We are always in the mood for a good tremolo pedal here at Pedal of the Day, and harmonic tremolos are even more fun. As far as we can tell, harmonic tremolos filter the high & low frequencies of the soundwave, then modulate the remaining signal in opposite paths. In short, it sounds fantastic, and different, and awesome. Today’s pedal is in this vein, but even more powerful and options-laden. The Red Noise Pedals Butterfly Harmonic Tremolo gives you loads of modulation to explore, and giving a warm and articulated tremolo sound that provides pliable tonality and flexibility.
You’ll first notice the large rotary dial on the left hand side of the Butterfly, which allows you to choose from NINE different waveform modes (Ramp Up, Ramp Down, Square, Triangle, Sine, Sweep, Random Levels and Random Slopes). This is really where you start with the Butterfly, and then dial in the sound with the other parameters. There’s another main feature to this tremolo, the LFO/Man toggle switch. Here, you get to decide what the modulation source is – either LFO (modulates automatically and moves according with the chosen wave shape and speed) or Manual (used as a low pass filter). Lots of different sonic paths to take within these two vectors, you’ll have fun exploring both.
As far as the parameters you can use for each mode and waveform, there are a lot here as well. Volume sets the overall output, and Dry/Wet splits in input signal in such a way that a dry signal can be mixed with the wet, processed one. B/T is a Bass and Treble knob that accentuates lows while reducing highs, and vice versa, around a center frequency of 800Hz (when the knob is centered the response is flat). Range determines the range in which the filter is functioning, and the Soft/Hard toggle sets two modes of operation with different Q and depth: Soft is more subtle and shallow, while Hard is more pronounced and choppy.
There’s also an external sync input connected to the Tap Tempo button (which you can use to set the speed regardless of if the pedal is engaged or not). This allows the LFO to be synchronized to an external clock signal, and the circuit provides protection against negative voltages and signals up to 18V. Again, there are tons of options to play with, and each waveform mode provides a different way to engage all of the things that the Butterfly is capable of. If you all don’t know about Red Noise Pedals yet, be sure to visit their website (and check out our review.demo for their Stone Blender Fuzz Engine) for all the goodies they have in store for you. Enjoy our demo below as well, as we navigate through the sea of modulation that encompasses this wonderful piece of gear. Onward and upward!!
GET EXCLUSIVE UPDATES, CONTEST INFO, SEE OUR LATEST DEMO VIDEOS AND MORE:
