gear giveaway

Midi

Updated Pedal: Vongon Paragraphs II Resonant Filter

Vongon is a rather new pedal (and now also synth) brand based in Oakland that manufactures very intriguing and creative stompboxes. The Paragraph II is the updated 2024 version of their very first product: an analog four-pole resonant low-pass filter with stereo modulation (the previous version was mono). A comparison…Click on the title for more

Updated Pedal: Vongon Paragraphs II Resonant Filter

New Pedal: Poly Ample Amp/Cab Sim Pedal

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia (a big geographical disadvantage for any musical instrument manufacturer), Poly is one of the handful of brands currently driving innovation in the stompbox realm. The Ample is their (stereo) take on the amp/cab sim pedal. A knobless and toggle-less device, the Ample offers 56 modeled guitar…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Poly Ample Amp/Cab Sim Pedal

Friedman IR-J Dual Tube Preamp (Jake E Lee Signature)

The Friedman IR-J is the third comer in the "IR" pedal tube preamp series recently launched by the US brand. The manufacturer is keen to stress that the two 12AX7 tubes inside the pedal aren't there just to "warm up" a digital or solid-state circuit, but are the beating heart…Click on the title for more

Friedman IR-J Dual Tube Preamp (Jake E Lee Signature)

The 5 Best LoFi Pedals for Synths: Digital & Analog Fidelilty Reducers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qm8PmYSfe0 LoFi effects are a fascinating niche that can add some magic to any musical material, and perhaps because of that, an increasing number of pedal builders have started offering products of this kind. The history of recording and effects can be seen through the lens of a constant improvement…Click on the title for more

The 5 Best LoFi Pedals for Synths: Digital & Analog Fidelilty Reducers

Electro-Harmonix POG3

Electro-Harmonix added a new chapter to their POG saga (launched in 2005) with the POG3, the mother of all Polyphonic Octave Generator pedals, capable of generating up to five voices plus your root tone - and arranging them in stereo. Previous versions of the POG were already tried and true…Click on the title for more

Electro-Harmonix POG3

Chase Bliss Onward

Lately, every new Chase Bliss release feels like the unveiling of a new, magical (sonic) toy. The latest device to join this creative family of circuits is Onward, an evolution of an existing pedal by Cooper FX (whose owner Tom Majeski is now part of the Chase Bliss team), called…Click on the title for more

Chase Bliss Onward

2024 UPDATE! Best Amp Modeling Pedals & Cab Simulators

This article is about pedals that simulate the tone of guitar amps and cabs but are not able to power a speaker cabinet. If you are looking for a pedal that can do that, see our article about the best power amp pedals. [lwptoc depth="4" hierarchical="0" numeration="decimal" title="TABLE OF CONTENTS…Click on the title for more

2024 UPDATE! Best Amp Modeling Pedals & Cab Simulators

New Pedal: Sonicake Matribox II Pro

Considering what good of a deal its older (and smaller) non-pro version was, the Sonicake Matribox II Pro - which sells for just $299 - is nothing short of a remarkable device. The reviews on YouTube are more than positive, although many warn that the presets are not representative of how…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Sonicake Matribox II Pro

Empress Effects Echosystem Multi-Mode Delay

One of the brand new pedals that were on display at the 2017 first Montreal Stompbox Exhibit was the Empress Effects EchoSystem, the Canadian company's take on the "large-ish" multi-function digital delay pedal concept (its release date of May 4th, 2017 was just two days before our event!). The stompbox…Click on the title for more

Empress Effects Echosystem Multi-Mode Delay

Line 6 HX One MultiFX Pedal

Line 6 just unveiled the smallest sibling in the Helix family: the HX ONE. Just like the other members of the family, this is a stereo device featuring a variety of effects (over 250), plus a host of other features belonging to the Helix DNA like Midi compatibility and presets.…Click on the title for more

Line 6 HX One MultiFX Pedal

Hologram Microcosm Multi-Mode Granular Looper/Delay

Knoxville's Hologram Electronics has been at the forefront of creative (or rather, "out there"!) effects pedals since the release of their debut device, the Dream Sequence, followed by the even more popular Infinite Jets. Their third creation, which, from the looks of it, seems to take things to a new…Click on the title for more

Hologram Microcosm Multi-Mode Granular Looper/Delay

The Best Delay Pedals for Synths

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZTkvbOkjg Yes, it's the only mono pedal in this list, and yes, it's also one of the oldest. But the Chase Bliss Thermae worked its charm on our YouTube collaborator Liam and he declared it its favorite in the bunch, saying: "I absolutely love the sound quality of pretty…Click on the title for more

The Best Delay Pedals for Synths