2023 Compact Chorus Pedal Capsule Collection

Controls - Ramp / Tone / Pattern, Rate / Mix, Depth / Feedback / Harmonies, Ramp Shape : A stop B stop / Up-Down / Up Only, MODE : Dual / Arp / Mad & Roto / Depth / Sting, Effect : < Harmo / Chorus >, Tap-Tempo / Ramping Footswitch, Bypass / Ramp Direction / Alt Footswitch, Tap both Footswitches simultaneously to Access Presets and navigate Up/Down via 2 Footswitches, Press-Hold to save Preset.

This is a really smart and innovative pedal with all manner of unusual and fairly unique sounds onboard - particularly on the harmonizing side of the pedal. It's marred by a degree of control-clunkiness - lots of secondary functions on controls and footswitches. The complexity of what's available on the pedal occasionally interferes with its enjoyment - and the lack of full Stereo-in makes it less flexible than it should be. I got this at the same time as the Jackson Audio New Wave and I gelled with that one somewhat quicker. Both are superb sounding choruses with more though - and this Seabee is probably the most varied in its output overall  - I just really wish is was easier to control, and that it had stereo in too!

Controls - Rate, Depth, Mode : Standard/CE-1 Chorus/CE-1 Vibrato.

For many - THE Classic Chorus - and so much better for having the CE-1 mode onboard too - I have a few pedals that do the CE-1 thing really well - while this one's always going to be the benchmark in many ways. Effortlessly easy to use and effortlessly great sounding - could do with a stereo in update though!

Controls - 4 push buttons of increasing intensity, and where 2 can be selected simultaneously for further nuance, Mode : Standard Dimension C / SDD-320 (Dimension D).

Funnily enough this is my favourite Boss Modulation - and one of my very favourite chorus type effects - its phasey-chorus output can really sound superb at times and the control interface - with its ability to select 2 modes simultaneously is a real joy to deploy. The Dimension Mode on the Alexander Pedals Sugarcube doesn't quite meet the extraordinary nuance of this benchmark version. This is somewhat more flexible than the CE-2W as it has full stereo ins and outs!

Controls - Controls - Tone (Ramp), Volume, Mix, RPM (Rate), Depth, Warp, Tap Divisions : 1 / 2 / 4 or 3 / 6 / 8, Left Wave : Sine / Triangle / Square, Right Wave : Square / Triangle / Sine, Presets : 1 / Manual / 2, Bypass Footswitch, Tap Tempo Footswitch, 16 Dip-switches.

This was my very first Chorus - and Analog Chorus as luck would have it. Its moniker is well earned as it's great for Lo-Fi duties. I've chosen to stick with the MKII version as I feel I need its Volume control - on later versions that is swapped out for a Lag control. I just like the MKII exactly as it is. Later versions got slightly more brighter - while the MKII has all the sounds I like!

Controls - Wow, Wet (Ramp), HP, Flutter, Gen, LP, Aux Func : Mod / Gen / Filter, Dry : None / Small / Unity, Hiss : None / Mild / Heavy, Aux Footswitch, Bypass Footswitch, 16 Dip-switches.

Obviously this is primarily a VHS-Tape style degeneration Lo-Fi Tape FX / Modulator - while by harnessing the Dry settings you can get a really cool sounding chorus. There's a few Tape FX and versatile delay units that can generate cool delay-line modulations - and the Generation Loss does it really well!

Controls - Wow, Volume (Ramp), Model / LP, Flutter, Saturate / Gen, Failure / HP, Aux : Stop / Filter / Fail, Dry : None / Small / Unity, Noise : None / Mild / Heavy, Aux Footswitch, Bypass Footswitch, 16 Dip-switches.

Same core Chorus abilities as the MKI version above - with added range and functions - to further accentuate and flavour up the chorus voicing. 

Controls - Depth / Regen / Ramp Mode, Rate / Divs / Ramp Rate, Mix, Chop / Random / Ramp Target, Lag, EQ, Tap / Ramp Footswitch [Tap Target], Engage / Alt [Dry EQ].

Another unique and distinct chorus / modulator - it has so many different sounds onboard it could really do with some onboard presets. It has some inherent complexity through having tertiary functions on certain knobs - and it could really do with a little more output volume - to help with more subtle wet only settings. When you dial it in right though it sounds spectacular - and has a really cool step-filter-like effect (which is not a step filter!).

Controls - Rate, Depth, Slew, Level, Mix, Gate, Internal dip-switches : Boost (+6dB) | Pad (+6dB), Internal trim-pots for BBD and Gate.

A really cool compact edition take on the Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water K-Field Modulator - which is finally in the right format to be accommodated in my rig. I would love to have a stereo version of this with some additional output volume - otherwise it's a pretty perfect Lo-Fi Modulator.

Controls - Type : Chorus/Flange, Mix, Drift / Triangle | Loop | Sine, Speed, Depth, Emph, Voices.

