2024 Best New Spatial, Immersive and Time-Based Effects of the Year

Controls - REVERB } Mix, Decay, Size (Duration & Density), Tone; GRAINS } Mix, Number, Size, Time; SWITCHES } Freeze / Loop, Mono / Stereo, Root / Octave; FOOTSWITCHES } Freeze / Loop, Bypass.

This one was always a nice to have for me - I was intrigued by its feature set - and really liked the look of the original blue colourway - I'm not as taken by the limited Retro Series tan colours - but I'm slowly warming to it. This is a really distinctive textural Granular / White Noise Reverb - which delivers unique kind of lo-fi textures- where you can further smear and freeze the resulting output - here's a few in this category that share similar lo-fi sensibilities - and they all sound really good. I'm delighted I got this in my Chase Bliss Mystery Box, otherwise I don't think it would have entered the refrence collection quite as quickly - the perfect Mistery Box pedal really

Outer Surface Controls - Dry, Wet, Low, High.
 
Internal Controls - Preamp Gain ±, Pad : < 0dB | -10dB >, Fade In : No / Yes, Tail : True Bypass / Reverb Tails, Fade In Time ±.

A great all-in-one evolution of Anasounds' Element Spring Tank + Controller Series. Here where you have a further 3rd spring essentially added to the Le Bon spring tank - and all necessary controls on the one single enclosure. Looks as good as it sounds - really classy!

Controls - DELAY I } Mix, Delay Time (30ms - 1500ms), Glide, Feedback, Mod Rate, Glide Waveform : Sine / Square / Random; DELAY II } Mix, Delay Time (30ms - 1500ms), Glide, Feedback, Mod Rate, Glide Waveform : Sine / Square / Random; CRUSH } Sample Rate Reduction 40kHz - 270Hz, Crush Mix; <<< Delay II Output into Delay I Input, FOOTSWITCHES : Overload Footswitch (Max Feedback / Oscillation), Bypass Footswitch.

A distinct Cascaded Ambient Dual Delay with additional modulation and bircrushing - a fantastic shoe gazer style effect.

Controls - LEVEL = MASTER VOLUME; DELAY } Mix, Time; LFO } Speed, Wave(-form) : Triangle > Squiggly Saw > Square, LFO Intensity, Wave Depth, LFO Switch : On/Off, Mode : Heavy (Intense) / Normal; FUZZ TEXTURE; FLUTTER } Pitch Modulation Flutter, Flutter Switch : On/Off; FEEDBACK MICRO LOOPER } Feedback Intensity, Feedback Looper Polarity : v/^ Footswitch function End Loop / Hold Loop, Feedback Footswitch; Right Engage / Bypass Footswitch.

Blind Panic delivers some really unusual but cool quirky delays - and this Fuzzy Delay combination is not of its best. I've still to start of my adventure with this cool progressive brand - perhaps 2025 will be my year of full final engagement.

Controls : Level / Depth, Feedback / Rate, Time (Max 800 [Stereo] / 1600 [Mono]) / Hi Cut, Offset : Off > 100ms : Eights : Dotted Eights, Hold Footswitch to enter Tap Tempo, Carryover : On/Off on rear, Midi In (Tempo).

A really cool miniaturisation of the Boss SDE-3000 Dual Digital Delay - with some significant input from my friend Matt Knight - for the smart Stereo Channel Offset Control. A really smart and gorgeous, pristine sounding dual digital delay - with a very unique sounding modulation - where a little goes a long way! A really clever compact device and well worth of runner-up accolade in this category.

Controls - Effect Volume, Gain, Delay Time (40ms > 600ms), Feedback / Repeats, Modulation Frequency / Speed, Modulation Intensity, LPF High Frequency Cutoff.

A smart analog voiced PT2399 Delay with up to 600ms of cool modulated delay - and where you can signifincalty smooth off the top end of the profile for a darker more lo-fi sound. Great sounding, neat mono delay.

Controls - LFO } Space (LFO Depth), Time (LFO Speed), Waveforms : 1-8 (ramp up, ramp down, square wave, triangle, sine, sweep, random (levels)); DRY } Dry Level; TremVerb (Skitter) } TremVerb Level, Sway (TremVerb Voice) : UP SwayVerb / DOWN Natural, Trem (TremVerb Modulation) : UP Phase Cancellation Trem / MIDDLE Tremolo / DOWN No Tremolo; SwayVerb (Woozy) } Cheer (SwayVerb Voice) : UP Tape and LFO / MIDDLE LFO Only / DOWN No Tape No LFO, Hangover (SwayVerb Delay Time / Tape Range, Backwash (SwayVerb Feedback), SwayVerb (Pitch-Modulated Reverb Level); Left Footswitch : SwayVerb Feedback, Right Footswitch : Effect Bypass.

