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Synth Pedals

Mooer E7 Polyphonic Synth Micro Pedal

Since we posted this article about the best synth pedals a few weeks ago, we've had a series of releases of new products belonging to that category, and today's announcement by Chinese manufacturer MOOER represents some sort of turning point because their new E7 synth pedal is the first stompbox…Click on the title for more

Mooer E7 Polyphonic Synth Micro Pedal

SolidGoldFX Lysis MKII Polyphonic Octave Fuzz Modulator

The SolidGoldFX Lysis made a splash when it was first unveiled at our Stompbox Booth at NAMM 2019, making it into reverb.com's top 7 of the new NAMM releases. The Montreal-based company just upgraded it with a MkII version that takes this modulated octave fuzz/synth to a new level. Driven…Click on the title for more

SolidGoldFX Lysis MKII Polyphonic Octave Fuzz Modulator

BOSS V0-1 Vocoder Pedal

For those of you with sound design inclinations, few pedals are as creative as a vocoder, an effect that creates new sounds from the interaction between your instruments and your voice (although using rhythmic instrument instead of the voice can yield intriguing results). Thanks to its link to synth giant…Click on the title for more

BOSS V0-1 Vocoder Pedal

EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter

The EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter is a Modulated Monophonic PLL Harmonizer with modulation. This ain't a simple pedal to describe in a few words, but we can certainly tell you that it belongs to EQD's tradition of experimental and even "synthy" stompboxes. Here's the intro from EQD's website: It takes…Click on the title for more

EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter

BOSS SY-1 Synth Pedal

Just a few weeks ago, BOSS announced three stompboxes from a new pedal line, the 200 Series, but if you thought that was their Summer NAMM 2019 launch, you were mistaken. The Japanese brand introduced another two new products at the Nashville event: the SY-1 compact synth pedal and the…Click on the title for more

BOSS SY-1 Synth Pedal

Pladask Elektrisk Fabrikat Granular Synth / Sample Playback

The Pladask Elektrisk Fabrikat is a hand-made Granular Synthesizer / Sample Playback pedal built-in Bergen, Norway. The company is known for its DIY workshops. A lighter version of the DIY kit FORM2, the Fabrikat features 16 algorithms focusing on granular synthesis and modified sample playback, including time stretching, pitch shifting with time…Click on the title for more

Pladask Elektrisk Fabrikat Granular Synth / Sample Playback

Shift Line Prism II Stereo Filter Pad

First of all, let us say that this new stereo version of the Prism by Russian builder Shift Line looks rad, and gorgeous-looking devices brighten our day. But that brightness fades in comparison to the blinding beam of creativity it might inspire in the adventurous/unconventional guitarist. The Prism is a…Click on the title for more

Shift Line Prism II Stereo Filter Pad

Bananana Effects TARARIRA Pitch Shift Sequencer V2

Unconventional, creative, hybrid pedals that borrow from synths have become a niche in itself in the pedal realm - by far the most exciting one. Bananana is a quirky Japanese builder that focuses on designing original effects that spark inspiration, and one may say that their products' supercool minimalistic graphics…Click on the title for more

Bananana Effects TARARIRA Pitch Shift Sequencer V2

Keeley Electronics Synth-1

Another new release from Keeley Electronics is the Synth-1, a pedal that is part fuzz and part synth. Labeled by the company as a “Fuzz Noise and Chaos Creator”, the pedal is a reverse attack fuzz wave generator. There are controls over Level, Attack, Blend, and a band-pass Filter as…Click on the title for more

Keeley Electronics Synth-1

Free the Tone Motion Loop

Granular synthesis fans may have found a new best friend in the Motion Loop by Free the Tone. This bright green fella samples a brief section of your performance and loops and manipulates it in real-time, then adding effects like pitch shift, delay, reverse, and filter, among others. It can…Click on the title for more

Free the Tone Motion Loop

Paradox Effects Obsidiana Octave Layering Engine

Octave pedals are extremely effective in creating otherworldly ambient tones and are used by many creative players as a more subtle alternative to synth pedals. The brand new Paradox Effects Obsidiana is a take on the format that adds several extra features that will intrigue the more adventurous guitarists. In…Click on the title for more

Paradox Effects Obsidiana Octave Layering Engine

New Pedals: Mono Division Pulsewave Octave

The Pulsewave Octave is one of the two pedals NY-based boutique pedal builder Mono Division released in late 2020, featuring -rather uniquely - jack and power inputs on the front case of the pedal, where the knobs are. The Pulsewave is an all-analog octaver that transforms the guitar signal into…Click on the title for more

New Pedals: Mono Division Pulsewave Octave