modulation

Analog modulation guided by a digital brain willing to get weird.

Fun, fluid operation. Capable of vintage-thick textures at heavier gain settings. High headroom for accommodating other effects.

MIDI required to access more than one preset—which you’ll probably long for, given the breadth of voices.

$369

Kernom Elipse

kernom.com

4.5
4.5
4
4

If you love modulation—and lots of it—you can eat up a lot of pedalboard space fast. Modulation effects can be super-idiosyncratic and specialized, which leads to keeping many around, particularly if you favor the analog domain. TheKernom Elipse multi-modulator is pretty big and, at a glance, might not seem the best solution for real estate scarcity. Yet the Elipse is only about 1 1/4" wider than two standard-sized Boss pedals side by side. And by combining an analog signal path with digital control, it makes impressive, efficient use of its size—stuffing fine-sounding harmonic tremolo, phaser, rotary-style, chorus, vibrato, flanger, and Uni-Vibe-style effects into a single hefty enclosure. Many of the effects can also be blended and morphed into one another using a rotary control aptly called “mood.” The Elipse, most certainly, has many of those.

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An unusual, intuitive amalgam of sustain pedal, looper, delay, and modulator that can be a mellow harmonizer, a chaos machine, and many things in between.

Easy-to-conjure unique-sounding, complex waves of sound, or subtle, swelling background harmonies. Intuitive operation, including secondary functions.

Many possible voices begs for presets.

$229

MXR Layers
jimdulop.com

4
4.5
4
4.5

It’s unclear whether the unfortunate term “shoegaze” was coined to describe a certain English indie subculture’s proclivity for staring at pedals, or their sometimes embarrassed-at-performing demeanor. The MXR Layers will, no doubt, find favor among players that might make up this sect, as well as other ambience-oriented stylists. But it will probably leave players of all stripes staring floorward, too, at least while they learn the ropes with this addictive mashup of delay, modulation, harmonizer, and sustain effects.

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This four-in-one effects box is a one-stop shop for Frusciante fans, but it’s also loaded with classic-rock swagger.

Great, lively preamp sounds. Combines two modulation flavors with big personalities. One-stop shop for classic-rock tones. Good value.

Big. Preamp can’t be disengaged. At some settings, flanger effect leaves a little to be desired.

$440

JFX Deluxe Modulation Ensemble
jfxpedals.com

4
4
4
4


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