A smart combination of Champion Leccy's Skitter (Reverbolo / Tremoverb) and Woozy (Wibbly Modulated Sway Haunted Delay/Reverb) pedals - for a very unusual Reverb Combination - which combines a number od different effects and sounds within the one format - for unusually twised and warped soundscapes!

Controls - Mix [Bypass Time], Program [MIDI Channel] : New Tape / Old Tape / Vintage Tape / Dual Tape, Control [Global Time] - variously Wow Modulation / W&F + Saturation / Tap Divisions, Repeats [Trails], Playback Speed [Bend Speed], Time [Bend Timer] : Min 300ms | Max 2660ms, Playback Direction : Reverse / Both (Parallel) / Forward, Tap-Tempo / Hold for Bend Time Footswitch, Bypass / Div Footswitch, Press Both Footswitches to scroll through 3 Presets.

Really smart stereo multi-directional Tape style delay with lots of clever extras. I was due to get one of these in this year - but it did not quite happen - definitely one for next year!

Controls - Input Control, EQ : Bass > Treble, Echo Volume, Tube Level Magic Eye Indicator, Length of Swell, Drum Age, Drum Speed, Playback Heads : 1-4, Feedback Buttons : 1-4, OLED Screen, Select [Save], Option Up, Option Down, Swell / Repeats / Load Footswitch, On / Off / Favourite Footswitch. Addition Micro 'Clicker' included for Tap Tempo.

A fantastic Deluxe take on the Boonar Echorec style magnetic delay - with proper Tube Preamp and extras - a great engineering achievement, while it's a mono only device - and therefore not compatible with my rig!

Controls - Delay Mix, Feedback / Repeats, Delay Time : 1000ms, Modulation, TAP/Mode : Quarter / Eighth / Dotted Eighth and Tape / Harmonic / Reverse Modes, On/Off Footswitch, Tap Tempo Footswitch / Press-hold for Momentary Tempo Doubler.

A more textured companion delay to the Memory Lane - darker, deeper and with more intense flavours. Really great sounding worthy new delay, but alas mono only and not compatible with my rig - so no a target for me!

Controls - LOOP (9 x MICROLOOPERS) } Length (of Buffer < 15s), Chance (% Probability / Propensity of distant past playback, and Buffer scan), Multiplier / Extender : x2 / x1 / x4, Loop Footswitch, Press-Hold Loop Footswitch for up to 10s of Freeze); LEVEL & FILTER } Master Level, Filter Frequency, Filter Type : Band Pass / Low Pass / High Pass; DELAY } Delay Time (1ms > 2000ms), Regen / Feedback / Repeats, Delay Mode : Modulation / Clean Digital Delay / Upward Pitch-shifted Delay, Delay Footswitch, Press-Hold Delay Footswitch to clear buffer.

A pretty unique 9 random layers Microlooper with accompanying Multimode Delay. An even more evolved pedal in the MOOD kind of space - while it's Mono only, so again not really suitable for my rig. I would quite like this as a textural device - while it's not really a major priority for me!

Controls - Time, Mode : EQD / !¡ / DBA, Span, Filter, Preset Save / Recall, Preset : 1-6.

I wasn't that enamoured with the MKI pedal when that arrived during the promotion of The Pedal Movie - I was kind of dazzled by the Chase Bliss - Bliss Factory at the time. While I've since met Jamie and Julie at the Camden Guitar Guitar - and was totally wowed by this pitch-shifting resonant delay then - even though it is a mono only device - it really sounds amazing and unique!

Controls - Mode (3-way toggle on top edge) : 1 Metallic and Clangy Plate-like Reverb / 2 Dynamic, Touch-Senstive Reverb / 3 Spring Reverb, Feedback (>Oscillation), Dry > Wet Mix, Max Feedback Footswitch (Momentary), On / Bypass Footswitch.

Daniel Thornhill's reworked AI-Infused Reverb adds a gorgeous 3rd Spring Reverb Voicing for the MKII iteration. Three stellar reverbs onboard - where all of them  sound superb. Obviously a mono device - so not entirely suited to my rig - but still sounds hugely impressive.

Controls - Level [Oscillation], Repeats [Freeze], Time (between Delay Repeats), Voice (Tone of Repeats), Boost, Waveforms : Ramp Up / Ramp Down / Square / Triangle / Sine / Lumps / Stepped / Random , Depth (Primary Modulation), Speed [Tap] (Primary Modulation), Dry Kill : Wet / Off, Depth (Secondary Modulation), Speed (Secondary Modulation), Moment (Trails On/Off), Primary Modulation Depth / Intensity : Medium / Low / High, Auto Latching/Momentary Left Footswitch for Non-Trail Delays, Auto Latching/Momentary Right Footswitch for Trail Delays.

