Ben and Karl of EarthQuaker Devices stopped by the Reverb HQ studio to show off the full range of some of their extraordinary pedals. One of the most impressive aspects of the EarthQuaker line is their ability to be applied to any signal subtly or to create the zaniest, most unconventional sounds you can dream up.
With Karl on the mic and Ben adjusting the pedals, the two walk us through six of their ever-expanding line of devices, many of which seem to lie at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of tone. The Arpanoid, EQD’s polyphonic pitch arpeggiator, gives you glitchy arpeggios that jump abruptly from pitch to pitch while their Sea Machine chorus can bring anything from a simple chorus to crazy, hyper-modulated underwater tones. Three voice settings give the Fuzz Master General a gnarly, crunchy fuzz but the Afterneath builds cavernous, otherworldly reverb.
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The Pitch Bay, EarthQuaker’s polyphonic pitch harmonizer, offers separate controls over up- and down-harmonies as well as an overdrive that pushes your harmonies into a harsh grind. Finally, Karl and Ben demonstrate the Rainbow Machine, perhaps one of EQD’s most unique pedals - not only is it a powerful pitch shifter and delay, but it includes a “Magic” control which, for lack of a better term, adjusts the “weirdness” of the pitch shift or delay.
Watch the video to hear all of these pedals in action, and then to hear Ben and Karl jam out on a drum machine and modular synth using their own chosen combination of EarthQuaker pedals.
