Hologram microcosm used full#

Many musicians believe that the Montreal Assembly Count To Five sampler/delay is one of the most confusing pedals ever made, and to be honest, they’re right – it’s a total head-scratcher for first-time users. The limitless potential of the Empress ZOIA makes it a surefire pick for any punter looking to invest in a multi-effects that will truly handle it all, and also makes for a dangerously addictive ambient tool in the hands of the right player.

Hologram microcosm used full#

However, deep-diving into the programming of the pedal reveals its full potential, letting you create dizzying reversed reverbs, wobbly LFO-like waves, funky filters and roaring feedback. To get you started, the ZOIA includes a gamut of pre-built patches for guitar such as phaser, chorus, delay and reverb. The ZOIA isn’t just limited to guitar, either: this unit can be used to create synth patches, control virtual pedalboards, interact with MIDI devices and so much more.

Potentially one of the most groundbreaking effects units released in recent memory, the ZOIA from Empress Effects is nothing short of revolutionary.Īt its core, the ZOIA is a modular synth in the form of a stompbox, utilising a wonderful matrix to let you tweak and combine modules to create whatever sound you please from the ground up. There’s a smattering of dip-switches on the back to tweak the unit even further, while full MIDI implementation makes the MOOD friendly with all kinds of setups – pair it with a droning wavetable synth or a fully fleshed-out pedalboard of your own, and you’ll have Brian Eno sliding into your DMs in no time. However, nothing comes close to topping their mighty MOOD – a wildly unique dual channel granular delay and micro-looper. If that sounds like it’s complicated, it’s because it is: I’ve pored over so many demos for this pedal, and still have no idea what’s exactly going on.Īt a basic level, the MOOD lets you create mini loops and then manipulate them with a range of parameters to create an wide range of textures, ranging from dissonant bit-crushed drones to whistling birdsong, washes of pink noise, hazy evaporating delays and so much more. Let’s check them out! Chase Bliss MOODĬhase Bliss Audio have been considered as trailblazers in the boutique pedal community for a long time now, with units like the Warped Vinyl, Thermae and Tonal Recall being celebrated for their creativity, versatility and design. While many of these units require a lot more attention and technicality than a typical delay or reverb, it’s their complexities that make them the special effects that they are, and once you conquer these kinds of pedals, you’ll become a true master of ambient guitar. Today, we’re exploring the world of ambient guitars and ambient music by checking out seven awesome stompboxes that are suited for creating atmospheric textures, loops and drones. The rise of YouTube phenomenons like ASMR, tape loop drones and lo-fi beats to study/chill to has seen ambient music thrust into the mainstream like never before, and provides musicians with a perfect solution for creatively improvising while staying indoors and self-isolating. Read all our latest features and gear columns here.Īlthough ambient music has proved to fascinate musicians and listeners for decades now, it’s undeniable that in today’s age, it’s more prevalent than ever.

Pedals such as the Chase Bliss MOOD, Montreal Assembly Count To Five and Hologram Electronics Infinite Jets are renowned as being some of the best stompboxes to use for ambient.

By chaining these effects in strategic order, guitarists can create swelling loops, drones and great washes of noise to suit styles such as post-rock, shoegaze, dream-pop and electronic music.

Complex delay, reverb and modulation pedals can be used effectively to create soothing, atmospheric sounds perfect for ambient guitar styles.

Words by Will Brewster Immerse yourself in the sounds of these awe-inspiring effects pedals for ambient guitar stylesįor some guitarists, there’s nothing that comes close to the sensation of chaining a dozen stompboxes together and creating atmospheric loops and drones that swirl, fizz and bubble into the realms of infinity – ahh, ambient guitar and music.Įxploring ambient guitar styles is a rite of passage for anyone who’s off-put by the cranked amps and power stances that tend to dominate popular guitar music, and translate just as well to the studio and stage as they do when you’re jamming solo at home.