I was hugely impressed with Hangman fx in a recent Range Overview feature - really loving its 3 compact gain pedals in particular, but overall being most impressed by this incredible Dual Modulation Echo Monster - which has so many smart features onboard. Again it's a mono only device so not particularly suited to my needs - but it sounds amazing, and does some really interesting things!

Controls - Y SIDE } Param, Time, Algo (Globals / Swap / Save), Mix / Dynamics; X SIDE } Algo (Options / Swap / Save), Time, Param, XOV Crossover, Mix; FOOTSWITCHES } A/Y [Bank Down] B/X [Bank Up] Control / Tap Tempo.

GFI's replacement for its Specular Tempus workstation - the Solis Ventus - is even more spectacular - while it does lean quite a bit more into the delay side of things - with 15 Delay Algorithms, plus 40 Second Looper, but only 9 Reverbs. So my number 1 Reverb choice here delivers a lot more flavour than this one - which is obviously stronger on the Delays. The device looks gorgeous and really high quality, and remains a lot of the smarts that make the GFI Synesthesia so special. This one has been well worth the wait, and is a worthy runner-up winner for this selection!

Controls - DELAY } Mix, Repeats, EQ, Time (50ms > 1000ms), Divisions : Quarter / Eighth / Dotted Eighth, Mode : Analog / Reverse / Digital, Bypass Footswitch, Tap Tempo Footswitch; MODULATION } Mod Rate, Mod Depth, Mod Type : Chorus / Off / Vibrato.

A sleek and handy 3-Mode Tap Tempo and Modulated Delay - sounds great, but is only a mono device - so not particularly suitable for my rig. Great for players looking for a startup delay though - as it gives you all the flavour you need, in a really neat format.

Controls - Time (1ms - 1500ms)[High Pass Filter], Level [Saturate - Preamp], Feedback [Tone], Mode : Halo / Quarter / Dotted Eighth, On/Off Footswitch, Tap Tempo / Freeze Hold Footswitch [also Press-Hold and then turn the 3 knobs for Secondary Params].

A streamlined Andy Timmons Halo Dual Echo Device - in a more vintage aesthetic enclosure with vintage 1960's RCA Bakelite knobs and crystal jewel style LED lens. I obviously have the super slick Light Bending editition of full fat Halo, so this cutback edition is somewhat surplus to requirements for me - but I understand how some prefer it to the more feature right small original compact edition!

Controls - MODES } Sine Tremolo + Spring Reverb / Harmonic Tremolo + Plate Reverb / Pitch Vibrato + Plate Reverb; MASTER LEVEL; TREMOLO } Rate, Depth, Alt+depth = Level Boost, Tremolo Footswitch; REVERB } Alt+Rate = Tone, Alt+Level = Decay, Reverb Footswitch.

Supposedly Keeley's most hi-fidelity pedal to date - a kinda sorta streamlined take on the Keeley Hydra, but somewhat differentiated. This is a little more distinct than then Halo / Halo Core pairing - this is obviously a subset of the Hydra in many ways - while it does have its own distinct aspects to it also. And it of course share a similar aspect to the Halo Core - this one is available in both Silver and Black editions!

Default Controls - Echo 2 : On / Off, Trails : On / Off, Delay (50ms - 1000ms), Modulation Intensity, Voice : -1, +1, +2 Octave Blend, Regen (Repeats), Division : Quarter / Dotted Eighth / Eighth / Triplets / Eighth + Dotted Eighth, Mix (Effect Level), Ctr Side Switch : Tap/Exp / Ctr / Audio, Engage Footswitch - hold for 1s for Tap Tempo.
 
Echo 2 Alt : + Delay = Hard/Soft Flashing, + MOD = Symmetrical / Synced Echo 1 & 2 Regeneration On/Of, + Voice = Stereo CW / Mono CCW, + Regen = Echo 2 Regen Increase/Decrease, + Divisions = Echo 2 Divisions (1/8s = 1/16s), + Mix = Echo 2 Mix.
 
Trails Alt : + Delay = 1/4 Note Tempo / Solid, + Modulation  = Depth & Release Trails for Rate, + Voice = High Cut Filter : 12kHz > 2 kHz > 200Hz, + Regen = Reverb Decay, + Division = Compression Threshold Low > Hight, + Mix = Reverb Mix.

