Patent ID: 8471136

Claim:
An effects pedal comprising: a first stage configured to asymmetrically limit an input signal; and a second stage configured to symmetrically clip the asymmetrically limited signal, the second stage including: a dual stage potentiometer having a first potentiometer and a second potentiometer, the second potentiometer configured to have a resistance change opposite to a resistance change in the first potentiometer, wherein the second potentiometer is in series with a pair of parallel diodes at a first junction, an anode of one of the pair of parallel diodes in connection with a cathode of an other of the pair of parallel diodes at the first junction; an operational amplifier having a feedback loop including the first potentiometer, wherein a level of an output signal from the operational amplifier is in direct proportion to a change in resistance level of the first potentiometer; and a bias voltage at the input to the operational amplifier, wherein: at a second junction, the bias voltage is connected to a cathode of the one of the pair of parallel diodes, and an anode of the other of the pair of parallel diodes; and the pair of parallel diodes is configured to clip an output of the operational amplifier in inverse proportion to a resistance change of the second potentiometer.