Most fx today are continious but from time to time you see an effect pedal activated with the stomping of the foot switch that produces a sound variation that is relatively momentary. One example is EHXs PITCH FORK, that is NOT a whammy pedal exactly because of the momentary function of the foot switch. Another brilliant example is TC electronics MASH footswitch.

The examples are relatively few and mostly comprise of a complimentary foot switch that is situated on the oppossing corner of were the regular on-off foot switch resides, and does something ….well….momentary ….a boost!…a blast!….etc that lasts usually as long as you press with your foot…and then it goes away more or less as suddenly as it came.

A revolution is brewing. A momentary one that is.

With the exeption to a limited extent of the MASH footswitch, that is pressure sensitive, all these fx are very basic, simple and one dimensional.

THE REAL ESSENCE OF THE MOMENTARY EFFECT IS STILL OCCULTED IN OUR COLLECTIVE MINDS….UNTILL NOW THAT IS….BECAUSE I DECIDED TO REVEAL IT AND I CAN’T HOLD IT ANY LONGER ( I GUESS IT RESEMBLES A ….FART IN MANY WAYS, THAT TOO IS A ….MOMENTARY SOUND EFFECT NOW THAT I THINK OF IT! he! he! he!)

SO! THE MOMENTARY EFFECT IS: ONE OR MORE CONTINIOUS FX THAT DYNAMICLY DEVELOP OR JUST EXIST, IN A SPECIFIC BRACKET OF TIME ACCORDING TO THE TEMPO and TIME SIGNATURE.

In other words if a time based effect like delay, vibrato, sliser, etc, is developed either going faster or slower or both OR just activate in the time length of a meter or two or half, in tempo, you have a momentary effect ELEMENT that can be combined with other dynamicly developing fx each with its own time bracket and developement sceme that can be totaly flat = no developement.

The same applies to effects that develop in terms of more or less, like distortion or volume etc…

or effects that develop in terms of higher or lower, like pitch or EQ….etc…

But whatever the terms of developement, the switch acts like a trigger of a predesigned (or random?) effect or cluster of effects that explode in and out of awareness!

I can only think of two types of triggers: a) A MASH style pressure sensitive trigger or b) A simple on off clicking foot switch. Each type of trigger determine the way the effects are predesigned of course.

So how about a magical box with 4 triggers of presets, that can produce and combine a wide variety of momentary effects?…It would resemble a multieffect but specialised in momentary bursts of combined effects, steady or dynamic…Oh! And maybe with an optional tone generator you can tune?

I humbly submit this concept plucked from the ether for all, wondering about my sanity.