The StewMac Lightcycle is an optical-phaser pedal kit based on the Mu-Tron Phasor II. This stomp features deep functionality with depth, rate, and feedback controls, plus a pair of internal controls for intensity and sweep settings as well as a true bypass switch. Committed lifelong phaser fan, aspiring pedal builder, and PGās senior editor, Nick Millevoi, gave this build a try.
The Lightcycle kit is more challenging than some of StewMacās other projects and includes photo resistors and vertically mounted resistors, both of which are tricky to install. Luckily, Nick has been building StewMac kits for the last yearāheās previously built both the Sun Fuzz and Ghost Drive kits. Equipped with their pedal-building tool kit, he felt like he leveled up his skills.
In this video, Nick unboxes the Lightcycle kit, talks about the building process from testing and labeling each component to installing them (following the kitās 40-page step-by-step instructions along the way), then plugs it in for a pair of demos with various sounds from this vintage-inspired unit.
An easy-to-use multi-head octave echo with solid foundational delay tones and weirdness on tap.
Deceptively deep but easy to use. Great for every day delay tones and deep freakouts.
Glitch and warp settings could get same-y over time.
$209
SolidGoldFX EM-III Multi-Head Octave Echo
solidgoldfx.com
The EM-III from SolidGoldFX starts with a foundation of warm, analog-like digital delay and builds a bevy of functionality on top. It's a powerful pedal, and thanks to a simple and well-considered set of controls, it's intuitive and practical too.
The basic delay sound is easily controlled via time, repeat, and level controls, while flutter and color knobs allow users to tweak modulation and tone settings. Switching the center toggle to the left selects up to three delay heads; switching to the right activates the pedal's octave-down setting. With these controls, it's easy to access solid, foundational delay tones or head for totally twisted, but controlled, sonic space.
The self-oscillation and tape-snap sounds should be considered a requirement for any "Maggot Brain" cover you have in the works.
The EM-III's secret personality is unleashed by holding down the bypass and tap switches, which have secondary functionality for glitch and warp respectively. The self-oscillation and tape-snap sounds contained in these switches can be as weird or as subtle as you want, depending on how long you hold them down, and should be considered a requirement for any "Maggot Brain" cover you have in the works. The EM-III is a heavy hitter with a heart of gold, tons of personality, and all the warbly bliss you can imagine.
SolidGoldFX EM-III Multi-Head Octave Echo Demo - First Look
An echo machine from Quebec is a ticket to sweet repeats and mutant glitchy and octave delays.