Amp Crash: Death By Audio & Rainger FX Collaboration

Introducing Amp Crash

We are thrilled to announce Amp Crash, the latest collaboration between Death By Audio and Rainger FX. This new pedal is built around a literal crash sensor, allowing you to trigger its effect by striking or tapping the unit itself. Beyond the physical trigger, Amp Crash offers full expression control, giving you real-time command over the pedal’s parameters. Whether you are using your hand, foot, or a drumstick, the crash sensor responds to your touch, opening up a world of percussive and performative possibilities. This is not just a stompbox; it is an instrument in its own right, designed to be played as much as it is stepped on. The collaboration merges Death By Audio’s signature high-voltage chaos with Rainger FX’s innovative, tactile design philosophy. The result is a pedal that feels alive, reacting to your movements and encouraging a more physical approach to your sound. Amp Crash is here to redefine what a pedal can do.

Crash Sensor and Expression Control

The heart of Amp Crash’s tactile response is its crash sensor, which reacts instantly to the physical impact of hitting the pedal. This sensor is designed to translate the force and speed of your strike into a dynamic audio event, ensuring that every hit feels connected to the sound output. Because the sensor reads the initial impact, you get a natural, immediate response that mimics the behavior of an acoustic crash cymbal.

To shape that response, the expression control gives you direct command over the sensor’s behavior. You can adjust the sensitivity to determine how light or hard a hit needs to be to trigger a sound, and fine-tune other parameters such as the decay or brightness of the resulting tone. This allows you to dial in the perfect feel for your playing style, from a subtle brush to a forceful slam.

Sound and Connectivity

The sonic heart of Amp Crash is its distortion engine, which draws direct inspiration from the legendary Death By Audio ‘Fuzz War’ pedal. This results in a thick, saturated wall of fuzz that can go from a subtle, gritty overdrive to a full-on, chaotic sonic assault. The distortion is designed to be dynamic and responsive to your playing, ensuring that the character of your instrument remains present even at maximum gain.

Connectivity is where Amp Crash truly shines, offering deep integration with your existing setup. The pedal features a dedicated expression pedal input, allowing you to control any assigned parameter in real-time—from filter sweeps to feedback levels. Furthermore, a CV input is included, enabling seamless integration with modular synthesizers and other control-voltage gear. This opens up endless possibilities for experimental sound design, letting you automate the fuzz texture with external LFOs or sequencers for evolving, unpredictable tones.

Power and Availability

The Amp Crash is powered by a standard 9V DC supply, using a 2.1mm barrel connector with center-negative polarity—the same configuration found on most modern pedals, so your existing power chain will work without adapters. There is no battery compartment, so plan to use a dedicated isolated output or a daisy chain with adequate current headroom.

As for cost, the Amp Crash is priced at $180, positioning it as a mid-range option for players who want premium sensor-based control without flagship pricing. It is available now directly from the manufacturer’s website and through select authorized dealers. Given the initial production run, stock has been steady, but early demand has been strong—if you’re considering one, checking current availability at your preferred retailer is wise. No firmware updates are required at launch, and the unit ships with a quick-start guide covering the power specs and expression pedal setup.