The Alexander Pedals Oblivion Vintage Delay is a delay pedal built around a dark, vintage take on the echo sound. Its Analog mode is described as giving "a warm, murky, BBD-inspired echo tone", a reference to the bucket-brigade device chips that gave older analog delays their soft, dark repeats1. Alexander's own description of the pedal calls it "an exploration of what exists in the darkest corners of the sonic universe"1.
What it does
The Oblivion's headline mode is Analog, which Pedal of the Day describes as the starting point: "Analog starts things off, and gives you a warm, murky, BBD-inspired echo tone"1. BBD, or bucket-brigade device, refers to the analog chip design used in classic delay units, known for repeats that darken and lose highs with each pass. Players looking for that character in other forms can compare it with the History Lesson Vol 3, which also leans on vintage delay modes, or the Rewind, Alexander's larger multi-mode delay.
The delay time runs from 10ms to 900ms, a range Pedal of the Day called "a tasty range from 10ms, 900ms"1. At the short end that covers tight, slapback-adjacent repeats; at the long end it reaches into longer, more atmospheric echoes.
Controls and switching
The pedal keeps its foot control simple but flexible:
- Bypass footswitch: turns the Oblivion on or off, and can also be used to select Presets by holding it down1
- Tap switch: sets the tempo1
- Save control: saves settings1
"Bypass turns the Oblivion on or off, and can also be used to select Presets by holding it down."
Expression and MIDI
Two features extend the pedal beyond its front panel. An Expression pedal jack lets you "morph between two completely different settings via the Expression pedal jack", so one sweep of an expression pedal moves between two saved sounds1. The Oblivion also carries MIDI control, which the reviewer noted with "there's even MIDI control (for those of you who are good with that sort of thing)"1. For players integrating pedals into a MIDI rig, that puts the Oblivion alongside other Alexander designs such as the Quadrant Audio Mirror, which also pairs delay modes with MIDI and expression.
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Questions
What is the delay time range of the Alexander Pedals Oblivion?
The Oblivion Vintage Delay covers a range from 10ms to 900ms, which Pedal of the Day described as a tasty range. That spans from short, tight slapback-style repeats up to longer vintage echoes, all shaped by the pedal's BBD-inspired Analog mode tone.
Does the Alexander Oblivion have MIDI?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that the Oblivion includes MIDI control, which the reviewer framed as a feature for players who are good with that sort of thing. MIDI adds remote control of the pedal alongside its onboard switches and knobs.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Oblivion Vintage Delay?
Yes. The Oblivion has an Expression pedal jack, and plugging an expression pedal in lets you morph between two completely different settings, so a single sweep can move the pedal from one saved sound to another in real time.
How do you select presets on the Alexander Oblivion?
Presets are selected by holding down the Bypass footswitch. The same switch turns the pedal on and off when pressed normally, and settings are saved using the Save control.
Sources (1)
- Alexander Pedals Oblivion Vintage Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2019-08-14
