The EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath V3 is an experimental reverb pedal built from a network of short digital delays, giving it a very different character from a conventional hall, plate or room reverb.

It can move from smooth ambient space and cavernous decay to scattered echoes, metallic textures, pitch-like movement and full self-oscillation.

V3 adds nine Drag modes plus expression pedal and 0–5V CV control, making it an especially powerful choice for ambient, shoegaze, post-rock and experimental players.

Drag – The Core of the Afterneath

The Drag control changes the spacing between the internal delay lines.

Turn it clockwise and the reflections move closer together for smoother, more traditional reverb textures.

Turn it anticlockwise and the delays begin to separate, creating more obvious rhythmic and scattered echo effects.

Moving Drag while notes are sustaining can also produce dramatic pitch-like movement.

Nine Drag Modes

Afterneath V3 includes nine different Drag behaviours:

1. Unquantized

2. Unquantized with Slew

3. Unquantized Volt/Octave

4. Chromatic

5. Minor

6. Major / Lydian

7. Pentatonic

8. Octaves & Fifths

9. Octaves

These modes let Drag behave as anything from a smooth continuous control to a quantised pitch-style parameter.

Expression & CV Control

A dedicated EXP input allows Drag to be controlled in real time.

It can be used with:

• Expression pedal

• 0–5V CV source

• Modular and synthesiser setups

This opens up sweeping delay changes, rhythmic movement and pitch-like performance effects.

Self-Oscillation

The Reflect control sets the amount of regeneration.

At higher settings, the Afterneath can move into self-oscillation, creating:

• Sustained drones

• Evolving ambient washes

• Repeating resonances

• Feedback textures

• Experimental pitch movement

Combined with Drag control, this turns the pedal into a genuine sound-design tool.

Seven Controls

Length – Sets reverb decay.

Diffuse – Changes the reflections from distinct repeats to smoother ambience.

Dampen – Adjusts the high-frequency response.

Drag – Changes delay-line spacing.

Reflect – Controls regeneration and feedback.

Mix – Sets the wet/dry balance.

Mode – Selects one of the nine Drag behaviours.

Flexi-Switch Operation

Afterneath V3 uses EarthQuaker Devices' Flexi-Switch system.

This allows:

• Standard latching operation

• Momentary operation by holding the footswitch

Momentary operation is particularly useful for dropping short bursts of huge reverb or experimental delay textures into a performance.

Key Features

• EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath V3

• Enhanced Otherworldly Reverberator

• Experimental digital reverb

• Short-delay network architecture

• 9 Drag modes

• Smooth and quantised Drag operation

• Expression pedal control

• 0–5V CV compatibility

• Self-oscillation capability

• Length control

• Diffuse control

• Dampen control

• Drag control

• Reflect control

• Mix control

• Mode selector

• Flexi-Switch operation

• Electronic buffered bypass

• Compact pedalboard-friendly format

Power Requirements

• 9V DC

• Centre negative

• Approx. 100mA current draw

No power supply is included.

Ideal For

• Ambient

• Shoegaze

• Post-rock

• Psychedelic music

• Drone

• Experimental music

• Cinematic textures

• Synth processing

• Modular/CV setups

• Studio sound design

• Self-oscillating effects

Fair Deal Music Verdict

The Afterneath V3 is one of EarthQuaker Devices' most distinctive reverb pedals.

It can produce huge, beautifully diffused ambience, but its real strength is how far it can move beyond conventional reverb once you start working with Drag, Reflect and the nine operating modes.

With expression or CV control, it becomes even more interactive, allowing you to manipulate delay spacing and pitch-like movement in real time.

For players who want reverb to become an active part of the performance rather than simply adding space behind the dry signal, the Afterneath V3 offers a huge amount of creative potential.

Fair Deal Music is an independent, family-run music retailer established in Birmingham in 1987.