Exploring the world of reverb and modulation can be a thrilling journey for any musician. Today, we’re diving into the intricacies of two powerhouse pedals: the Hologram Electronics Microcosm and the Chroma Console. Both of these extraordinary boxes offer a myriad of features, but how do they compare when it comes to reverb and modulation?
Clean Tone Setup
For our comparison, we’re using a Fender Custom Shop Telecaster running through a Walrus Audio 385 MkII. The signal then goes mono into the Microcosm and stereo out, followed by the Chroma Console in stereo. Finally, everything is interfaced through an HX Stomp.
Chroma Console: Reverb and Modulation
Starting with the Chroma Console, this pedal is renowned for its rich, dynamic reverb and versatile modulation options. Here’s a rundown of its capabilities:
Reverb Settings: The Chroma Console offers four distinct reverb types, each selectable by holding down a button and rotating a knob. These reverbs range from short, subtle ambiances to long, immersive soundscapes.
Modulation Control: Modulation within the reverb can be fine-tuned using the drift knob, which adjusts the LFO rate. You can achieve everything from gentle swells to intense, warbling effects.
Secondary Functions: The Chroma Console allows for intricate control over the reverb and modulation settings through its secondary function mode. This includes adjusting the reverb time, depth, shape, and resonance of the modulation.
Microcosm: Reverb and Modulation
The Microcosm, on the other hand, is a different beast altogether. Known for its experimental capabilities, it offers a unique approach to reverb and modulation:
Reverb Settings: Similar to the Chroma Console, the Microcosm features multiple reverb settings, adjustable via the time knob. These settings allow you to choose between different reverb signatures.
Modulation Control: The Microcosm excels in modulation control, providing options to adjust the depth, frequency, resonance, and filter of the modulation. This makes it easy to create complex and evolving reverb textures.
Ease of Use: One standout feature of the Microcosm is its user-friendly interface, allowing quick adjustments on the fly. This makes it a great choice for live performances where real-time tweaking is essential.
Head-to-Head Comparison
When it comes to reverb and modulation, both pedals offer impressive capabilities, but they cater to slightly different needs:
Chroma Console: Best suited for those who require a wide range of reverb types with deep modulation control. Its secondary function mode provides unparalleled precision, making it ideal for studio settings where meticulous adjustments are necessary.
Microcosm: Perfect for musicians who love to experiment with sound. Its intuitive interface and extensive modulation options make it a versatile tool for creating unique and evolving soundscapes.
Personal Preference: Which One to Choose?
Choosing between the Chroma Console and the Microcosm ultimately comes down to personal preference and the specific needs of your musical projects:
If you prefer a pedal with a vast array of precise reverb and modulation settings, the Chroma Console might be your best bet.
If you enjoy exploring and creating new sounds with a more hands-on, experimental approach, the Microcosm could be the ideal choice.
[Music]
okay hey how's it
going so uh here's another random
thoughts by me um well I haven't called
any of them random thoughts May me
before so I was thinking to myself uh
you know we talked about like uh these
two pedals from Electronics we've talked
about the microcosm and the chroma
console uh in regards to the
similarities and differences of their
Looper and looping functions and so
today I thought like hey let's check out
the similarities and differences in
their reverbs and the modulation within
those reverbs before we get too far down
the
line let's turn these off here is my
clean tone it is my Fender Custom Shop
Telly into the walrus audio 385 Mark I
microcosm mono in stereo out chroma
console stereo in out and the ax stop
which is the interface so here is the uh
clean
[Music]
tone okay so let's start with the chroma
console and here is uh just a little bit
of a sweep of the Reverb and the
modulation therein
[Music]
I just did a little secondary uh
function and pulled the drift knob down
which adjusted the rate of that LFO
[Music]
d
[Music]
very nice okay so to get uh kind of a
Reaver B only out of here the way you do
it is you put Looper in the Looper only
mode um Looper on Looper
only um and then just to be sure I turn
all the activity off
and the rest of it should be fine so
then you have this
[Music]
just to make sure that mod is all the
way low hold down that shift and rotate
that
[Music]
knob maybe take the time of that Reverb
down a bit
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
so the Reverb time I forgot to tell you
uh acts in a different way like there's
four there's four different reverbs so
sorry let me uh 1 2 3 four and trying to
do this one-handedly no you know just do
it twoh handedly to make it easier for
you to see hold that down one
[Music]
two
three
[Music]
four um I go to number two on this one
[Music]
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
now the way you start adding in the
modulation is by selecting that adding
some depth going to do the shape let's
do a square and the resonance let's do
it there for
fun deeper there
[Music]
sorry this has this was the frequency
secondary frequency so it's a very very
[Music]
slow then as you crank that up it gets
[Music]
faster oh it gets really swimmy
[Laughter]
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
oh man that gets
[Music]
warbly so I tend to keep it a little
more
subtle right
[Music]
so on the microc microcosm you can
switch a bit more you can adjust the
Reverb um the space and how long um like
space being I guess a world depth and
whatnot the time is is basically like
which of the four signatures uh sounds
you want then you go modulation you can
do adjust the depth you can adjust the
frequency uh the resonance and the
filter so the shape doesn't really do
anything on that only like when you're
doing Looper only versus the choma
console where you can adjust the amount
you can adjust the effect I'm hitting
the button on accident the volume of the
effect you can adjust the length of time
and then the drift which is basically
the modulation similar different really
cool
[Music]
together so thanks again that was a
quick one as far as things here go
appreciate you being here appreciate it
all uh make sure to like subscribe
comment uh we love the interaction and
uh if you would also check out our
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there for our monthly collaborators
right until next time peace
