Chase Bliss Audio Dark World Dual Channel Reverb - Pedal of the Day

Chase Bliss Audio Dark World Dual Channel Reverb

Posted By Pedal of the Day on Thursday, August 8, 2019 in Chase Bliss, Delay / Reverb | 0 comments



Chase Bliss Audio Dark World Dual Channel Reverb

Let’s face it: we all know about Chase Bliss Audio and their contribution to the effects pedal world by now, right? From their classic Warped Vinyl and Wombtone flagship effects to the uber-popular Tonal Recall and Thermae delays, as well as the most recent M O O D Granular Looper and a bunch of others in their lineup, the innovation and advancement they’ve brought to the table is quite stellar. In keeping with this slew of inventive gadgets, we bring you today’s featured piece of gear: the Dark World. A dual channel reverb, with one side designed by Cooper FX and the other by Keeley Electronics, this is a fully digital offering, but one that keeps all the patented CBA options and quality you’ve come to know and love. This is one ambient machine that is destined for the far reaches of outer space….and beyond….

The Dark channel, from Cooper FX, features three reverb programs for you to select from. Mod is a warbly, wispy, degraded VHS emulator; Shim features an infinite-style decay; Black samples and freezes the audio based on your playing dynamics, for a wild sustained loop kind of effect. The Decay knob changes its function depending on which mode you’re in (Mod = Decay Time; Shim = LFO Time Switching; Black = Incoming Audio Sensitivity). The Modify changes via the Mode setting as well – in Mod mode, it controls the warble/hiss of a failing video cassette. In Shim mode, it sets an octave that gets mixed into the reverb, and in Black mode, it controls the frozen audio’s volume.

The World channel, from Keeley Electronics, also features three reverb algorithms, each with its own classic flavor and tone. Hall, Plate and Spring modes give you everything you could want in a real-life reverb emulator, and deliver the goods without compromise. These vintage modes are controlled by two parameters: Dwell sets the intensity and decay time of the reverberated sounds, while Pre-Delay controls the amount of space between the note attack and the reverb reflections. This knob has a range that goes from 0ms all the way up to 200ms, giving you plenty of room to work with.

The Mix knob blends the wet and dry signals, keeping your dry path always 100% analog, with additional Gain adjustments available via internal trimmers. The Tone knob is another wild addition: on the Dark channel, it represents a slightly resonant low pass filter for each mode contained within. On the World channel, it employs a gentler, perhaps more traditional low pass filter in Spring mode, with a slightly darker top end than in the Hall and Plate selections. You can turn on each side individually, or combine them both at once for an all-out auditory revelation, and an experience which has yet to be recreated here in our studio.

There’s one more toggle, used when both sides are activated: PARA sets the two channels in parallel, while D > W and W > D determine which side cascades into the other. You can also interface the Dark World with MIDI via the 1/4″ MIDI jack, for use with the Chase Bliss Midibox. The now-famous Dip Switches on the top of the pedal give you even more control over the parameters, especially when assigning them to an external Expression pedal, or using an external CV source. There are also two Presets available via the toggle switch located between the Bypass buttons, for on-the-fly recalling of your favorite settings.

What else can we say? The Dark World is a truly unique, creative and inspiring musical tool, and definitely one that simply cannot be passed up by reverb enthusiasts. Cheers to the crews at Cooper FX and Keeley Electronics for their development of these invigorating and inspiring reverb sides, and for Joel and all at Chase Bliss Audio for making it all come together in a neat and tidy package. For a small sampling of what’s happening in the Dark World, be sure to peruse our demo video below – won’t waste any time tracking one of these guys down afterwards, believe us!

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