The Walrus Audio Slö Multi Texture Reverb is a take on the creative atmospheric reverb device that has taken the stompbox scene by storm in the last decade or so, and at just $199 it represents a very intriguing option. We added it to our list of the 24 Best Ambient/Shoegazer Reverb Pedals.
It specializes in creating ” lush, modulated, sleepy and ambient soundscapes” through three dreamy algorithms and an X knob that controls varying settings depending on the selected mode:
- Dark adds a lower octave to the reverb’s trail – X controls the octave’s volume;
- Rise is an auto-swell reverb – X controls the length of the rise after a note is played;
- Dream is the lushest of the three and features a latching pad function through the Sustain footswitch – a second press will make it fade with length related to the Decay knob setting. The X knob here adds a vibrato to the effect, controlling its depth.
All these modes have optional modulation whose depth can be manipulated with the Depth knob and whose rate can be changed by holding down the bypass switch and turing the depth knob. The modulation’s waveform can also be changed through the mode toggle switch while pressing the Bypass footswitch:
SINE – Smooth and even pitch up and down modulation.
WARP – Asymmetric pitch up modulation similar to a warped record.
SINK – Asymmetric pitch down modulation for sinking detune similar to a Bigsby.
This is probably also the first pedal we see with a momentary function for the Bypass footswitch:
When the switch is in off position, press and hold to temporarily activate the effect to add a moment of reverb texture.
The Sustain Footswitch, on the other hand, does this:
When pressed, the decay switch ramps up the reverb trail to maximum creating long dreamy reverb trail and then ramps back down to the decay knob setting when released. In the “Dream” algorithm, the sustain switch is latching. Press it once to capture and sustain the current reverb decay for extremely long pad-like sounds. Press it again to let the reverb trail taper off, based on the position of the decay knob.
Trails can be set on or off and a Mix knob lets you reintegrate the clean signal for varying degrees of wetness, while the Filter knob adds a touch of subtractive synthesis by letting you cut high frequencies as you turn the dial right.
Here are a bunch of videos of the Walrus Audio Slö for you.
The Slö Multi Texture Reverb allows players to create lush, modulated, sleepy and ambient soundscapes. Stocked with three different algorithms specifically designed to invoke textures for bringing dreams from your subconscious to reality.
The toggle switch allows three different reverb modes, Dark (Lower Octave), Rise (Ambient Swell) and Dream (Latching Pad), while secondary functions on the switch change between different wave shapes for the modulation on the reverb trail.
Combine deep modulation with long washy trails and experience, the Slö.
ALGORITHMIS:
DARK – Add a lower octave to your reverb trail. Here you’ll create deep and wide atmospheric sounds and channel nightmarish soundscapes. X knob sets the level of a -1 octave signal that feeds the reverb.
RISE – This is an auto-swell reverb for beautiful cinematic swells. Don’t rush it. Let it breathe and gently wake up. X knob sets the amount of time it takes the reverb to swell in after a note is played. Set lower for shorter rise times and higher for longer rise times.
DREAM – Here is a lush reverb with a latching pad function. Press the sustain switch to latch signal. Experiment with the X knob to add vibrato over the pad. Press sustain again and pad will decrescendo according to where decay knob is set. X knob sets the depth of vibrato applied to the reverb trail.
The Slö also features 3 different wave shapes accessible by holding down bypass while switching the algorithm toggle.
SINE – Smooth and even pitch up and down modulation.
WARP – Asymmetric pitch up modulation similar to a warped record.
SINK – Asymmetric pitch down modulation for sinking detune similar to a Bigsby.
MOMENTARY FUNCTIONS:
Bypass: When the switch is in off position, press and hold to temporarily activate the effect to add a moment of reverb texture. Releasing the switch turns the effect off, and fades it out.
Sustain: When pressed, the decay switch ramps up the reverb trail to maximum creating long dreamy reverb trail and then ramps back down to the decay knob setting when released. In the “Dream” algorithm, the sustain switch is latching. Press it once to capture and sustain the current reverb decay for extremely long pad-like sounds. Press it again to let the reverb trail taper off, based on the position of the decay knob.
TRAILS MODE:
The Slö can run in trails or no trails mode. In trails mode, when you turn the pedal off, the reverb decay dies off naturally. In no trails mode, the decay is abruptly cut off when you turn the pedal off. To toggle between either mode, hold down the bypass switch for 1 second while applying power to the pedal. Unplug power and repeat to toggle to the other mode.
