Alberta boffins create nanologue tech

Former scientists at the University of Alberta have used nanotechnology to create a guitar pedal that duplicates the warmth of tube circuits without the inconvenience and expense.

Rick McCreery, a University of Alberta chemistry professor and researcher at Edmonton’s National Institute for Nanotechnology and his colleague Adam Bergen, developed a circuit just a couple of molecules – billionths of a metre – thick. The team eventually created a non-linear circuit in a guitar pedal that responded just like a tube.

The pedal, dubbed the Nanolog and built in Edmonton, is already commercially available and made its industry debut this week at Summer NAMM.

McCreery said the business, Nanolog Audio, hopes to sell complete pedals and license the nanocircuitry to other companies.