Superbooth 2025: Polyend MESS is a new FX pedal that pairs over 120 creative FX algorithms with four-track step sequencing
Effect processors are available in hardware and software. They usually offer a classic concept: one effect or several chained together. Software is sometimes different. Here, other concepts are also explored, as demonstrated by plugins like Sugar Bytes Effectrix or Looperator. They combine effects with sequences.
For Superbooth 2025, Polyend is launching MESS, a hardware pedal stereo FX that is a kind of Effectrix but in hardware.
Polyend MESS
MESS is a new stereo FX pedal that brings the concept of multi-effect sequencing into hardware. Polyend describes MESS as a texture machine, glitch generator, ambient super-pedal, or anything in between.
The pedal consists of four slots, each of which can host one FX algorithm. The algorithm palette is huge: There are 120+ effect algorithms to choose from. You can find shapers and filters like distortion, saturation, overdrive, bit crusher, sample rate reducer, and various filters, including formant filter.
Then, it includes comprehensive pitch-shifting options, alongside versatile spectral processors to transform and reshape sounds differently. Of course, you can find delays and reverbs in different colorizations. There are seven primary reverb types with multiple sub-modes, including chamber reverbs, hall reverbs, and more.
Besides the reverb, it also ships with plenty of delays: analog modes, digital, multi-tap, and ping-pong modes for rhythmic and spatial variety. Onboard are also modulation FX such as different flavors of chorus (analog, stereo), vibrato, flanger, phaser, or a tape modulator.
Granular & Glitch Tools
Things get much more fun and exciting with the creative, unusual effects. Polyend hosts advanced granular and glitch tools. You can explore nine different granular engines categorized in two sections: Granular Burst and Particle Sampler.
For example, the Portrait mode in the Granular Burst section uses large granular windows for a repeater or droplet-style sound. Scatter in the Particle Sampler section scatters the sample for a glitchy wash sound across a wide range of time.
That’s not all. There are also six different micro-looping algorithms (slice, stereo slice, dropper, etc.) that chop up a signal in a different creative way. These engines are designed for experimental sound design, such as rhythmic fragmentation, tight repeats, stutters, or dropouts.
Sequence Multi-FX
Once placed in the four slots, you can sequence the individual effect blocks. A process familiar from Sugar Bytes Effectrix and other plugins. You can sequence each parameter of the effect engines.
Unlike traditional FX stompboxes, the effect is only active when it passes through an active step. You can turn two steps on at the beginning, then turn four off, and then six again later. This creates evolving effect patterns and sounds.
The sequencer engine also offers features to spice things up further. Polyend MESS’ sequencer includes custom length and speed for each sequence for polyrhythms or polymeters, per-step chance options, and more.
Connectivity
Polyend MESS works in stereo. On the backside, you can find a 9-18VDC power supply input, a reset input, a USB-C port, a microSD card slot, MIDI In/Out on TRS jacks, an expression pedal input, a stereo input jack, and left/right mono outputs for stereo operation.
“With MESS, our aim was to strike a balance between deep flexibility and immediate playability,” said Piotr Raczynski, founder of Polyend. “We wanted to design something that encourages experimentation without overwhelming the user—something fun, fast, and intuitive on the surface, but capable of deep customization for those who want to dive in.
It’s a new way of thinking about a multi-effect box, a middle ground between your standard multi-effect and a modular-style pedal,including plenty of customization options without requiring that you know how to build a flanger from scratch. All the building blocks are ready to go, you just tweak and sequence them, which is really fun!”
First Impression
I like to experiment with effects differently using plugins like Sugar Bytes Effectrix, Looperator, or even Sinevibe’s Sequential. I love using sequencing effects on other sequence-based instruments like drum machines to make them more complex and varied.
Since I find such plugins inspiring, I’m pleased that this type of sound processor is now available in hardware. It remains to be seen how high-quality the effects are and whether the sequencer works seamlessly with other devices, mainly how tightly it works with the clock. It looks very promising. I also like how hands-on it is.
Polyend MESS will be available for 599€ in late June 2025.
More information here: Polyend
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