Source Audio intensifies the ambiance with Encounter - offering six reverbs, six delays, and a single pedal for "highly engaging soundscapes."
In the world of guitar effects pedals, the latest offering from Source Audio, based in Woburn, Massachusetts, is turning heads. The Encounter Delay/Reverb pedal, released in 2019, is an ambitious departure from traditional pedal design, showcasing the potential of digital signal processing.
The Encounter pedal is equipped with a subdivisions switch, adding rhythmic audacity to the repeats, making it an ideal tool for musicians seeking to infuse their music with innovative rhythms. The pedal boasts a wide array of delay options, including Noise Tape, Resonant, Drum Echo, Echoverb, Kaleidoscope, and Helix. Each of these delay engines offers unique sounds, catering to various musical styles and tastes.
For those who appreciate the ambience of reverb, the Encounter pedal delivers with options such as Hypersphere, Shimmers, TremVerb, Reverse, Lo-Fi, and Swell. The Hypersphere reverb engine, described by Source Audio as an "N-dimensional sphere," offers the richest, largest, and most experimental reverb to date.
The Kaleidoscope delay engine is not for dialing in everyday repeats; Source Audio's tasting notes read "A twinkling, scattering hypnotic audio journey." The Drum Echo delay presents a particularly radical proposition, offering sounds that will appeal to fans of mechanical echo machines.
The Encounter pedal is priced at £369/$399, making it a considerable investment, particularly for casual users of reverb and delay. However, for those seeking to push the boundaries of their sound, the Encounter pedal offers all-new algorithms that produce unique and out-of-this-world sounds.
The pedal is fully stereo and runs on 9V DC from a pedalboard power supply, drawing a minimum of 280mA. It features 8 onboard user presets, with a total of 128 presets when using MIDI. The delay side's footswitch doubles as a tap tempo switch, providing convenient control over your delay settings.
The Encounter pedal's signal path is 100% analogue, ensuring a warm, natural sound. The universal bypass allows players to select true or soft bypass and a transparent buffered bypass. The Neuro app allows deeper edits to be made via USB and allows users to share their settings with others and download them.
In essence, the Encounter Delay/Reverb pedal is a testament to the potential of digital signal processing in guitar effects pedal design. It offers a wealth of creative possibilities for musicians seeking to push the boundaries of their sound. Whether you're a fan of ambient delays, radical delay effects, or experimental reverb, the Encounter pedal is an exciting addition to any pedalboard.
