Patrick describes affordability as central to what the company does:
"trying to keep pedals affordable while also still being high quality is a big part of what I try to do with ICA"
How the company started
Patrick's route into selling pedals was informal. He designed a few effects for himself and friends, and only after getting a smart phone and signing up for the internet did he begin selling them1. The company remains a workshop operation rather than a factory, with the founder doing the building in North London1.
The pedals
The range covers modulation, lo-fi time effects and distortion, all under medical names453.
| Pedal | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery Phase | Dual modulation: bi-phase and phase shift/tremolo | Current2 |
| FIDELEATER | Lo-fi chorus/vibrato/delay | Current3 |
| Vena Cava Filter | Distortion with auto-filter and ring modulation | Current6 |
| Death Muff | Effects pedal with 4 controls | Sold out7 |
| Death Drive | All-analog overdrive and distortion | Sold out5 |
The Recovery Phase is the company's modulation flagship: a dual modulation unit capable of bi-phase and phase shift plus tremolo effects2. Its two 8-position rotary switches each select one of eight LFO waveforms, Random Slopes, Random Steps, Sweep, Sine, Triangle, Square, Ramp Down and Ramp Up, with LFO 1 driving the phase shifting and LFO 2 handling either secondary phase shifting or tremolo2. A mode control switches LFO 2 between PHASE and TREM behavior2.
The FIDELEATER is a lo-fi chorus, vibrato and delay pedal in one3. Its UNTIE control extends the delay time, shifting the pedal's behavior from chorus into more delay-like territory and intensifying the modulation3.
On the dirt side, the Death Drive is an original, all-analog overdrive and distortion pedal, and the maker describes it as a high-output device suitable for pushing tube amplifiers further into breakup5. The Death Muff offers 4 controls, which the maker's medical-themed copy calls "a range of available remedies"7. The Vena Cava Filter combines a distortion pedal with an auto-filter and ring modulation6.
As of late October 2026, both the Death Muff and the Death Drive are listed as sold out on the maker's own product pages75. Players wanting those circuits may need to wait for a restock or find one second-hand.
Where they are made and how they ship
All Intensive Care Audio pedals are built in London, England, using high-quality components and featuring soft-touch footswitches2. The company advertises free UK shipping on its product pages3; no US shipping arrangements are stated, so US players would need to contact the maker directly or find a domestic stockist.
The range (8)
News
Questions
Who makes Intensive Care Audio pedals?
Intensive Care Audio is run by Patrick, who goes by Dr. P, from his workshop in North London. He designs the pedals himself and builds them there, after first making effects for himself and his friends before deciding to sell them.
When was Intensive Care Audio founded?
The company does not give a founding date. Patrick says he began selling pedals after designing a few things for himself and friends, then getting a smart phone and signing up for the internet, which turned a hobby into a business.
Where are Intensive Care Audio pedals made?
All Intensive Care Audio pedals are built in London, England, using what the maker describes as high-quality components, and they feature soft-touch footswitches. The company is based in a North London workshop.
What is the Intensive Care Audio Recovery Phase?
The Recovery Phase is a dual modulation unit capable of bi-phase and phase shift plus tremolo effects. It has two 8-position rotary switches, each selecting one of eight LFO waveforms, with the second LFO switchable between phase shifting and tremolo duties.
Is the Death Muff still available?
The Death Muff is listed as sold out on the maker's own product page, as of late October 2026. The Death Drive is also shown as sold out, so both distortion-family pedals were unavailable directly at that time.
Does Intensive Care Audio ship to the US?
The maker's product pages advertise free UK shipping, and no US shipping details are given. US players would need to contact the company directly or look for a domestic retailer carrying its pedals.
Sources (7)
- ABOUT | Meet your maker - Intensive Care Audio, Intensive Care Audio
- RECOVERY PHASE, Intensive Care Audio
- FIDELEATER, Intensive Care Audio
- Intensive Care Audio Death Drive | Delicious Audio, Delicious Audio, 2023-07-11
- DEATH DRIVE, Intensive Care Audio
- VENA CAVA FILTER, Intensive Care Audio
- DEATH MUFF, Intensive Care Audio