Empress Zoia Modular Synth Pedal

Brand

Empress

Category

Guitar Pedals

Tags

Chorus

Delay

A delay pedal records your signal and plays it back after a set time, creating echoes that can range from tight, slapback repeats to long, atmospheric trails. It’s one of the most versatile effects, used to thicken tones, add rhythmic depth, or build spacious, ambient layers. Analogue delays offer warm, decaying repeats that blend naturally with your tone, while digital units provide pristine echoes with precise control over time, feedback, and mix levels.

From classic rockabilly and tape-style echoes to modern looping and shimmer effects, delay pedals have become essential tools for shaping sound. They can make solos soar, rhythms pulse, or transform simple chord progressions into cinematic textures. Whether used subtly to add dimension or boldly to create soundscapes, a good delay pedal can completely redefine the feel and atmosphere of your music.

Distortion

Distortion pedals take your clean guitar signal and transform it into something bigger, bolder, and full of attitude. By clipping the waveform, they add sustain, bite, and aggression, creating that thick, compressed tone that’s powered rock music for decades. From the growling crunch of classic hard rock to the tight, saturated roar of modern metal, distortion is all about energy and presence. It gives every note weight and authority, pushing your amp to its limits and beyond.

There are countless flavours of distortion, each with its own texture and edge. Some sound smooth and creamy, others raw and gnarly like tearing fabric. It’s the sonic equivalent of turning up the heat until the sound cooks — rich, sizzling, and perfectly seasoned to taste. Whether used for rhythm muscle or soaring leads, a good distortion pedal doesn’t just add volume; it adds personality, grit, and that unmistakable sense of power under your fingers.

envelope filter

MIDI

MIDI pedals use the Musical Instrument Digital Interface standard to communicate with other guitar pedals, effects units, and hardware. They allow control over presets, parameters, and switching across multiple devices from a single controller. MIDI integration makes it possible to build complex, synchronised pedal setups while keeping control simple and consistent.

New

This is brand new, fresh in, and a UK warranty is included. New Gear always comes from trusted UK music retailers.

Phaser

A phaser is a type of guitar effects pedal that creates a swirling, sweeping sound by modulating the phase of the audio signal. It works by splitting the incoming signal into two paths, shifting the phase of one path, and then recombining them. This creates peaks and troughs in the frequency spectrum, resulting in a distinctive, “phasing” effect characterized by moving notches in the frequency response.

Here’s how a phaser pedal typically works and some common features:

1. **Rate**: The rate control adjusts the speed at which the phase-shifting effect oscillates. Increasing the rate produces faster modulation, creating a more pronounced swirling effect, while decreasing the rate slows down the modulation for a smoother, more subtle effect.

2. **Depth**: The depth control adjusts the intensity or depth of the phase-shifting effect. Higher depth settings result in more pronounced peaks and troughs in the frequency response, while lower settings produce a more subtle modulation.

3. **Feedback (or Regeneration)**: Some phaser pedals feature a feedback control that determines the amount of modulated signal fed back into the effect. Increasing the feedback creates more pronounced peaks and troughs in the frequency spectrum, resulting in a more intense and resonant phasing effect.

4. **Stages**: Phasers typically have multiple stages (usually four, six, or eight), each of which contributes to the overall phase-shifting effect. More stages generally result in a more complex and textured phasing sound.

5. **Sweep (or Manual)**: The sweep control adjusts the center frequency of the phase-shifting effect. This allows you to focus the phasing effect on specific frequency ranges, altering the tonal character of the modulation.

6. **Resonance (or Feedback)**: Some phaser pedals feature a resonance control that emphasizes the peaks and troughs in the frequency response, creating a more pronounced and resonant effect. This control can add richness and depth to the phasing sound.

Phaser pedals are commonly used in various music genres, including rock, funk, and psychedelic music, to add movement, depth, and texture to guitar tones. They can be used to create swirling, swirling effects on rhythm parts, add dynamics to lead lines, or create atmospheric textures for ambient music. Overall, phaser pedals offer guitarists a versatile tool for shaping their tone and adding expressive modulation effects to their playing.

Synth

A synth pedal transforms your guitar signal into rich, layered tones that mimic the sounds of a synthesiser. Using pitch tracking and waveform generation, it can produce everything from deep bass lines to shimmering pads and futuristic leads. Synth pedals open up a wide creative range, blending the expressiveness of guitar playing with electronic textures, making them ideal for experimental sounds, ambient music, or adding a modern edge to classic riffs.

Tremolo

A tremolo pedal modulates the volume of your guitar signal up and down in a rhythmic pattern, creating a pulsing or wavering effect that can sound vintage and hypnotic or sharp and choppy depending on the settings. It’s one of the oldest effects in guitar history, famously used on classic amps from the 1950s and ’60s.

Most tremolo pedals let you control the speed, depth, and wave shape, allowing you to go from smooth, subtle swells to intense stuttering tones. It’s a simple but expressive effect that adds movement and character to your sound.

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