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Download Example 1
Basic chorus with high feedback setting
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Download Example 2
Undulator effect
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Recorded with an Ibanez Prestige RG into a '67 Marshall Superbass w/ Bogner 4x12. A Heil HM20 was used into a Line 6 Toneport, no mod.
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After the boom of small, controllable distortion
devices, musicians decided that
they wanted more. Spatial tones created
by large organs, concert halls, and backup
orchestras were envied by the common
musician and demand grew for inventions
that they could use to create their own
ambiance. They were the second generation
of single effects for guitarists, with a
sudden explosion of portable and reliable
chorus, rotary speaker, delay, panning,
phasing, and other time-based effects in
the mid-seventies.
Finally, guitarists could simulate their own
orchestras of multiple guitars at once, rattling
huge cavernous halls, and ultimately
coax sounds out of their instruments that
they had not previously thought possible.
One of the companies dedicated to this
cause was Eventide, which emerged in
1970 and became famous years later for
their extraordinary pitch shifting and reverb
processors. Not only were their designs
coveted by musicians of all genres, but
Eventide became synonymous with the
“clean” effect, meaning that their designs
represented the pinnacle of what modern
technology could achieve when applied to
flawless effect processing design.
Having made waves in the stompbox fray
with their highly manipulative TimeFactor
and PitchFactor pedal, Eventide is now
presenting the ModFactor, an effects
pedal combining several modulation
effects into one device. Make no mistake:
the ModFactor is an impressive piece of
machinery. Offering ten different effects
that can be twisted and processed through
ten separate parameters, a seemingly endless
amount of modulation effects can be
squeezed out of the modest-sized unit.
After you’ve dialed up a pleasant concoction
of whirled chorus, space age ring modulation
or smooth vibrato, your creation
can be saved into one of the forty available
banks in the device.
Several of the models offer stereo options
to enhance results, so Eventide provided
not only dual outputs but dual inputs on the
back of the unit, as well. Input and output
levels can be changed quickly at the mere
flick of a small switch on the back panel,
and you can choose between a standard
guitar input or line level input. The output
stage can be changed to accommodate
an amplifier’s front end input, or a line
level one. This way, players can achieve a
smoother response and greater clarity when
running the effect in an amplifier’s effects
loop. Eventide also provides two different
ways of controlling the item from an outside
source, using either a USB port or MIDI
ports on the side panel.
It is difficult to know where to begin with
the ModFactor. A lot of “all-in-one” effect
systems on the market promise great
sounds out of the box, but sometimes can
disappoint by really only providing a few
models that shine (and the others, not so
much). The ModFactor tackles ten different
effects: Chorus, Phaser, Q-Wah, Flanger,
Modfilter, Rotary, TremoloPan, Vibrato,
Undulator (a classic Eventide custom creation),
and RingMod. After cycling through
the basic presets that the ModFactor is
programmed with from the factory, it was
clear that Eventide still is at the top of their
game after all these years. They have a
reputation for designing effects that, while
giving the player unprecedented control,
are easily capable of providing a great,
usable sound almost immediately.
This is particularly evident with their chorus
effect, the first effect that the ModFactor
shows off. The Intensity control basically acts
as a mix between the wet and dry signals,
and reacts this way with most of the other
models (for the TremoloPan model, it can
react as either a Drive or Edge control). Type
switches between different modes of the
selected effect, which in the case of Chorus
are Liquid, Organic and Shimmer. A variety
of other parameters can be modified to tailor
the sound, including depth, speed, modulation
rate and shape (wave forms such as Sine,
Triangle, Random, Ramp, Square, Sample/
Hold). Rates can be adjusted with the convenient
Tap Tempo footswitch.
While every effect in the ModFactor sounds
fantastic, certain effects are particular
standouts over others: the Vibrato is one
of the smoothest, most natural representations
I’ve ever heard. It’s surprising
how thick and warm it is, and how it actually
changes the pitch of the tone rather
than “sitting on top” of it. Also, a tip of
the hat goes to Eventide for the striking
Undulator effect (see clip 2). This famous setting has
a very organ-like quality to it, combining
several different effects together to create
its unique tone: two delays, two detuned
voices (choruses), an FM modulated tremolo,
and a slight volume swell. This setting is,
simply put, a blast to play. If you are in the
market for some great synth-like, futuristic
Mellotron-in-space tones, the ModFactor
comes highly recommended.
The Final Mojo
Just like any other effect type, modulation
is a very personal thing. Guitarists can be
as touchy about Chorus as they are about
their overdrive tone. Some players love
analog, and hate digital; others the exact
opposite. A large number dislike the effect
altogether. This might be an unfortunate
consequence for the folks at Eventide—some players might not realize they should
be checking this pedal out simply because
of a bad lingering taste in their mouths that
is the result of having played many poor
choruses, phasers and flangers over the
years. To each his/her own, though—if you
don’t like modulation, this might not be
the pedal for you. Traditionally, the effects
that the ModFactor contains have been
best used sparingly. Somebody who does
not need ten different mod effects, with a
phaser that has four different modes, might
be a little intimidated when seeing this
pedal for the first time. However, as the old
saying goes: there’s always room for change,
and the Eventide ModFactor might be the
wave that turns the tide in your mind.
Buy if...
You need a high quality, versatile
modulation pedal, and want a few
more unique tones underneath
the hood for experimentation.
Skip if...
Modulation in your music is
something that is not worth
shelling out for.
Rating...
