Chase Bliss has just announced an update to its popular supercreative, granular ambient loop + reverb pedal: the Chase Bliss MOOD MkII, which will start shipping in late April but can be ordered now.
The original version, the product of a collaboration with Old Blood Noise and Drolo, was very well received and the challenge of MkII for the Minneapolis company was to improve the device following the mountain of user requests without distorting the original concept.
The most important changes in MkII is that it’s fully stereo, the loops can be twice as long, and both channels now have a hold function. Also, you are now able to balance the volume of the two channels, which was one of the main user requests.
New, important functions have been added to the loop section that now does overdubbing, freezing, syncing, fading, filtering, balancing, blending, smoothing, among the other things it already did in MkI. There’s also a sample quality improvement over its predecessor.
There are several other minor improvements to many functions, in particular the ones found in the set of DIP switches in the back case, which we don’t have time to list here (you can check out the product’s field guide for that).
However, for those who may feel nostalgic about the original version of the pedal, there’s a Classic mode that restores all the functions of MkI.
Here’s the launch video of the Chase Bliss Audio MOOD Mk II, you can find a description of what the pedal does in the section about MkI, here.
Chase Bliss Audio MOOD Mk MkI
While the folks at Chase Bliss Audio were publicly working on two ambitious projects (the automatic-fader-driven Preamp MkII and the uber-documented looper Blooper) they were also secretly designing a new two-channel granular micro-looper called M O O D, which they unveiled today (06.20.2019) through a video of their favorite Toronto videographer Knobs.
The M O O D is a continuation of the series of collaborative designs the Minnesota-based company started releasing in 2018 (previous collaborations included products with circuits by Keeley and Benson); for this pedal, owner and chief designer Joel Korte reached out to the folks at Old Blood Noise, who took care of the suite of live spatial effects in the pedal’s Wet Channel, and also to Belgian designer David Rolo from Drolo FX, who designed the Loop Channel.
A stompbox that belongs squarely in the category of experimental devices for sound explorers, the M O O D is presented as a “study in interaction,” which:
is internally collaborative, allowing audio to freely pass back and forth between its two sides, evolving and transforming over time.
As for all Chase Bliss pedals, the amount of tweak offered is borderline infinite, but the main feature here is in the way the two channels are routed, which can happen in three different ways.
You can find out more about the Chase Bliss Audio MOOD in the videos below. We added it to our list of the Best Glitch, Stutter and Granular Pedals.
Chase Bliss Audio MOOD Mk II, Builder’s Notes
What’s New in MkII:
Stereo, overdubbing, freezing, syncing, fading, filtering, balancing, blending, smoothing, etc.
We’ve also polished up the sound quality, but there’s a Classic Mode for those of you who prefer dents and dings.
M O O D™ is a two channel granular micro-looper / delay. Designed to be playful and immediate, it is a study of interaction. M O O D™ is internally collaborative, allowing audio to freely pass back and forth between its two sides, evolving and transforming over time. Drolo FX is behind the loop channel, a collection of always-listening micro-loopers, and Old Blood Noise Endeavors offer us the wet channel, a suite of live spatial effects. We have three different options for how the channels are internally routed. Run a time-stretched loop through a cloud of delay taps, re-record it and carry on. Overdub, freeze, dissolve, smear. The device’s heart is the clock control, which slows or accelerates both sides simultaneously in harmonized steps. Instantly turn a loop into rolling chirps, or divide a reverb down into atmospheric noise. And naturally, we have full MIDI, dip-switch, and preset implementation.
MOOD MKII is a different kind of multi-effect. Its two channels are aware of each other and work together. One half samples and loops brief moments, the other is a collection of real-time spatial effects.
Micro-looping
MOOD MKII features an always-listening looper. It’s a bit like fishing for music: the channel is continuously recording until you turn it on, and then you see what you get. Now featuring overdubbing.Designed by Drolo FX.
Spatial effects
The Wet Channel is a twist on the classic ambient palette. It’s a collection of real-time effects that can process your micro-loops, input signal, or both – in both familiar and warped ways.Designed by Old Blood Noise Endeavors.
MIDI
Our deepest MIDI integration yet, introducing the ability to play MOOD MKII with a keyboard. Also included are clock sync and control over every parameter, even the hidden ones.Reversible AF.
Freeze and refresh.
MOOD MKII lets you turn each channel on its head. The Wet Channel can be frozen in place, turning its live effects into ambient pads or secondary loops, while the Micro-Looper can be turned into a delay or even a pseudo-live effect.Expand and integrate
MOOD MKII features advanced connectivity and customization options including MIDI, CV and Expression control, presets, and internal modulation of any or all its knobs.
