9 Killler Compact Lo-Fi Modulators

Controls - Tone (Ramp), Volume, Mix, RPM, Tap Divisions : 1 / 2 / 4 (3 / 6 / 8), Depth , Warp, ModuShape start : Sine / Triangle / Square, ModuShape end : Square / Triangle / Sine, Tap Footswitch, Bypass Footswitch.

Progressive iterations of the Warped Vinyl have become ever brighter in output, while the latest Hi-Fi edition replaces the Volume knob with a Lag control - which gives you finer control over the modulation, but looses a Modulation Essential for me as you often get a noticeable drop in output - which is why for most of my modulation pedals - I really need a level control to boost the output. This is especially true when doing lo-fi modulation as you are rinsing the signal in ever more extreme ways and you do get lower output that way.

So there are compelling reasons to stick with the MKII White version as mine is - while of course an equal amount of players enjoy the more brightness and greater refinement of the latter Hi-Fi edition.

I never had any particular issues with this not being bright enough for me. Where I simply prefer this iteration for its included Volume control - which as mentioned, becomes increasingly important the more you scramble your signal!

Controls - Depth (Regen) [Ramp Mode], Rate (Divs) [Ramp Rate], Mix, Chop (Random) [Ramp Target], Lag, EQ : -Treble Cut > -Bass Cut, Tap / Ramp (Tap Target) Footswitch, Eng / Alt (Dry EQ) Footswitch.

This is probably the most capable Analog Chorus currently out there in terms of depth of function and variability of output  - and all those extra features give you all kinds of unique modulations - in combining the sample-and-hold function with random modulation on extreme settings - you really get some superb Lo-Fi sounds out of this device - while it's also very happy as a more traditional and pristine Chorus / Vibrato, with some elegant Flanging onboard too.

The tricky part is getting used to all those dual and tertiary functions on 3 of the dials and the footswitches. Note that I've swapped out some of the knobs here to my preferences!

An incredibly versatile Analog Modulator for sure!

Controls - Rate, Depth, Slew, Level, Mix, Gate.

Joseph Maxwell has a superb track record of building miniaturised complex analog circuits into compact enclosures. All are extreme quality builds with exceptional output. And this take on the Shallow Water K-Field Modulator is no different - of course built on a Pedal PCB Low Tide Mini PCB. 

Some of the knobs are labelled differently, but this is very much based on that circuit and does all the same sorts of things. Where you can make it as warbly and woozy as you want, or else clean it up for more pristine Chorusing sounds.

The Shallow Water circuit has for a long time been one of the essential aqueous lo-fi modulators, and it's a real boon to be able to get essentially the same sort of circuit in a compact enclosure - with top-mounted jacks. I've just recently reviewed this one and it's truly excellent - and certainly delivers superior modulation in every conceivable way.

Controls - Wow, Noise : More / None / Some, Saturation, Mix, Volume.

The Retroflect is close to the sort of Tape-style Degradation / Modulation of the Generation Loss - much stripped-down, and with somewhat simpler controls. The top two really set the degree of lo-fi-ness, while the middle 3-way switch adds some ambient noise / hiss!

It's not exactly the same thing particularly with the even more expanded feature se of the new MKII - but you can think of the Retroflect as a somewhat much more simplified and stripped-down version of the Generation Loss. It's very reasonably priced and more instantly available - which should mean it will likely enter your collection sooner than some other candidates on this list!

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

I had been intending to get this one for a while - but picked it up relatively late to its release and my original review. In fact only snapping one up in January. In terms of the essential chorusey lo-fi modulators - I've always considered the Shallow Water and Wardenclyffe to be the benchmarks - so I'm delighted that I have both in the collection now in some guise. 

The current Mini Wardenclyffe has exactly the same controls as its significantly larger BB-size predecessor, while there's also a much larger Deluxe edition now too - with several more features and functions. All very cool - it just doesn't fit into my pedal-chain.

I've often said that with Pedal-Tetris - that it depends on how much you like and use a certain effect as to justify how large an enclosure size you are willing to accommodate. A lot of those larger extended feature set pedals just don't fit into my signal chain - beside the obvious Stereo Workstation type pedals - Modulation, Delay and Reverb - that sit towards the end of the chain!

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

Ever since I first spotted this Mexican-made pedal I wanted one, but it's proved to be somewhat effusive to date. Initially only available in the Americas with somewhat impractically high delivery charges - it did not make much sense then. Nowadays it's more to do with stock issues and Brexit - as those few shops in Europe that stock this brand seem to be fairly largely out of stock.

This is a really cool dynamic Chorus with some smart envelope follower dynamics - where you can yes achieve pretty cool lo-fi chorus modulation. I really love the look and function of this pedal and it's long been on my wishlist - currently all 4 listings on Reverb.com are for USA and Canada.

Most Reverb.com sellers had no delivery cost - and when I enquired about shipping they would not ship to the UK. I contacted Paradox direct and was advised to buy from Spanish dealer - Mutant Monkey - where I ordered and paid - but that one turned to be out of stock!

Fuzz Monster in Denmark is also supposedly a stockist but hasn't had any violable for years. I literally made something like 10 attempts to get this pedal - and finally found someone on Reverb.com in the USA - willing to ship to the UK - so it's actually been many years in the making. I had hoped that Paradox would step up on this occasion - but that did not happen - possibly better luck next time! Glad to have one in the collection at last though!

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dead End Green (@deadendgreen)

So most of the details are in the Insta post above - including the Control descriptions - no need to duplicate here. A really cool Random Modulator with the minimum of controls - and some really interesting output. Pladask's Knut apparently wasn't totally happy with the noise floor of this incarnation - so he's planning a new and improved iteration!

I will look to get in on that run when it materialises - pricing will likely still be sub $200.

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

Interestingly two pedals in this selection were designed by the same guy - one Joel Korte - who's Warped Vinyl was a further evolution of the pedal he designed for his pedal-mentor - Zachary Vex. Meaning that the Instant Lo-Fi Junky and Warped Vinyl are sort of two sides of the same coin.

While the Junky is distinct in having a compression / lo-fi control. It performs a similar task to the Warped Vinyl with somewhat fewer and simpler controls. They are by no means the same thing and are actually fairly distinct circuits in terms of their makeup - while you can still look upon the Warped Vinyl as an evolution of Joel's original take on this chorusing effect / circuit type.

I've never liked the traditional horizontal formats of Zvex pedals - so I was delighted when Zachary started introducing Vertical formats - while that process has slowed down of late. I also wasn't particularly taken by the original brown artwork of the Junky then - while the Yvette Young Special Edition is gorgeous - and I was smitten with that upon first sight.

Unfortunately the first two batch releases came at inconvenient intervals - when I was already over-committed at those times. So it's definitely a case of third time's the charm - as I finally managed to snag one from the most recent 3rd batch.