Effects pedals have been a staple of the music industry for decades. Guitarists have long relied on these devices to shape their sound, add texture and color to their playing, and create unique sonic landscapes. However, in recent years, electronic music producers have also begun to turn to pedals to enhance their productions. From ambient pads and glitchy textures to distorted basslines and ethereal vocals, effects pedals have become an essential tool in the modern producer’s arsenal.
Electronic music producers often require versatile pedals that can be used with various instruments, such as synthesizers, drum machines, and even vocals. They need pedals that can create complex, evolving sounds and textures and add warmth, depth, and character to their mixes. And while there are many effects pedals on the market, boutique pedals have become increasingly popular among producers, as they offer affordable analog gear that can add a unique touch to any production. With these pedals now more accessible than ever, producers of all ranges can start experimenting with the endless possibilities analog effects can offer.
Strymon TimeLine Multidimensional Delay
Finding the perfect effects pedal can be a game-changer for electronic music producers, and the Strymon TimeLine is one such pedal. It offers a lush and inspiring delay and a simple control layout that makes it an ideal travel companion. The TimeLine features 12 delay machines with dedicated hardware controls for real-time tweaking and 200 factory presets for instant inspiration, letting users dial in a delay they like, edit it, save, and name it. The pedal also has Filter and Grit knobs, allowing control of the shape and distortion artifacts of repeats for sounds ranging from clean studio to vintage analog to early digital.
Each delay type in the Strymon TimeLine is fully independent and unique, from delays modeled after analog bucket brigade pedals and tape echo machines to unique filtered synth and bit-crushed transistor delays. The pedal’s 200 factory presets cover a wide range of ground, from blues to metal to experimental. Furthermore, its 30-second looper is a powerful stage performance tool that doubles as a handy creative tool for workshopping melodies, harmonies, and delay tones.
Strymon pedals are already an industry-standard in professional-quality effects, and the TimeLine is no exception. The California-based company is dedicated to offering exceptional customer service and making gear that sounds better than anything users have ever heard. The TimeLine boasts a durable aluminum chassis, 24-bit/96kHZ A/D/A conversion, 32-bit floating point processing, expression pedal input, and MIDI in/thru. Strymon’s philosophy of quality and its use of the highest-quality components and powerful processors is why the TimeLine is an impressive addition to any electronic music producer’s arsenal.
Learn More About This Pedal While Supporting Our Team Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Sweetwater Here
Hologram Microcosm
Hologram Electronics’ Microcosm pedal is a powerful tool for electronic music producers looking to add depth, texture, and atmosphere to their tracks. The pedal’s wide array of effects and features make it a top choice for sound designers and experimental musicians.
At its core, the Microcosm is a granular looper, which means it takes small pieces of audio and repeats them to create a textured sound. But the pedal goes far beyond this basic functionality, offering a host of unique effects like reverbs, delays, and pitch-shifting. Users can control these effects in real-time using the pedal’s intuitive interface, which features a mix of hardware knobs and touch-sensitive pads.
One standout feature of the Microcosm is its ability to create infinite loops, meaning the audio can continue to repeat and evolve indefinitely. This opens up endless possibilities for sound exploration and creates a sense of organic, evolving movement in the music. Additionally, the pedal has MIDI connectivity, allowing for even greater control and integration with other electronic instruments and software. Overall, the Hologram Electronics Microcosm is a must-have for any producer looking to push the boundaries of electronic music production.
Maestro Comet Chorus
Maestro Comet Chorus is a BBD-style modulation effects pedal that offers warm, vintage-tinged chorus tones. The bucket-brigade-device technology employed in this all-analog stompbox guarantees to inspire electronic music producers seeking classic chorus effects. The pedal features a Mode toggle that offers expanded sonic flexibility, with an internal trim pot that adjusts the level of the rotary speaker effect, providing a spellbinding rotary-speaker-like sound. The easy-to-use 3-knob layout controls Depth, Speed, and Mix and can produce anything from a subtle sparkle to gyrating goodness.
The flexibility of the Comet Chorus is impressive, thanks to its Mode toggle. The Earth mode produces a shimmery, gooey chorus effect, while the Orbit mode adds amplitude modulation to the chorus effect, creating a rotary-speaker-like sound. Producers seeking a vintage modulation effect will find Comet Chorus indispensable. The simple 3-knob layout makes it easy to navigate the pedal, with Depth controlling pitch variation, Speed adjusting modulation rate, and Mix blending pitch modulated signal with the dry signal, producing either a barely-there sheen or an all-out warbling cacophony.
Comet Chorus has a true-bypass switching feature that won’t color your tone when the effect isn’t in use, top-mounted Input and Output jacks, and eye-grabbing status LEDs in the pedal’s bugle logo. This BBD-style modulation stompbox is a must-have for every vintage modulation fan, delivering mod-soaked goods easily and flexibly.
Learn More About This Pedal While Supporting Our Team Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Sweetwater Here
Eventide H9 Max Harmonizer
The Eventide H9 Max is the ultimate pedal for any electronic music producer. This all-encompassing stompbox offers all 52 algorithms and associated presets from Space, TimeFactor, PitchFactor, and ModFactor, as well as exclusive H9 effects like PitchFuzz, SpaceTime, Crushstation, Sculpt, UltraTap Delay, Resonator, and Compressor EQ. With 99 factory presets pre-loaded and over 500 more available to download through the free H9 Control app, the H9 Max delivers legendary Eventide sounds with the convenience of a simple one-knob user interface.
