The Old Blood Noise Endeavors Parting, created in collaboration with harpist influencer Emily Hopkins, is a sophisticated and experimental modulation/glitch delay/reverb hybrid designed for generative, evolving soundscapes. It masterfully blurs the lines between glitchy rhythmic delay, atmospheric reverb, and dynamic modulation.
The pedal is organized into three core sections:
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Modulation: Offers lush tremolo or pitch vibrato with seven LFO shapes (including envelope-following and random) synced to the master clock.
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Glitch Delay/Reverb: The creative heart. Chance randomizes what audio enters the delay line; Smear adds diffusion for washed-out, reverb-like textures; Glitch creates rhythmic or random pitch-shifted octave artifacts.
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Dissolve: A single knob that reduces sample rate (for bit-crushed degradation) or reverses and halves the audio, creating stuttering, broken textures.
Additional depth comes from internal trimmers for Mix, a post-effect high/low-pass filter, and Time range. An Aux footswitch can be assigned as a tap tempo, clock halver, or preset switch, while an expression input provides real-time parameter morphing.
In practice, the Parting excels at transforming simple lines into complex, living ambient beds, randomized rhythmic patterns, and decaying, digital-style textures. Its extensive MIDI implementation (via 3.5mm TRS) allows for deep integration and preset recall.
While its array of non-standard controls presents a learning curve, the Parting is an incredibly musical and inspiring tool for composers and performers seeking to move beyond traditional delay into the realm of generative, glitch-inflected ambience. It’s a standout collaboration that reflects both OBNE’s innovative ethos and Hopkins’ textural artistry.
