Hungry Robot Wardenclyffe Deluxe

The Hungry Robot Wanderclyffe Deluxe is an expanded version of the company’s original lo-fi modulation/ambiance effect, one of the most popular by the North Carolina manufacturer.

The added features are a handful, here’s the list, in order of importance:

  • The three new small knobs on top control a new Vinyl Noise simulator circuit.
    1. The Snake knob adds a filtered white noise/hiss to the mix.
    2. The Campfire knob adds a crackle effect.
    3. The Pop knob adds a random popping effect.
  • The DETUNE toggle splits the signal into two and detunes one of them for a lush chorus effect
  • The CRUSH toggle adds a bit crusher to the signal
  • PAD knob allows independent control over the level of the ambient
  • The CLOCK knob controls the operating frequency of the DSP
  • Tap Tempo control
  • Wider range of modulation rates
  • LED rate indicator
  • Lower frequencies turn the signal into an ultra muddled lofi mess

Compared to the original unit, the Hungry Robot Wardenclyffe Deluxe is a feature-pack device that’s bound to inspire creative guitarists for a very long time. We added it to our list of the Best Bit Crusher Pedals, although it’s obviously a lot more than that!

 

Same great Wardenclyffe vibes and base circuit and coding. Here is what’s new (spoiler: it’s a lot). The Deluxe now has tap tempo control as well as a wider range of modulation rates and an LED rate indicator. Also new is an independent control over the level of the ambient PAD. The CLOCK knob controls the operating frequency of the DSP. Lower frequencies turn the signal into an ultra muddled, borderline unusable, muddled lofi mess. The DETUNE toggle splits the signal into two and tastefully detunes one of them for a lush chorus effect. The CRUSH toggle adds a gnarly bit crusher to the signal. The three small knobs on top are a Vinyl Noise simulator to mimic an old record player. The Snake knob adds a filtered white noise/hiss to the mix. The Campfire knob adds a crackle effect. The Pop knob (or if you didn’t grow up in the Midwest, soda knob) adds a random popping effect. The Wardenclyffe was already a very solid pedal but now I consider this to be the most feature packed lofi pedal out there.