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The MOD Dwarf is the more affordable little brother of the MOD Duo X, which was first launched in 2010, and both models allow the user to design a complete pedalboard. The MOD Dwarf packs a wide variety of effects, amp simulations, synths, loopers, sequencers, and much more into a footprint of just 202x105mm, and four different modes are available to allow the user to intuitively navigate through the effects, select and store presets, and control the various parameters with extreme precision. Essential tools such as a tuner and a metronome are naturally also included. In addition to the intuitive user interface, the interchangeable effects can also be controlled via an optional MIDI controller. Thanks to this range of features, the MOD Dwarf eliminates the need for musicians to maintain a large, expensive, and of course heavy pedalboard from gig to gig.
At the core of the MOD Dwarf is a Quad-Core ARM A35 processor with 1GB of RAM. The intuitive user interface features an LC display and three infinitely adjustable rotary knobs to provide quick and easy control of more than 180 effects (to which more can be added from the Plugin Store), 115 amp simulations, 30 virtual instruments, and 30 MIDI tools. The MOD Dwarf has a total storage capacity of 8GB, which also provides space for samples and IR files for individual reverb effects. Users can additionally save their own presets and recall them in a matter of seconds, ensuring that every performance will go smoothly. The signal flow can be controlled using the MOD Dwarf's onboard mixer and buses, which provides complex routing options for the individual modulation of parameters.
The MOD Dwarf is designed for instrumentalists looking for a diverse range of effects and practical tools in one compact device that eliminates the need to haul cumbersome equipment back and forth while on tour. Weighing just 0.8kg, this diminutive effects processor will easily fit into virtually any gig bag, and since the rear panel includes a 3.5mm headphone jack alongside its duo of 6.3mm inputs and outputs, players can also use the MOD Dwarf for silent practice. Since the Dwarf is open-source, programmers can also design their own effects and sell them in the Plugin Store. This means that new plugins are appearing all the time, giving musicians a limitless range of effects and tools with which to experiment and develop their creativity.
The company MOD was founded by Gianfranco Ceccolini, who presented a prototype of an open-source multi-effects pedal in 2010. This analogue-digital hybrid hardware features an intuitive graphical interface that allows effects to be exchanged and added using a plugin store. It was followed by a market launch in Brazil with subsequent financing via a Kickstarter campaign for the MOD Duo in 2014, which resulted in company headquarters in Germany and production via Schleicher Electronics in Berlin. In 2017, a cooperation with Cycling'74 (the developer of Ableton) followed on from this success, making it possible to integrate the MOD duo into Max/MSP. In February 2020, the MOD Dwarf was presented, which was also funded via a Kickstarter campaign within 24 hours.
In addition to its three footswitches, the MOD Dwarf can also be controlled by connecting external hardware to its MIDI interface or control chain port. The latter of these two can be used to connect peripheral devices like the optionally available MOD footswitch. USB port A can be used to connect a MIDI keyboard, a Bluetooth dongle for remote control via computer, or a USB flash drive for storing backup files. When the MOD Dwarf is connected to a computer, the user can install and remove any unused plugins using the MOD Web GUI, with which they can also create banks of presets and entire pedalboards, as well as carrying out firmware updates.