Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Mentha.Works evolves highly stylised and unique Monk Echo + Reverb pedal with Celestial Human Formant Voices, Presets, and smart Macro control and LED display
Key Points
Mentha.Works Monk Echo + Reverb, from founders Toms Lazdovskis and Matiss Tazans, is a character echo+reverb inspired by Baltic choirs and mystical spiritual spaces, offering an angelic Human Formant Voicing and distinctive modern aesthetic.
It packs an 8×8 LED Macro Display and big macro control to morph eight dual parameters, stereo I/O, 1 ms–10 s delay, infinite reverb decay/repeats, reverse delay, granular reverb pitch shifting, modulation, distortion, degradation, reverb pre‑delay, tap and pressure footswitches, expression/CV input, and MIDI in/out/thru (8 presets onboard, 127 via MIDI). Power: 9V DC @ 300 mA; USB‑C option.
Dimensions 187×142×59 mm, 1.1 kg. For electrical or modding questions consult a qualified tech. As of the article, the price was £279.
Set up by 2 former Gamechanger Audio alumni - Toms Lazdovskis and Matiss Tazans - with a Team steeped in Darkglass Electronics / Neural DSP and Marshall.
The pedigree and provenance is pretty clear here, and Menha.Works have understandably come up with an ulra modern killer aesthetic for heir very unique new Monk Echo + Reverb. The Monk Echo is inspired by Baltic Choirs and Mystical Spiritual Spaces.
Apart from the gorgeous design here, the Monk Echo has a unique Human Formant Voicing - somewhat angelic and celestial therefore. But also a very unique Macro Control and cool 8 x 8 LED Display which Macro Knob allows you to morph and transform the output - impacting all 8 core dual parameters with a single gesture.
I’ve come across it a little late for it to feature fully in this year’s output, but I will hope to grab one fairly early next year. It can go in on the Strymon BigSky MX Slot. I’ve mostly been using the Cornerstone Nucleo of late - so it will be cool to get a different character Echo + Reverb on the board. I just love how this looks and function. And the choice of those format angelic voices seems inspired and very fitting for this kind of pedal!
It falls under the class of character Echo + Reverb rather than the individual Genre Workstation Pedals that I’m used too. This will surely take up the main Reverb slot on the board, which currently houses the Strymon BigSky MX.
From an observational perspective I love near enough everything about this pedal - including how you light up each of the key effects and parameter sections. Seems very well thought out - with a singularly brilliant core mechanic - and amazing Macro control - that’s quite the achievement for a first pedal - so distinct!
Controls - wet/dry | ○ input level, reverb/delay mix | ○ reverb pre-delay, delay time (1ms > 10s) | ○ reverse delay, feedback | ○ reverse grains, monk voice | ○ voice character, select vowel | ○ auto vowel glide, modulation | ○ fluctuation, distortion | ○ degradation, active | ○ macro pressure footswitch, presets | ○ tap tempo footswitch, 8 x 8 LED Macro Display, big macro control | ○ settings.
This is a fully stereo pedal, with 8 presets onboard, 127 via full MIDI Din In / Out ports. Current draw just 300ma off a 9V DC [-] supply.
Key Features
- grand reverb
- 1 millisecond to 10 second delay
- monk voice vowels
- manual or automatic responsive vowel selection
- male, female and children voice characters
- infinite reverb decay and delay repeats
- granular reverb pitch shifting
- reverse delay
- static or responsive modulation
- distortion – from mild to brutal
- degradation – musical artefacts and signal dropouts
- reverb pre-delay
- macro control over all knobs at once
- pressure sensitive footswitch
- tap tempo
- variable delay stereo width
- master low and high frequency filters
- stereo signal path
- expression pedal input assignable to any single and multiple knobs at once
- control voltage response via expression input
- 8 presets onboard, 127 presets in total via midi
- full midi control, midi in, midi out and thru
- classic pedal power or usb-c power inlet
- straight forward front panel controls
- advanced system settings for any possible setup scenario
- power : 9V DC [-] 300mA
- dimensions : 187 x 142 x 59 mm
- weight : 1.1kg
- rrp / map : €317 / £279 / $369 [introductory offer]
Read up more on the mentha.works website.
Order one direct from the mentha.works webstore - €317 / £279 / $369
Demos
