EarthQuaker Devices Astral Destiny is a new guitar pedal that fuses an octaver, a lush reverb and modulation in one compact, versatile pedal.
The boys and girls from EarthQuaker Devices have released very unusual and unique-sounding pedals in recent years. Kudos to the manufacturer, who always provides pedal demos with synthesizers. That’s rare and yes there is a new pedal from the EQD for the virtual NAMM 2021.
EarthQuaker Devices Astral Destiny
Astral Destiny core is based on three elements: an octave, reverb, and modulation who act together as an alliance. It has 8 reverb modes including huge reverbs, pitch-bending, shimmer, and more. 8 exciting algorithms that are less common with classic reverbs.
- Abyss: huge reverb with no octave effect
- Shimmer: adds an upper octave to the reverb tail
- Sub: upper and lower octave to the reverb tail
- Sub Shimmer: upper & lower octave in the reverb tail
- Astral: upper and lower octave combined with a regenerating tail
- Ascend: upward pitch bending
- Descend: downward pitch bending
- Cosmos: adds a regenerating fifth to the reverb tail
The sound demo nicely shows the characters of the respective algorithms. Each of them takes you on a galactic journey. Not as flat as classic reverb but with a lot of elements (pitch-bending…) that brings them to life.
Live Or Preset
Astral Destiny is operable in two modes either in live or preset. In Live, you have different parameters with which you can adjust the sound including length, depth, rate, tone, and mix. Plus an expression assignment and the stretch footswitch. The latter is very interesting because it doubles the length of the reverb effect while adding a temporary change in pitch. Then in preset mode, you can recall one of the 8 available presets that can edited and overwritten.
At first glance, the new EQD Astral Destiny is very appealing. Mainly because it’s not a classic reverb pedal but one that really shines with a unique sound and feature set. And as the sound demos prove, also lovely with synths. A minus, unfortunately, it has no stereo input and output. Mono. Hopefully, there will be a big stereo version.
EarthQuaker Devices Astral Destiny is available soon for $199 USD
More information here: EQD
EarthQuaker Devices pedals are available at our partners
Hardware Effects News
Mono…. don’t understand that. Same reaction after they released their mono Afterneath module.
Actually… Scratch that, I just realised that guitars are mono and therefore most guitar pedals are mono. How the hell did I get to 61 and not realise that.
don’t forget synths and pedals are great and I would very welcome more stereo pedals. Many pedal developers design their products for products, unfortunately.
Yep, forgot that Earthquaker only make guitar pedals…