Strymon Nightsky Time Warped Reverberator

The Strymon NightSky Time-Warped Reverberator is an advanced, experimental stereo reverb pedal that functions more like a reverberant synthesis workstation than a traditional stompbox. It's designed for deep sound design, ambient textures, and pitch manipulation, offering hands-on control without extensive menu diving.

Its core feature is the Variable Process Rate which allows you to simultaneously manipulate the size and the pitch of the reverb core, leading to its signature "time-warped" sounds.

Key Sections and Controls

1. Decay Section (Reverb Core)

• TEXTURE: Selects one of three distinct reverb algorithms:

  • Sparse: Granular, with audible, distinct echoes suitable for sound design.

  • Dense: Immediate, smooth response, similar to a plate reverb.

  • Diffuse: Slow-building, atmospheric wash, excellent for swells and ambient textures.

• LENGTH: Controls the decay time, ranging from short to nearly infinite sustain.

• SIZE/PITCH: Increases the size of the virtual space. When audio is in the core, adjusting this knob also transposes the pitch of the reverb tails.

• QUANTIZE: Determines the response of the SIZE/PITCH knob:

  • Smooth: Continuous, free pitch variation (over $2.5$ octaves).

  • Half Step: Pitch is quantized to chromatic half-steps.

  • Scale: Pitch is quantized to a selectable musical scale.

2. Voice Section (Harmonic & Drive)

• SHIMMER: Adds pitch-shifted harmonics to the reverb. The $\text{Interval}$ knob selects the pitch shift (up to $1$ octave) and the effect can be set to $\text{Regenerate}$ within the core for continuous ascent/descent.

• GLIMMER: A dynamic resonant filter that enhances the harmonic spectrum. It can be set to accentuate either $\text{High}$ or $\text{Low}$ frequencies, creating synth-like textures.

• DRIVE: Adds soft-clipping saturation and overdriven harmonics. Can be placed $\text{Pre}$ (before the reverb core) or $\text{Post}$ (on the reverb output).

3. Tone Section (Filtering)

• LOW CUT: High-pass filter to remove low frequencies from the output and the regenerating core.

• HIGH CUT: Low-pass filter to remove high frequencies, with two modes:

  • Regen: Filters highs from the regenerating core, causing the reverb to get darker as it decays.

  • Low Pass: Applies a resonant, synth-like $4$-pole filter to the reverb output (with adjustable resonance via a secondary function).

4. Mod Section (Modulation)

• SHAPE: Selects the $\text{LFO}$ waveform (Triangle, Square, Ramp, Saw, Random, or Envelope).

• TARGET: Assigns the $\text{LFO}$ to modulate the $\text{Verb}$ delay lines, the $\text{Pitch}$ (Size/Pitch knob), or the $\text{Filter}$ (High Cut knob).

• SPEED & DEPTH: Controls the rate and amount of the $\text{LFO}$.

5. Sequencer & Performance

• 8-Step Sequencer: A built-in sequencer to rhythmically program the SIZE/PITCH control, with variable $\text{Glide}$ for smooth pitch transitions between steps.

• INFINITE Footswitch: Latches the reverb decay to $\text{infinite sustain}$ (freezing the audio in the core). Holding this switch also accesses the sequencer.

• MORPH: A powerful performance feature that allows you to seamlessly transition or "morph" all current knob settings to an alternate set of stored parameters with a single footswitch press.

• Presets: Stores 16 presets accessible from the front panel and up to 300 via $\text{MIDI}$.

• Connectivity: Full stereo $\text{I/O}$, $\text{Expression Pedal}$ input, $\text{MIDI In/Out}$, and a switch for $\text{Instrument}$ or $\text{Line Level}$ sources.