We had some very lofty goals in mind with Cloudburst, and foremost on the list was creating the best-sounding single algorithm reverb we possibly could. We knew that we wanted to provide the spacious experiences from BigSky’s Cloud machine at higher decay settings, and we set about tailoring the short end of the decay range to generate a huge variety of natural and studio-quality smaller spaces as well.

In addition, we wanted to provide a whole new variety of sounds never before heard from a reverb pedal, which we accomplished in part with the addition of our new Ensemble effect. Ensemble’s design ensures a natural and artifact-free interaction between the reverb and your guitar signal, so with the switch in its mezzo piano (or “moderately soft”) position, it can subtly enhance the character of the reverberated signal, while it can yield huge string ensemble effects reminiscent of vintage polyphonic “string machine” synthesizers when set to forte.

Finally, we wanted to create something that was easier to use than any product we’d ever designed. As a result, there are no secondary or “hidden” functions on Cloudburst – it’s controlled by just a few knobs and a switch, exactly as they’re labeled, so you can dial up the perfect sound instantly with no fuss.

Knob Functions

Decay

The Decay knob on Cloudburst does some seriously heavy lifting.

Not only does it control the duration of the reverb tail, but it also dramatically transforms the character of the reverb via a number of continuous under-the-hood adjustments, allowing you to discover countless new musical and inspiring sounds at different points all along the dial.

Even tiny adjustments of this knob can yield noticeable changes to the character of the reverb, so the Decay control is central to the operation of Cloudburst.

Harmonic Magic

Cloudburst’s Ensemble effect works by continuously analyzing 48 different frequency bands as you play, generating upper harmonic partials of what it finds in each frequency band.

Rather than generating a static synthetic signal based solely on pitch detection, Ensemble is a dynamic and organic effect that generates harmonics based on your playing, varying its sonic character depending on where you pick, which pickup you use, and the volume envelope of what you play.

The result is a gorgeous string ensemble-like expansion of your reverberated signal that creates a unique and unforgettable playing and listening experience.

Mix And Match

Cloudburst’s Mix knob adjusts the reverb mix from full dry at minimum to full wet at maximum (a 50/50 mix occurs at approximately 3 o’clock on the knob).

Use moderate mix settings and darker tone settings combined with short decay times to create a variety of realistic small spaces, or soar through huge ambient cloudscapes with liberal mix settings and high decay times. 

Additional power-up modes allow for kill-dry (for use in parallel effects loops) and an analog dry path option.

Maintain Clarity

A dedicated Pre-delay control lets you add space between your dry signal and the reverb — a handy tool for maintaining clarity when using higher Mix and Decay settings.

Longer pre-delay times can be useful for creating swells or blooms after notes or chords, and shorter values can be used to create reverberant slap-back echoes when the reverb is set to a smaller space.

Tailor Your Tone

Cloudburst’s Tone knob controls the amount of high frequencies within the reverb, with a damped high end at minimum and no damping at all at maximum.

Keep the Tone control low to minimize Cloudburst’s effect on your overall guitar tone, and bring it up high to make the reverb the center of attention.

Or, control it with an expression pedal to create dramatic filtering effects in combination with long Decay times and Ensemble, if you’re feeling adventurous.

Lush Modulation

The lush effects created by modulating the lengths of a reverb’s delay lines can add movement and interest to the overall reverb sound, and Cloudburst takes it to the next level (especially when used together with Ensemble).

The Mod control operates as modulation depth from minimum to 12 o’clock, and as modulation speed from noon to maximum, where warbly “vintage sci-fi” pitch modulation can be found