A really cool expansive U2 Joshua Tree inspired Stereo Delay & Reverb - so somewhat TC 2290 adjacent - with an incredible feature set for such a compact edition. I had intended to get this one in this year - but it didn't quite happen yet. One for next year!

Controls - Time (553ms Tape / 402ms Analog / 1000ms Digital), Feedback (Repeats), Wet Mix, Mode : Tape / Analog / Digital, Hold Footswitch for Tap-Tempo.

Looks like this one is just a re-skin of the Nux Edge Delay - albeit in a much more elegant looking enclosure. It seemingly has the exact same feature set and specifications - in being a really smart mini full-stereo deal with 3 modes onboard!

Controls - Filter (< HPF | LPD >). Pitch 1 & Pitch 2 (independent shifters with -2OCT > +2OCT), Crush (< Sample Redux | Overdrive >, Lag (Pre-Delay), Multiply (Feedback), Decay, Volume, Mix, Stereo Spread, AUX Footswitch (Infinite Sustain / Close LPF / Set Pitches to +1 OCT), Bypass Footswitch. With some secondary global controls too. 

An expanded take on the formerly separate 3-Mode Textured Sounscape Reverb - where with this new Stereo edition you can actually blend together each of those 3 elements all at the same time - Filter, Pitch 1 & 2, and Bitcrushing. A really cool sounding reverb for sure - and one which is very much on my target list for next year!

Controls - MAIN } Repeats, Mix, Time; WARBLE (Modulation) } Intensity, Oscillation, Rate, Active Footswitch, Hold Footswitch.

Skreddy's already superb modulated delay gets a further Oscillation control for an ultimate Infinity edition. One of the best sounding modulated delay pedals out there - the modulation here really sounds superb - this is however simply a mono delay, so alas not suitable for my own rig!

Controls - Type (Dual) : Room / Hall / Chamber / Plate / Spring / Impulse / Cloud / Shimmer / Bloom / Chorale (Formant) / Magneto / Nonlinear (Swoosh / Reverse / Ramp / Gate / Gauss / Bounce), Value (Param / Back / Global), Decay, Pre-Delay, Tone, Mod, Param 1, Param 2, Mix, A - Bank Down - B - Bank Up - C (Infinite).

My big winner for this selection - and simply one of the most impressive Reverb Workstation units made to date - its combination of dual-engine deployment, Impulse Response and advanced algorithms - with elegant control interface makes this super appealing. It's much easier to get stuck into than say the Meris Mercury X - which is in some ways more of a Sound Design engine. I really love my new BigSky MX - while it hasn't been universally acclaimed - with some still insisting that the original unit's algorithms sound more pristine - which I don't get at all. I really like this one - while I also retain quite a soft spot for the Empress Reverb, Poly Verbs, and Source Audio Ventris too! The BigSky MX is a worthy winner here for sure - and is by most measures significantly the best Reverb in this selection.

Controls :

White [Universal] : 1 Input Gain | 2 Chain Mix | 3 Delay Mix | 4 Drive Mix | 5 Drive Amnt | 6 Reverb Mix | 7 Output Gain
Magenta [Reverb]  : 1 Pre Gain | 2 Size (Reverb) | 3 Damp (Top End) | 4 Pre Delay | 5 HPF (Low End) | 6 Width (Stereo) | 7 Post Gain
Amber [Delay] : 1 Delay Mix | 2 Time (Delay) | 3 (Feedback) | 4 Type
Red [Drive] : 1 Drive Mix | 2 Pre Gain | 3 Drive Amnt | 4 Asym (Clipping) | 5 Type

A really unique and unusual Super Massive Blackhole style Reverberator with Delay and Drive / Saturation too. A really smart and expansive feature set in a fantastic overall forma - where the only weakness here really is lack of Analog Dry-Thru!

Controls - Type : DELAY } Analog / Bucket Brigade Analog / Faux Tape Echo / Echo Space / Tape|Multi-Head / Digital; REVERB } Shimmer / Plate / Spring / Room / Hall, Time [Shimmer], Feedbac [Decay], Delay [Tone], Modulation Depth [Rate], Reverb Mix [Tone], Bypass [Alt] Footswitch, Preset/Save Button : 1-8, Tap Tempo Footswitch.

Brian Wampler has a stab at a Source Audio Collider style EchoVerb pedal - where the Collider was stronger on the Reverb side, while the Catacombs leans more into the delays - which the similar but larger GFI Solis Ventus does too. I still feel that most of the competition will be around the slimmer format - so Collider vs Catacombs. The GFI Solis Ventus is something somewhat bigger and has a little more about it - while overall I feel that will appeal to a slightly different audience.

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