The H9 Max is easy to control from the front panel, allowing for adjustments on the fly, and can also be fully controlled using the free H9 Control app on your Bluetooth-equipped device. The app allows live editing, customizing, managing presets, and wirelessly changing system settings. The H9 Max features stereo audio I/O and MIDI I/O, expression pedal, and auxiliary switch inputs, making it a seamless fit into your existing pedalboard setup. With a built-in tuner and actual bypass circuitry, the H9 Max preserves your tone while offering the benefits of a comprehensive effects pedal.
Overall, the Eventide H9 Max offers the ultimate tonal tool kit for electronic music producers. With its extensive range of effects, simple user interface, and flexible control options, the H9 Max is a must-have for any serious musician looking to take their sound to the next level.
Learn More About This Pedal While Supporting Our Team Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Sweetwater Here
Meris Enzo Synth Pedal
The Enzo multi-voice instrument synthesizer from Meris is a powerhouse pedalboard synthesizer that every electronic music producer should have in their arsenal. With three incredible synth modes – monosynth, polysynth, and arpeggiated synth – Enzo turns a guitar into a powerful synth, perfect for creating fat bass lines and screaming leads. Guitarists can quickly generate a full range of synth tones, from gritty to shimmering.
Enzo includes classic synth features for serious sound shaping, such as a multimode resonant filter, envelope generators, ring modulator, tunable portamento, and sustained control. The dedicated modulated tap delay with a 2-stage level control allows you to create droning polyrhythmic echoes or chorus-like flutter and warble. With numerous options for external controls, Enzo lets you connect to MIDI, a preset switch, a tap switch, or an expression pedal.
Meris is a forward-thinking brand of creative tools founded by pedal maker Terry Burton, DSP engineer Angelo Mazzocco, and creative director Jinna Kim. Their effects are powered by groundbreaking digital technology and premium analog componentry, offering advanced sonics and unparalleled performance. Beyond the pedalboard, Meris has adapted several of their pedals for the 500 Series format, making them ideal for studio use. As inspiration machines that offer endless possibilities for unique sounds, Meris effects are a must-have for any electronic music producer.
Learn More About This Pedal While Supporting Our Team Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Sweetwater Here
EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter Modulated Monophonic Harmonizer
For electronic music producers who want to take their sound to the next level, the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter is a must-have harmonizing pedal. This pedal can turn an electric guitar into a three-voice synthesizer by utilizing a modulated monophonic PLL circuit. With a master oscillator that can create harmonies up to three octaves above, a square wave for wild fuzz tone, and the ability to generate subharmonic harmonies down to three octaves below, the Data Corrupter offers a wide range of analog synth tones that can be blended to create unpredictably chaotic sounds. This pedal allows producers to transform their guitar sound and explore a new world of harmonization, making it an essential tool for those looking to dominate the soundscape.
What sets the Data Corrupter apart from other octave up/down fuzz pedals is the creative tones that can be crafted. The Subharmonic and Master Oscillator voices cover a three-octave range, and the player is not limited to just octaves. Instead, they can set the Subharmonic oscillator down a fifth, major third, minor seventh, or even a significant second. The Master Oscillator voice also offers fifths, major thirds, and minor sevenths. With the ability to dial in harmony effects with major thirds, fifths, minor sevenths, and more, the Data Corrupter offers many possibilities for producers looking to experiment with their sound.
True to its name, the Data Corrupter is designed to add chaos and unpredictability to a producer’s sound. With its glide mode for synth-like portamento effects, vibrato mode for added animation, and silent relay-based switching with true bypass operation, this pedal offers a unique combination of analog and digital technology. Whether for guitar or keyboard, the Data Corrupter is a powerful tool that can take a producer’s sound to new heights and help them stand out in a crowded electronic music scene.
Learn More About This Pedal While Supporting Our Team Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Sweetwater Here
Red Panda Particle V2 Delay/Pitch Shifting Pedal
The Red Panda Particle 2 is an exceptional follow-up to its famous predecessor, the Particle delay and pitch-shifting pedal. This new iteration boasts a range of improvements that make it an essential tool for electronic music producers. With five different delay modes, three-pitch modes across a ± 1-octave range, and adjustable parameters for grain size, density, and feedback, Particle 2 delivers a new level of control for granular sound design. In addition, it comes with new features, including MIDI compatibility, tap functions, and a freeze function, which enable users to expand their soundscapes with more sonic sculpting possibilities.
Particle 2’s compact design takes up less pedalboard space, and its ergonomic knob arrangement is also conducive to real-time modification and sound design. It offers glitch, stutter, and stretch functions, with detune, density, and LFO pitch-shifting modes. Users can reimagine their delay five-fold using random, density, LFO, random pitch, and reverse options and combine them for master control of all grain parameters. The pedal includes four onboard presets, and MIDI compatibility allows for up to 127 additional options, making it a versatile tool that can adapt to sound design requirements. The pedal’s TRS stereo I/O, control port, and USB connectivity are neatly placed on the back to prevent disruptions during live performances.
The Red Panda Particle 2’s adjustable threshold feature lets users easily incorporate automatic freeze and stutter. Its tap switch delivers independent divisions for the delay, grain size, density, and LFO, alongside master tempo control. Producers can create custom patches with its iOS and Android TouchOSC template and fully immerse themselves in the granular sound design experience. This pedal’s hidden parameters, accessible through the web editor, will provide even more opportunities to explore new sonic possibilities. With its features and improved design, the Red Panda Particle 2 is a must-have for any electronic music producer looking to take their sound design to new heights.
Learn More About This Pedal While Supporting Our Team Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Sweetwater Here
Hello from the Magnetic editorial desk.
