Paradox Effects Release Smart Sample & Hold Envelope-Follower Enabled Phaser - The Carmesí

I’ve long been a fan of Northern Mexico outfit Paradox Effects - and still have two of their pedals on my wishlist - the Futura Multiparametric Envelope Chorus, and the Terran Re-Voicing Low-End-Enhanced Overdrive.

Paradox have been on strong form this year already with the release of their Obsidiana Octave Layering Engine, and now the 8-controls Carmesí Phase Modulation Artifact Pedal. All of their pedals are quite a unique take on each genre - and they typically deliver something quite distinct and a little bit different and innovative.

2021 is turning out to be quite a year for new Phasers - and while I personally generally favour the compact enclosure formats - I’m not above looking out for cool Vertical BB-Size ones too - per the Carmesí. While I tend to feel that the extended size format usually deserves dual-footswitches for some enhanced dynamic playback action.

I already have what is most probably going to be my favourite phaser pedal released this year - which launch is currently delayed until May 27th. While the Carmesí is quite evidently a fantastic candidate too.

As mentioned, it comes with 8 controls - 6 regular knobs and 2 mini push-buttons as follows :

FASOR : Controls the level of the phaser effect

DIRECTA : Controls the direct / dry signal amplitude

SENDERO : Is an envelope follower Mode being processed by a Sample & Hold circuit, generating phase shifting steps per your own guitar dynamics and pick-attack 

4/8 ETAPAS : 4 Stage phase movement gives you warmth and up and down phasing, while the 8 Stage effect can get more throaty and textured

RESONANCIA : This control has the capacity to increase the vocality of the phaser, and the phaser’s feedback

VELOCIDAD : Speed of the modulating wave / speed of the Sample & Hold in Sendero Mode

INTENSIDAD : Depth of the modulating wave / sensitivity in Sendero mode

ENFOQUE : An arrangement of low pass filters that sculpts the colour of the mix and the regeneration’s character of the effect (resonance tone filter)

EXP : TRS input for an expression pedal, assigned to the Velocidad knob, and can be used to set the max and min range

The Carmesí essentially delivers 4 different playback Modes - 4 or 8 Stage Phasing - with and without the Sample & Hold Envelope Follower ’Sendero Mode’. Obviously the more Stages deliver further textures and intensity, as does the Sample & Hold option - and you get some unique ebbing and flowing swirling phase as a result.

This is for sure a great sounding and innovative phaser which should find a lot of takers. Thus far down as a nice-to-have for me, but I may be persuaded to elevate to essential status eventually - we’ll see how the year pans out! The Carmesí Phaser is available right now via the Paradox Effects Webstore for $200.

Are you looking to get in a new phaser or two this year like me?