Digitech are still supposedly struggling to find the parts to put this back into production - a really cool stereo chorus / flanger with plenty of flavour. This has been on the board for a few rotations - lots of controls to cleverly shape the output - can sound nicely thick and syrupy if you want it to!

Controls - Rate / Range, Depth, Color, Mix, Voice : Clone / Leslie / Blur.

A really cool take on an Analog Chorus - largely based on the EHX Clone Theory but with some cool variations. Really versatile despite its relatively few controls. And incredibly easy to deploy.

Controls - Filter : HP / LP, Pad, LFO / Glitch : Sine Wave / Randomized, Wet Level, Filter, Dry Level, Mod Speed, Mod Depth.

I acquired a few Lo-Fi Modulators in sequence at the same time - in order to fulfil my featured post on compact Lo-fi Modulators and to complete my thematic capsule collection then. This was acquired at a similar time to the Demiurge Great Sea, Paradox Futura, and Zvex Yvette Young Instant Lo-fi Junky - all fantastic representatives of that specific sub-genre - and each with fantastic Chorus voicings onboard.

Controls - Mix (Dry > Chorus > Vibrato), Depth / Mode : 1-7 (see below), Speed : 0.1Hz > 2Hz > 10Hz, Tone, Phase / Ratio / Wave Shape, Delay, Engage / Bloom Footswitch, Tap Temp / Speed Ramp Footswitch, Press Both to Cycle through 7 Modes.

Probably my favourite current Chorus - it combines superior sounds with versatility, flexibility and usability - really is a joy to deploy and super elegant to operate - it covers a lot of ground really well.

Controls - Blend, Sensitivity ±, Level, Rate, Mode : R / R+D / D, Depth, R : Up/Downm, D : Up/Down (Swell Direction).

I spent a long time hunting this one down - it had been on my wishlist for several years - while this Made-in-Mexico pedal is rarely available in Europe - and I had to go through all kinds of hoops - with lots of disappointments and let-downs - before I finally managed to snag one. It's a really cool and distinct chorus with some clever envelope follower action.

Controls - Vibrato, Mode : Vibrato / Chorus, Chorus Intensity, Depth, Saturation : High / Low, Level / Control.

My first and probably still most favourite of the amazing PastFX BBD Chorus Trifecta. This CE-1 derived variety is known for being about the most brightest and sparkliest of choruses you can get your hands on - really sound superb.

Controls - Rate, Mode : Chorus | Vibrato / Flange, Depth, Level, Input Gain, Wet Mix (Chorus > Vibrato), Studio Switch (Cleaner), Edge Switch (Brighter).

The latest of the PastFX Choruses adds a cool Flanger flavour into the mix - based on Peter Hook's favourite Clone Theory chorus - another killer chorus flavour.

Controls - Speed, Delay Time, Depth, Level, Mode : Dave Simpson [default] / Andy Martin [out of phase / faux TZF], Blend, Regen [feedback], Vibrato [kill dry].

This and the New Division are incredibly feature-rich - both with 8 controls at your disposal. Also adds a really cool flanger flavour into the mix - which I prefer to the flanger flavour on the New Division. This is probably the most versatile of PastFX's choruses overall - each of these has the perfect complement of controls - and probably each of those are fine without presets. 

Controls - Speed, Tone : Bright / Normal / Dark, Depth, FX Level, Mode : CHO1 / FLA1 / VIB1 / CHO2 / FLA2 / VIB 2 / Tone Print.

One of my earliest choruses - this digital spin on the Stereo Chorus Flanger supposedly recreates some of John Petrucci's favourite modulation tones - including his well-known bright sounding chorus sound. For me it needs a little more volume and intensity really - while it's a pretty decent all-rounder - although not quite as nuanced as the SCF it is based on.

Controls - Mix, Delay, Speed, Depth, Bypass Footswitch, Preset Footswitch : 1-6.

I've frequently stated my admiration of this particular chorus and its incredible ease of use - 6 great onboard presets and with stereo output. In this V2 edition the texture and brightness of the chorus has been even more enhanced and perfected - this is still a somewhat under the radar chorus - but for sure one of the best out there. It could probably do with one or two more controls - to keep pace with the trio of PastFX choruses.

Controls - Rate, Depth, Lag, Division : Quarter / Triplet / Dotted Eighth, Shape : Sine / Triangle / Random, Mix : Dry > Chorus > Vibrato, Bypass Footswitch, Tap Tempo Footswitch.

This has been on my wishlist since I first featured it back in September of 2020. In the end I went for the limited Black Obsidian edition as I really liked the look on that - it's had a wee testing session so far - but has yet to have an extended rotation in the rig.

Controls - Volume, Level, , Waveshape : Sine / Triangle / Square, Tone, Depth.

Another one that I was after for a while - Joel Korte's predecessor to his Warped Vinyl. I particularly wanted the Yvette Young artwork edition - and it was a case of 3rd times lucky - as I managed to get in on the 3rd batch of this fantastic Lo-Fi modulator.