker Source Audio for an undisclosed sum. This strategic move grants Ernie Ball an instant foothold in the boutique pedal market, while giving Source Audio access to Ernie Ball’s massive global distribution, manufacturing power, and extensive artist network.
High-End Pedals
Following its acquisition, Source Audio, which was founded in 2006 by former Analog Devices and Kurzweil engineers, will keep all existing product lines fully available. The company’s immediate priority is ensuring seamless continuity for all customers, dealers, partners, and endorsed artists.
Great news for fans of their Ventris Dual Reverb, Nemesis Delay, and Artifakt Lo-fi Elements, etc.
The Ernie Ball worldwide distribution should make the Source Audio products more readily available for players, which can only be a positive outcome of this acquisition.
We don’t yet have any more detailed information, so we will update you if any more important details emerge.
PLUS Pedal II
Gamechanger Audio has shared the forthcoming PLUS Pedal II, which updates the original version and adds new features. This new version will be available from August, and they have released a video to show the new features.
What’s New?
It comes with a redesigned Spectral Sampling dual-resonance engine that faithfully analyses and reproduces the true timbre, harmonics, and dynamics of any melodic instrument.
Upgraded hardware controls include a dedicated Layers knob to stack between 1 and 10 layers (or push to infinity), a Resonance knob for evolving textures, and a circular halo display providing real-time visual feedback of all active layers.
Auto Catch
Built for seamless live performance and studio versatility, the PLUS Pedal II introduces an intuitive Auto Catch mode, allowing musicians to keep their foot parked on the responsive brass optical pedal while it automatically layers new notes like an acoustic piano.
The hardware overhaul also introduces a flexible, analogue-switchable FX loop, alongside an XLR input with a built-in microphone preamp and a Kill-Dry switch for acoustic players.
An optional performance footswitch adds advanced Wet-Only, Latch, and Hide modes, making this the ultimate ambient and cinematic sound design tool for guitarists, vocalists, and synth players alike. This could be an interesting pedal for many musicians, and it certainly adds some very useful updates to the original pedal’s design.
MSRP – $399/£359/€329
Boss polyphonic tuner patent
Behringer took Boss to court earlier this year, claiming that Boss had used their polyphonic tuner without permission. This led to Boss removing this feature from their GT-1000, GT-1000CORE, GX-100, and GX-10 units via a firmware update.
Empower Tribe
Now, a US federal judge has dismissed the high-profile patent infringement lawsuit brought by Behringer’s parent company, Empower Tribe, against Roland-owned Boss. TC Electronic is owned by Behringer/Empower Tribe, and their PolyTune products are a popular choice for many musicians when it comes to tuners.
TC Electronic PolyTune
The legal battle centred on polyphonic tuning technology, with Behringer claiming that the tuning feature in Boss’s flagship multi-effects processors (including the aforementioned GT-1000 and GX-100) infringed on its proprietary TC Electronic PolyTune patent.
Case Dismissed
However, the court dismissed the case with prejudice, ruling that Behringer’s patent was fundamentally ineligible under US law because it relied on generic computer components to execute an abstract concept without demonstrating a true “inventive concept.”
So will the polyphonic tuner return to these Boss products in another firmware update?
I still keep a couple of the TC Electronic PolyTune Clip Tuners around, as they are so handy to have when playing in the studio or for setting up guitars. I’m guessing that a lot of musicians would still buy them, as they are affordable and simple to use.
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