With its own unique take on textural modulations, this is a tweakable pedal for those looking to take their tone off-piste.
Pros
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Complex modulations in a compact pedal.
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Unique interactions between the two modulations.
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Expression pedal control of secondary modulation.
Cons
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A little on the expensive side.
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Old Blood Noise Endeavors describes its new Visitor pedal as a ‘Parallel Multi-Modulator’. It runs two modulation effects (Primary and Secondary) in parallel, the idea being that they interact to offer a range of shifting sounds and textures.
For the Primary effect you get a choice of tremolo, chorus or phaser selected via a toggle switch, and there are standard Depth and Rate knobs to adjust the effect.
The Secondary effect can either be tremolo or chorus and there is a single knob to adjust this. If you keep that knob at minimum you can simply have your Primary effect, but advancing it adds and intensifies the Secondary effect. The knob adjusts four parameters simultaneously.
First up, the volume ramps up to unity and stays there for the rest of the sweep. Depth does something similar so it doesn’t get out of control. Rate increases but is also influenced by the Primary LFO for some extra to and fro. A delay offset also increases giving a much more ambient sound in its further reaches.
(Image credit: Future / Olly Curtis)
Two more knobs adjust the overall sound: a Mix knob sets the dry/wet balance and a Regen knob controls overall feedback, feeding the sum of the two modulations back to the input.
Also Try...
(Image credit: Boss)
• Boss MD-500
Here we get 28 different modulation algorithms. An A/B Simul mode offers the ability to use two patches at once with series/parallel connection and mixed or split A/B output. • Joyo Vision This pedal features two channels of modulation that you can mix and blend in parallel or series modes, each channel offering a range of nine selectable effects making 18 in total. • Electro-Harmonix Mod Rex This pedal offers polyrhythmic modulations created by four independent modulation sections sync’d in time (modulation, tremolo, pan and filter), each with a choice of four LFO shape options.
The three basic primary effects all sound good: the tremolo has plenty of natural variation including extreme on/off choppiness, the chorus has a nice shimmer and is capable of cool vibrato by setting the mix to fully wet, while the rich-sounding phaser does a great metallic flanger sweep if you turn the Regen up.
Bringing in the secondary effects makes things altogether more interesting with very usable effects from all six combinations. Two choruses or a chorus/phaser combination can make things really swimmy.
Two tremolos together offer more rhythmic complexities with a nice slapback towards the extreme of the secondary parameter, while tremolo offers a textural overlay for chorus and phaser.
There’s a pleasing sonic ebb and flow as the two modulations interact, something that can be exploited in realtime as an expression pedal can be used to take over the function of the Secondary knob, shifting through the gears.
Specs
PRICE: $199 / £189
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Modulation pedal
FEATURES: True bypass, 2 modulation effects in parallel, hands-free control over the secondary effect
Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.
