EarthQuaker Devices are launching two brand new products at today’s NAMM Show, both of which will be on show on the EQD booth (D4848)
After an industry sneak peak last year, the Afterneath Eurorack Module brings otherworldly sounds from the effects pedal world right into the modular synthesiser arena, while the Afterneath V3 Pedal takes everything great about the original Afterneath making it even better; 9 new Modes, CV or expression pedal control over the Drag parameter, Trails/No Trails Switching and a very keen price point!
Both products will be shipping from Audio Distribution Group in March and April respectively.
Afterneath V3
Enhanced Otherworldly Reverberation Machine
Taking everything that was great about the original Afterneath and making it even better, Afterneath V3 helps to push the already unflappable pedal into a whole new realm.
The Afterneath V3 sounds a lot like it looks – a wizard bursting forth from ethereal cave and ready for the ambient battle. You are the wizard (or sorceress, if you prefer) and the cave is your instrument’s signal, vast, expansive and magical. Do you go inside? Roll a D20 to proceed!
Once inside, a reflection of light from an unknown source catches your eye, and you notice a bizarre sheen on the walls of the cave. You timidly inch closer to the walls of the cave. Placing your hand gently on the cavern wall, you feel the rock move. The cave is alive! Alarmed, you emit a loud gasp, which reverberates throughout the subterranean landscape. Upon further listening, it appears as though the reverberations of your voice are in fact a swarm of short digital delays which may be used to create wild and cavernous reverbs, or scattered, short, rhythmic delays with bizarre characteristics.
Take a moment to consider your Intelligence and Wisdom scores, as well as your spell inventory before proceeding further. You have seven spells at your disposal… Will you cast “Length,” which controls the decay length of the reverb? What about “Diffuse,” which adjusts the spread of the reverb? With your wand (or just the knob) turned counter-clockwise, the reverb is sharper with more attack, resulting in a stuttering sputter of individual early reflections. Clockwise casts a washy, more ambient-sounding hex.
Overwhelmed by fear, you hastily cast “Dampen!” As you shout the incantation, you notice that a counter-clockwise variation of this spell results in brighter tones, while as you rotate your wand clockwise; you hear darker tones with a mellower top-end. It’s almost as if your magic changes the hardness of the cavern walls, and thus the tonal characteristics of the reverb!
Elsewhere in your book of magic is “Drag,” which separates the individual digital delay lines, literally dragging them through the very fabric of time and space towards an unknown event horizon from which they may never return. Clockwise “Drag” positions will gather the delay lines close together for a more reverb-like effect. Turn the “Drag” counter-clockwise and the delay lines will begin to pull apart for a scattered ping-pong delay effect.
The Drag can be put under voltage or expression control using the “EXP” jack located on the side and operates in 9 different modes which are selected by the small “Mode” control. These modes are: Unquantized, Unquantized with slew, Unquantized volt/octave, Chromatic scale, Major scale, Minor scale, Pentatonic scale, Octaves & fifths and Octaves. These modes drastically change the way the Drag control functions, especially while using an expression control or CV.
The “Reflect” alters the depth of the cave, and with it the regeneration of the reverb. This acts as a feedback control and will self-oscillate if cast by a high-level user. Turn clockwise for more wash and echoes, counter-clockwise for less. Finally, the “Mix” alters the alchemical balance between the input signal and the effect. The Afterneath V3 does not go fully wet but does lower the level of the input signal as you raise this control to create the appearance of a fully wet reverb.
Main Features:
- Same otherworldly reverb algorithm built from an adjustable cluster of short delays
- Ranges from scattered individual delays to an immersive wash of atmospheric reverb
- New control over the Drag parameter with 9 unique modes of user-selectable sweep:
Unquantized, Unquantized with Slew, Smooth, Unquantized Volt/Octave, Chromatic Scale, Major Scale, Minor Scale, Pentatonic Scale, Octaves & Fifths and Octaves - Flexi-Switch™ – allows for momentary and latching-style operation from a single footswitch
- Silent soft-touch switching with True Bypass
- Tails/No Tails switching
- Voltage or expression pedal control jack for the Drag parameter
- All analog dry signal path and a totally digital effect signal path
- Powered by regular 9 V DC PSU
(9 V DC, centre -, 2.1 mm, ~100 mA current draw)
Available: April 15th 2020
Afterneath Eurorack Module
Otherworldly Synth Reverberation Machine
The Afterneath Eurorack Module brings the otherworldly sounds from the effects pedal world right into your modular synthesizer.
Featuring one main audio input, one main audio output, an audio send and return for the Reflect feedback path and nine controls, four of the Afterneath Module’s parameters are controllable via CV and each has been equipped with a dedicated inverting attenuator.
With these features, a completely analog dry signal path and a totally digital wet signal path, the Afterneath Module is an ambient powerhouse and an instrument unto itself, helping to push the already unflappable Afterneath into a whole new realm.
The Afterneath Module further expands upon EarthQuaker’s wildly popular Afterneath pedal with the addition of voltage control over the Diffuse, Length and Drag controls. We have also added an entirely new voltage-controlled “Mode” parameter that changes how the Drag responds to knob and CV changes. When adjusting the Drag via the knob or CV, you will notice a change in character, fidelity and decay length of the effect. There is also a noticeable change in pitch for the sound that is in the Afterneath’s buffer. As with the Afterneath pedal, high settings of the Reflect and Length controls result in self-oscillation, where the pitch of the oscillation is set by the Drag control. There are nine modes that govern the behavior of the Drag control and its effect on the pitch of the sound in the buffer.
Beyond modulated delay and reverb effects, modes 3-9 extend the possibility of using the Afterneath Module as an interesting voltage-controlled oscillator. Another new feature found only in the Afterneath Module is a Dry Kill switch that allows access to a 100% wet signal. Perfect for when you are using the module as an effect send from your mixer or digital audio workstation!
Last, but certainly not least, EQD have added a Reflect Send and Reflect Return jack. This not only allows external processing of the Afterneath’s Reflect feedback path, but also gives the user access to a phenomenal pseudo-stereo effect. In addition to patching from the main output, you can also patch from Reflect Send jack (For example, using the main audio output as your left channel, and the Reflect Send as your right channel). This provides a wide, immersive, ambient stereo image. This is a great trick for when using the module as an effects send for your favourite modular, mixer or DAW. Additionally, the Reflect Return jack can be used as an additional audio input. The Reflect knob will act as an attenuator for any signal that is patched into the Reflect jack.
Main Features:
- Same otherworldly reverb algorithm built from an adjustable cluster of short delays in a 16HP Eurorack format
- Ranges from scattered individual delays to an immersive wash of atmospheric reverb
- New voltage control over the Drag parameter with 9 unique modes of user-selectable sweep:
Unquantized, Unquantized with Slew, Unquantized Volt/Octave, Chromatic, Major, Minor, Pentatonic, Octaves & Fifths, Octaves - Features audio send and return for the Reflect feedback path
- Drag, Mode, Diffuse, and Length parameters are controllable via CV, each with dedicated inverting attenuators
- Features Dry Kill switch to eliminate the dry signal from the output, leaving only the wet signal
- Capable of pseudo-stereo operation by using the Reflect Send as an additional output
- All analog dry signal path and a totally digital effect signal path
- Current Draw: 95 mA from the +12v rail, 0 mA from both the -12v and +5v rails
- Width: 16HP
Available: March 4th 2020
Authorised ADG dealers can visit the ADG Hub dealer portal for additional information, product pictures, webtexts etc.
Audio Distribution Group is proud be to be responsible for distribution in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Italy for EarthQuaker Devices