EarthQuaker Devices - Sea Machine V3 Mega Chorus Pedal
The Sea Machine is a chorus pedal with as many modulation possibilities as there are fish in the ocean. That's a lot of fish. And a lot of modulation. From subtle, shimmery chorus sounds to wobbly, seasick, warbly pitch-bent detuning that rocks the boat, the Sea Machine is the audio bait that'll help you reel in the big one.
A variable waveshape LFO (adjustable via the Shape control) modulates your chorus tone from a smooth triangle shape, to a rough and choppy square wave, and an extended delay line allows you to dive deeper into uncharted modulated waters than ever before. Other LFO controls include Rate, which sets the speed of the LFO, and Depth, which sets how strongly the LFO modulates the delay time.
The delay line has controls for Dimension, Animate, and Intensity. The Dimension control adds a slightly detuned slapback at low levels, reverb-like ambience at mid-levels, and a trippy echo-resonance that leads to self-oscillation when cranked. The Animate control is the real pearl in the Sea Machine's oyster, if you will. This controls how far the pitch swings. At lower settings, you'll hear slight detuning for a subtle double-tracked thickening effect, a la traditional chorus pedals. As you increase the Animate control, the pitch swings further and further away from the root note for an effect that lies somewhere between chorus and vibrato, before landing at full tilt on sonar-like oscillations that sound more like a giant monster-movie beast awaking from its undersea slumber than any effects pedal we've ever heard. Finally, the Intensity control rounds out the delay line, adjusting the blend between the modulated and dry signals.
Sea Machine has been designed to work well following fuzz / overdrive / distortion pedals without getting muddy, lowering in output, or breaking up. Also, when engaged, the Sea Machine's transparent buffer leaves the all-analog dry signal unaltered and crystal clear.
V3 UPDATES - JUNE 2017:
- Improved circuitry for better performance, cleaner sound, and lower noise
- More range added to almost every control from subtle modulation to extreme oscillation
- Silent relay-based switching
Hear the Sea Machine on Soundcloud.
Features
• Mega Chorus
• Unique "Animate" and "Dimension" controls offer ultimate control over parameters rarely seen in a chorus
• Variable waveshape LFO from triangle to square wave
• Miniature LED displays LFO rate, even when bypassed
• Designed to work well following fuzz, distortion or overdrive without getting muddy, reducing volume or breaking up
• More range added to almost every control from subtle modulation to extreme oscillation
• Improved circuitry for better performance and lower noise
• New artwork
• True bypass
• Silent relay-based switching
• All-analog dry signal path
Specs
Dimensions: 4.625" x 2.5" x 2.25" with knobs
Power: Takes a standard 9 volt DC power supply with a 2.1mm negative center barrel.
Current draw: 50 mA