"Caps in series" switching

[jdub]

Just a quick question for those who know: how exactly does the "caps in series" cap-switching method  (a la John Hollis' Zombie Chorus as mentioned by Mark Hammer (http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=54829.0) and illustrated in this post: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=56671.msg438331#msg438331) work electronically?  I don't quite get the idea of "shunting" one of the caps.  Does this simply mean that when the switch is open the current flows through the switchable cap (since it can't go through the switch) and when the switch is closed the current follows the path of least resistance (the wires connected to the switch) and essentially "bypasses" the cap?  Am I way off base here? 

Thanks!

[earthtonesaudio]

Not to worry, you're 100% correct.

[Mark Hammer]

A cap is like a frequency-dependent resistor.  A piece of wire is a zero-ohm frequency-INdependent resistor.  When the signal has a "choice" of the two, for all intents and purposes, the cap doesn't exist.

So, having two caps in series, and using a toggle to shunt one or the other essentially dictates which cap the signal HAS to pass through.

[jdub]

Thanks guys! I think I'm starting to get the hang of this stuff!