Klowra's second wave of effects is led by the excellent precision-honed and super versatile Verdict Four-Voice Polyphonic Octave Generator

Jan 28, 202608:00 by

Stefan Karlsson

HarmonizerKlowraModulationOctaverPitch+-

The Klowra Verdict definitely sits within POG territory - but with a much broader set of features and functions - including 2 variations of Freeze and Ramp Hold effects on the Footswitch.

Along with numerous shaping elements to get even more out of those octaves. Including Low Pass Filter and Attack and Release speeds.

This is a very finely honed high-fidelity device that performs superbly however you configure those settings.

The Controls

Controls - +OCT [Detune], +2 OCT [RampATK], DIRECT (DRY) [RampRLS], -OCT [-2 OCT], SWELL (Fast > Slow Attack) [Low Cut], FREQ (LPF Sharpness / Brightness) [Q], LED BUTTON - Alternative Settings and FOOTSWITCH MODES - FREEZE / ACTIVE FREEZE / RAMP / ACTIVE RAMP (Power-up Settings).

Ports - USB-C, 9V DC [-] 250mA, Mono TS In, TRS Expression and Control, TS Effect Out, TS Analog Dry Out.

Swell and synth-like Filter functions provide versatile options for shaping the attack and texture of your sound, while Detune and Low Cut add thickness and tightness. Adjusting these parameters opens up virtually limitless tonal possibilities, from violin and bass to organ and synthesizer emulations.

The Verdict has Analog Dry-Through, selectable True Bypass/Buffered Bypass, and an independent dry-signal output.

The LED Button lights up to indicate which Power-Up Mode is active :

[WHITE] - FREEZE
[BLUE] - ACTIVE FREEZE
[ORANGE] - RAMP
[VIOLET] - ACTIVE RAMP

We have the following Power-Up Options available to us :

BYPASS & TRAIL MODES : True Bypass / Buffered Bypass (Trails On)
FREEZE RELEASE SWITCHING : Fast Release / Slow Release
RAMP LOCK : Momentary / Latched
DRY PATH MODE : Analog Dry-Through / Processed Dry
FREEZE LOCK : Momentary / Latched
ENVELOPE FILTER : OFF/ON
LED BRIGHTNESS : Dimmer / Brighten

The Verdict in Use

The Verdict Four-Voice Polyphonic Octave Generator is very much about balancing those 4 voices (+ Oct, +2 Oct, -Oct, -2 Oct, and Direct / Dry. The Verdict generates violin, organ, synth sounds etc. with ease. As well as adding harmonic textures to any and all gain pedals.

At times this is very much a safecracker style operation - with very precisely balanced settings - with really narrow sweetspots that need to be dialled in by ear. I spent a very long time making tiny tweaks to my settings to perfect their combined output. I spent a good hour on finessing those settings to that they were relatively easily repeatable - it's about learning how to get the most out of this pedal.

Tracking is excellent, and for me it delivers a very precise and vibrant output - which really needs to be dialled in finely for optimal output.

Some Preferred Setting

I did a lot of experimentation to get as wide a variety of outputs as possible. I was trying to also generate a sort of Accordion tone - which I thought should be possible - but I will need to come back to that - as 30 minutes of tweaking did not get me nearly close enough!

Generally if you use all 4 voicings together you get some sort of Organ sounds, with just 2 in play you can get cool Violin / Cello and Sub-Synth effects. I created Violin / Cello, Bach|Church Organ and 'Brassy' sounds - per the visual.

Violin / Cello - needs judicious use of the LPF - to get the right tonality. Lower strings are in Cello territory, and upper strings are Violin!
Bach / Church Organ - almost the default setting - in using all 4 voicings. I quite like to raise +OCT to for a little more accentuation - you can fine tune that core sound in several variegated directions - while the 4 voices - almost always seem to sound organ-like.
'Brassy' - a cool sort of emulation of a Brass Section sound - not exactly authentic - while my texture definitely has the right sort of Brassy timbre - for short stabs!