Brian Wampler rolls out his 3rd mid-size stereo workstation variant - the Catacombs Delay & Reverb - in the same format as the Terraform and Metaverse, alongside a new Syntax Remote Switcher

So it made sense that the 3rd in Brian’s workstation pedal series would be a Reverb type - having already had a Multi-Modulator and Multi-Delay units in the respective Terraform and Metaverse pedals - which are both excellent of course. While this is Brian’s sort of competitor to the Source Audio Collider - both those units have inherent similarities in being a combination of Delays and Reverbs - an ’EchoVerb pedal’ of sorts therefor.

The emphasis is markedly different though, with the Collider leaning more into the Reverb side of things, and the Catacombs more into the Delays.

As a comparison - the Catacombs has Analog, Bucket Brigade Analog, Faux Tape Echo, Echo Space, Tape / Multi-Head, and Digital (2290 style) delays, where the Collider has Digital, Analog, Tape, Reverse, and Oil Can varieties.

On the Reverb side of things the Catacombs has Shimmer, Plate, Spring, Room and Hall, where the Collider is rather more creative with its Reverbs - Room, Hall, True Spring, Plate, Shimmer, E-Dome, Swell.

Both pedals are compelling solutions for your Delay and Reverb needs, while it will depend whether you want to lean more into he Delays (Catacombs) or Reverbs (Collider) as to which one better matches your preferences!

I’ve long had and really rate the Wampler Terraform - my current favourite Multi-Modulator in fact in many ways - in having the best mix of algorithms. I did a pretty solid overview of the Metaverse Delay pedal - with a fantastic overview visual. While I have so many fantastic Delay Workstation pedals in the collection that I’ve not felt I needed the Metaverse - at least not yet. Its sill a fantastic and compelling pedal.

Where for me the Catacombs is probably the least useful overall - as I tend to like more of the specialist algorithms for each of those Genres - and if you’re mixing up both Delays and Reverbs - it tends to be a rather more vanilla style experience.

That’s not to say the Catacombs and Collider don’t have their uses. And where I like to have separate fully featured workstation pedals for each of Modulation, Delay and Reverb, several others prefer to combine some of those genres within the same pedal.

Controls - Type : DELAY } Analog / Bucket Brigade Analog / Faux Tape Echo / Echo Space / Tape|Multi-Head / Digital; REVERB } Shimmer / Plate / Spring / Room / Hall, Time [Shimmer], Feedbac [Decay], Delay [Tone], Modulation Depth [Rate], Reverb Mix [Tone], Bypass [Alt] Footswitch, Preset/Save Button : 1-8, Tap Tempo Footswitch.

Ports - Mono In, Stereo In, Mono Out, Stereo Out, Expression, 9V DC [-] 130mA Current Draw.

There’s a familiarity and ease of use in how this format of Wampler Workstation pedals works - and you can do all manner of clever things with this device, including the 4-cable method of wiring / cabling.

I have a tiny niggle here that all the ports aren’t top-mounted - but that’s about the only criticism you can offer here. This device definitely delivers on what it sets out to do. It’s a compelling alternative to the Source Audio Collider - with a stronger delay section, while the Collider has more on the Reverb side.

Atractive looking graphics too! While note that those legends are really tiny in real life and tricky to pick out from a standing height. I though can operate the Preset button with my toes - so I can scroll through the 8 Presets with ease!

Price point is pretty much perfect here too at $299, of course available direct from the Wampler Pedals Webstore. I think this one’s going to do really rather well for Wampler as there are many who seek to combine Delay and Reverb in one handy unit.

I would have preferred a few more ’individual’ and more unique algorithms, but these kinds of devices understandably need to cover off the basics for most!