Native Audio takes a colourful detour via Blackfeet Blanket inspired Niisoo Harmonic Equalizer Filter / EQ / Shifter

I’m not going to dwell too much on Blackfeet tribal lore and heritage (Amskaapi Piikuni) - other than to say that the design is derived from a culturally significant 4-band blanket which has relationship with the seasons and the many stages of life.

This is quite a departure from the usual styling of the brand, and a very welcome one in my opinion. These earthy colours, and the overall aesthetic of the pedal - with those distinctive knobs and symbols for labels mostly - interestingly that theme is not carried though to the labelling of the footswitches.

Controls - Lower Bound (lower Shift Range), Rez (filter resonance), Upper Bound (upper Shift Range), Filter Type : Low-pass / Band-pass / High-pass, Shift Direction : Low to High Boundary / High to Low Boundary, Latching / Momentary Switch, Shift Time (shift between Upper and Lower Boundaries (0-20 seconds), Equalize Footswitch (engage pedal). Shift Footswitch (Momentary or Latching per toggle-switch).

So this pedal is derived from Analog Synth Technology - where you can apply those filters statically as an EQ, or moving from the one Boundary to the Other in either directions in and interesting filter sweep.

Most are familiar with the impact of analog filters, there use is nothing new really - and there are a number of pedals in circulation already  which owe much to either the Korg MS20 or Mooferfooger MF-101.

This Niisoo is a pretty distinct take - both in terms of function and aestehetics - and all the more welcome for it.

I personally don’t use filter pedals too much - even though I own several, and am well versed with their deployment. While certain styles of play / genres of music, and various Bass player essential uses - make these sorts of pedals really usual for somewhat specific target audiences.

This is for sure a really appealing pedal, and I feel there’s quite a strong appetite for it already - despite some stiff competition in that Analog Synth style Filter sector.

The Niisoo goes for $299 on the Native Audio Webstore - which seems to be about the going rate for these sorts of pedals. Many of them lean more into the Preamp / Saturations style of circuit - while this Niisoo is very specifically and finely honed.

I really like it, just not sure that I personally would use it that much to justify acquisition at $299. Definitely there are several that love this already, and presumably many more prospects in the wings - as it’s a really compelling and distinct pedal compared to most of what’s available out there - and so it deserves to do really well!