The AC Noises Respira is an ambient pedal that combines two effects in one enclosure: a digital shimmer reverb and a multimode LFO tremolo. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in February 2021, described it as "an ambient pedal of theirs that mixes two of our favorite effects, Reverb and Tremolo, together int one gorgeous-sounding" pedal1.
The reverb comes first in the signal chain. It is a digital shimmer reverb, providing what the reviewer called "a very deep atmospheric sound with a long/infinite decay + a dreamy character provided by other octaves sounding in addition to the one currently played"1. In practice that means the reverb can be pushed into a wash that sustains on its own, with octave content added above the played note for a shimmering character.
The controls
The Respira splits its controls between the two effects. On the reverb side, Mix and Decay set the character of the wash; the reviewer noted they "set the mood here, and help make all your troubles just drift away"1.
| Section | Control | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Reverb | Mix | Blends the reverb with the dry signal1 |
| Reverb | Decay | Sets the length of the reverb tail, up to infinite1 |
| Tremolo | Rate | Sets the speed of the tremolo1 |
| Tremolo | Tone | Shapes the tremolo's tone1 |
| Tremolo | Symmetry | Lets you decide where the wave shape will intervene1 |
| Tremolo | Subdivision | Four subdivisions: x1, x2, x3, x41 |
The Symmetry knob stands out. As Pedal of the Day put it, "The Symmetry knob is unique, as it lets you decide where the wave shape will intervene"1, giving control over how the tremolo's modulation falls within each cycle rather than only how fast or deep it is.
Tremolo wave shapes, modes and subdivisions
The tremolo section is a multimode LFO design with 16 different wave shapes, split into two sets of 81. Along with Rate and Tone, there are four tremolo modes to choose from: Master, Harmonic, Bass and Treble1. These let the tremolo act on the whole signal or focus the modulation on different parts of the frequency range.
A Subdivision control adds four rhythmic settings:
- x1: 1/4 note (crotchet)1
- x2: 1/8th note (quaver)1
- x3: triplet 1/8th note (triplet quaver)1
- x4: 1/16th note (semiquaver)1
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict was positive: "Another brilliant piece of gear from our friends at AC Noises, we can't wait to see what's next for these guys"1. The review placed the Respira alongside the maker's other ambient designs; players comparing it with other reverb-first pedals may also want to look at the AC noises RICORDA or the AC Noises AMA Reverb Bit Crusher V.2, and at other reverb pedals and tremolo pedals more broadly.
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Questions
What is the AC Noises Respira?
The Respira is an ambient pedal from AC Noises that combines two effects in one enclosure: a digital shimmer reverb and a multimode LFO tremolo. The reverb side provides a deep atmospheric sound with a long or infinite decay, while the tremolo side offers 16 wave shapes, four modes and a subdivision control. Pedal of the Day described it as mixing reverb and tremolo into one gorgeous-sounding pedal.
How many tremolo wave shapes does the Respira have?
The Respira's multimode LFO tremolo consists of 16 different wave shapes, split into two sets of 8. Alongside the wave shapes there are controls for Rate and Tone, a Symmetry knob, and a Subdivision control with four settings.
What does the Symmetry knob do on the Respira?
The Symmetry knob lets you decide where in the cycle the tremolo wave shape will intervene. Pedal of the Day called it unique, since it shapes how the tremolo's modulation is applied rather than just its speed or depth.
What are the Master, Harmonic, Bass and Treble tremolo modes?
The Respira offers four tremolo modes: Master, Harmonic, Bass and Treble. These let the tremolo act on the whole signal or focus the modulation on different parts of the frequency range, so the effect can be applied to the full tone or to harmonic, bass or treble content.
Can the Respira's reverb decay be set to infinite?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the digital shimmer reverb as providing a very deep atmospheric sound with a long or infinite decay, with additional octaves adding a dreamy character above the note being played.
Sources (1)
- AC Noises Respira Reverb Tremolo, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2021-02-20
