Source Audio Unveils the Ultrawave Multiband Processor

March 19, 2021 · 4 sources

Source Audio, the Massachusetts based effects pedal company, announced the Ultrawave Multiband Processor, describing it as "the first of its kind: a flexible multiband processing toolbox." The company released it alongside a sibling, the Ultrawave Multiband Bass Processor, with both dated March 22, 2021 in the company's announcement¹. The pedal is the latest creation of Source Audio designer Bob Chidlaw¹.

The Ultrawave works by splitting the incoming signal into frequency bands and processing each band separately. Through the combination of band-splitting, exotic distortion curves, multiband tremolo, compression, EQ and morphing, the pedal covers territory that overlaps distortion, tremolo, compressor and EQ pedals, all in one box². Guitar.com reported that the pedal allows you to split the signal into 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, or 10 frequency bands³.

MusicRadar counted the pedal's scope in detail: an Analog Devices DSP chip allied to Source Audio's Neuro App, 37 band splitting options once you consider the various sub-sets and band splitting frequency points, and 44 drive types to play with⁴.

What the company said it does:

• Two independent signal paths, allowing dual-mono, stereo, parallel, cascade, and stereo imaging¹
• Foldback, a highly pick-sensitive type of distortion inspired by the world of analog synthesizers¹
• MIDI program change and continuous controller messages from a DAW via the USB port¹
• A 1/8" CONTROL INPUT jack for the Source Audio Dual Expression Pedal, Tap Switch, or Neuro Hub¹

Guitar.com also noted that the Ultrawave offers a vast amount of presets, all with their own scientific-themed names and alienistic effects, including an unusual stutter pulse preset that the site said gives a bass a 90's space invader video game effect, with interesting results when played around with on pitch beds or slap bass³.