Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
The 'King of Tremolos' - the Intrepid Audio Crossflow is now available at Pedal Jungle in the UK
I have come across the Crossflow Modulating Stereo Tremolo & Expression Controller a few time now. Reinforced by my friend Henry Kaiser - who pointed out that this was a recent enhanced take on the Diffractor Soundings Arboretum Tremolo.
The Arboretum has 9 x Knobs, 3 x Toggle-switched, and 3 x Footswitches, compared to the Crossflow’s 7 x Knobs, 6 x multi-function push-buttons, and 3 x Footswitches also. The Crossflow has a little more to it, looks a little cleaner with its control topology, and a touch more modern. It also benefits from 4 onboard Presets. Overall it seems like the Arboretum was the pioneer with this kind of format - but the Crossflow has added to, evolved and enhanced that format.
I’ve always said you need to decide on ’Your Lane’ for different effect categories - for instance - deciding how much pedalboard real-estate you are comfortable yielding to a particular genre / pedal - and how expansive you prefer that pedal to be. If you’re a massive tremolo fan and place a lot of importance on that effect - then you would happily welcome this potent all-round solution. Others will prefer something as a simple Boss TR-2, and yet others some kind of in-between mid-level solution - like say the Moth Electric M.Stellatarum 32-Combination Multi-Mode Optical Tremolo.
I don’t see the point in having an elaborate genre workstation pedal on the board - unless I’m using enough of its features to justify allotting this much space to the Tremolo effect alone.
I’ve not definitively decided on the Crossflow yet - I’m very impressed with it for sure - but it would take over a number of slots and kick a number of pedals off the board. And I’m not sure I would use enough of the pedal to justify its acquisition and place on the board. I applied similar criteria to the recent Matt Bellamy 007 ’Blackie’ Manson Guitar feature - which apart from its high price, it has so many specialist features onboard that surely only Matt himself could put to the best use. You need to rationalise costs and practicalities as well as the expansive feature set and the sounds generated.
You need to be able to work with that device with relative ease - how well you gel with a particular pedal is a big part of that pedal’s appeal!
CONTROLS - TREM SHAPE : Ramp Up / Non-linear Concave Down / Ramp Up / Lumps / Sinewave / Triangle / Pulsewave / Narrow Pulse / Inverted Pulse / Random, TREM RATE : 1:1 / 3:4 / 2:3 / 1:2 / 1:3 / 1:4 / 1:6 / 1:8. TREM DEPTH, EXP OUT [Trem/LFO] : Heel > Toe, VOLUME [Stereo Ø] : +10dB, LFO SHAPE : Singular } Logarithmic / Linear / Exponential : 2-Way } Logarithmic / Linear / Exponential / Sine / Square / Random / Sequence, ENDPOINTS [hold to save] A (+) Button, B (-) Button, CLEAR [Step] Button, LFO RATE [Tap Ratio] : 32 > 16 > 12 > 8 > 6 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1.5 > 1, PRESET Button [hold to save[ : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4, TRIGGER MODE Button : Non Stop / Round Trip / One Way / Jump A/B. TAP Sync Button : Trem Rate / LFO Rate, BYPASS Footswitch [hold : preset], TRIGGER Footswitch, TAP Footswitch [hold : alt mode].
REAR PORTS - 1/4" TRS Stereo In, 1/4" TS Left Out [Mono], 1/4" TS Right Out, CTRL Input, EXP / CV Output, USB-C, 9V DC [-] 175mA.
This is an incredible tremolo - with all the fluttery amplitude manipulation you could expect. There does not seem to be any Harmonic Tremolo option onboard - which is my favourite sub-genre of Tremolo.
"An onboard 8-step sequencer enables you to program rhythmic modulation patterns that range from simple pulses to complex, shifting textures. Random tremolo and LFO options add controlled unpredictability, while multiple trigger modes allow the pedal to respond dynamically to how and when you want movement introduced. With onboard presets, firmware updates and full stereo routing, Crossflow is designed to be as straightforward or as intricate as your music demands."
You will need to weigh up your own criteria - where for my preferences - I'm not sure I see one of these in my future - of course never say never! While for my friend Henry - for whom Tremolo is such an important effect - this is the perfect pedal for his board.
I very much admire this pedal - it's beautifully constructed and laid out - it looks fantastic!
This is now available in the UK for the very first time courtesy of my friend Paul's Pedal Jungle Store.
The Crossflow Tremolo goes for £339.99 - which is actually excellent value for what you're getting here.
The ability to combine Tremolo and LFO Waveshapes leads to wholly unique fluttery outputs - and then add in the 8 step sequencers - and this is a much more expansive effect. If Tremolo is one of your most important effects - then you probably need one of these. A killer execution for sure!
Features & Specs
- Analog signal path, digitally controlled
- Tap tempo (with single tap to re-sync)
- 4 Presets
- 5 Trigger modes
- 8-step sequencer of tremolo and/or expression output settings
- Random tremolo
- Random LFO (sample and hold)
- Stereo input, stereo output (SISO) or mono input, stereo output (MISO) options
- Stereo spread
- Expression/CV input and output
- Accepts external clock with PPQN options (not MIDI)
- An external switch can be assigned to 1 of 5 controls
- Buffered or relay bypass
- +10 dB clean boost
- Firmware updates via USB drag and drop
- Overvoltage and reverse voltage protection
- Low output noise and distortionPower supply: 9V DC, center negative, rated for at least 175 mA (not included)
- Audio input : TS mono or TRS stereo
- Audio outputs : TS unbalanced or TRS impedance-balanced
- Input impedance : 1 Meg ohm
- Output impedance : 150 ohm
- Volume : +10 dB at max
- CV In / Out : 0 - 5V
- Expression input reference voltage : 5V on ring
- THD+N: 0.01%
- Frequency response : +/- 0.5 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
- Dimensions : 5.72" x 4.94" x 2.2"
- MAP / RRP : $379 / £339.99
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