Neonegg Planetarium 2 is a beautiful, boutique reverb/echo processor with built-in compressor & external side chaining for epic ambient sounds, modulated echoes & more.
Something from an indie effect manufacturer. Neonegg recently released the second version of its Planetarium, an effect processor pedal optimized for Synthesizer sounds. Planetarium v2 is a stereo reverb and chorus, running into an echo including stereo modulation, which then runs into a compressor. The latter offers external sidechain what is pretty handy to make pumping effects.
It can create smaller more realistic reverbs but also big, lush swirling reverbs and echos perfect for ambient, drones, or any other electronic music style. The pedal also works nicely with other pedals in combination: “combine it with a fuzz pedal though and you’ve got instant post-rock”. 
The chorus and modulated echoes make a beautiful combination and will create tapey wobbly magic from any instrument you choose to run through the pedal. The pedal can create monstrous walls of evolving sound and that can be seen nicely in the sound demo on Instagram. Here, the developer sends a simple, relatively cheap keyboard through the P2 and it sounds huge and lush.
Not only the pedal stands out because of the great sound but also because of its slightly different design. It doesn’t have the typical shape of a pedal, more like a tabletop synth. The individual areas are beautifully separated in color, what makes the workflow faster and easier. Neonegg has improved his pedal again and built-in new features that make the pedal more versatile and flexible. The new version can do everything the original Planetarium could but expanded.
If you spend a few months building the same thing over and over, the little things that slow you down really start to get annoying.. Most of the changes to the v2 Planetarium are just related to the layout in order to make it a bit less fiddly to build, but I did take the opportunity to add a few new features as well:
New In Neonegg Planetarium 2
- Added modulation shape switch.
- Subtle modulation is now possible in ‘reel’ mode.
- Added compressor ’short/long’ switch. This makes it much easier to dial in the exact settings you want. Also widens the available range of available attack and release times.
- Compressor detection circuit is now stereo rather than dual mono. This stops the stereo image from pulling sideways if for example you have a loud drum hit on only one channel.
- Added reverb/delay output pad switch (on the back panel). If you are using a quiet instrument you can now crank up the input trim to hit the reverb and delay at the optimum level, then pad the output down so your level remains consistent when you bypass the pedal.
- Mono/stereo switching is now done with a switching jack rather than a switch on the rear panel.
- The Planetarium 2 runs off a 15v power supply (included) for increased headroom and to allow for additional power filtering. Depending on your settings it can now output up to about 10v peak to peak, meaning that in many situations you may be able to interface with eurorack gear without needing a ‘go between’ module.
- Changed the LED colours (because the pulsating pink LEDs looked too good not to). Also made them a bit dimmer so they don’t blind you on stage.
- Wooden ends are now made from oak. Walnut ends are still available on request.
- Various other little tweaks to the circuit.
Neonegg Planetarium 2 is available now for £319 +VAT.
More information here: Neonegg
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