The Beetronics Seabee Harmochorus Limited Edition DARK is a limited-run finish of the Seabee Harmochorus, Beetronics' analog chorus pedal with pitch-shifting modes. Beetronics describes it as "combining analog bucket-brigade warmth with digital precision and pitch-shifting magic"1. The DARK edition carries the same circuit and feature set as the standard pedal: six modulation modes, 16 presets, tap tempo, stereo outs, MIDI and expression control. The maker's page lists it as sold out1.
The Limited Edition DARK is sold out at Beetronics' own store1. Other limited editions in the series, including the Red Fade and Orange Buzz finishes, have also sold out23. The standard Seabee Harmochorus remains the same pedal in a regular finish.
An analog chorus with six modes
The Seabee Harmochorus is built around a genuine bucket-brigade (BBD) chip with a digitally controlled delay time1. That combination is the core idea of the pedal: the modulation itself comes from an analog BBD signal path, the kind of circuit behind vintage chorus sounds, while a digital control system sets and shapes the delay time that the chorus sweeps through. Gearnews described this design as Beetronics creating the Harmochorus modes "via a digital control of the delay time of the chorus"4.
The pedal offers six modes, split evenly between two families1:
| Family | Modes | What Beetronics says they do |
|---|---|---|
| Chorus | Roto, Depth, Sting | Analog modulation with ramping and dual-speed options1 |
| Harmochorus | Dual, Arp, Mad | Pitch-shifting modes, from dual pitch effects to arpeggiated and randomized patterns1 |
The three Chorus modes cover conventional chorus territory, from what Beetronics calls "lush vintage swirl" to dual-speed modulation5. The three Harmochorus modes are where the pedal departs from a normal chorus: MusicRadar reported at launch that the Seabee "digitally controls the chorus delay time" to produce pitch-shifting effects, with Harmo mode offering Dual, Arp and Mad settings6. Gearnews summarized the mode names the same way: "Chorus has Roto, Depth and Sting settings, and Harmo has Dual, Arp and Mad"4. The Harmochorus modes can produce chord-based arpeggios and thousands of randomized sequences, alongside the pitch-bending patterns7.
Presets, tap tempo, MIDI and expression
The DARK edition carries the full control feature set of the Seabee line. Beetronics lists tap tempo, selectable ramp shapes, 16 onboard presets, stereo outs, MIDI and full expression control829. The 16 presets are divided across four color-coded banks, and a favorite preset can be set to load automatically on startup1.
For a player, that feature set means:
- Tap tempo sets the modulation rate in time with the song rather than by ear.
- Selectable ramp shapes change how the modulation sweeps between speeds.
- 16 presets in four banks let you store sounds and switch between them.
- Stereo outs allow a two-amp or stereo rig setup; Guitar World's review lists a standard input, standard mono output, standard stereo output and a standard expression/footswitch socket among the pedal's connections10.
- MIDI and expression control allow preset switching and parameter automation from a controller or an expression pedal978.
The pedal also has a hidden control. Beetronics calls it the Ramp Speed Offset: while holding the bypass switch, adjusting the ramp speed changes the center point of the LFO, and the maker notes it is interactive with the depth control1.
Where the DARK fits among Seabee Harmochorus versions
The Seabee Harmochorus line has three tiers: the standard pedal, limited editions and Custom Shop units. The Limited Edition DARK is one of the limited finishes, alongside editions such as BREAKING BEE, Red Fade, Orange Buzz, Majin Bee and Siren1. The Custom Shop versions carry the same core feature set as the standard pedal, including the 3 Chorus and 3 Harmochorus modes, 16 presets, two stereo output options, full MIDI control, expression in and external tap11.
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Questions
Is the Beetronics Seabee Harmochorus Limited Edition DARK true bypass?
Yes. Beetronics confirms the Seabee Harmochorus is true bypass, and the Limited Edition DARK shares that bypass design with the rest of the Seabee line. When the pedal is off, your dry signal passes without buffering or coloring.
Does the Seabee Harmochorus DARK have stereo outputs?
Yes. The Limited Edition DARK has stereo outs, like the standard Seabee Harmochorus. Guitar World's review of the pedal lists a standard input, a standard mono output, a standard stereo output and an expression/footswitch socket among its connections.
How many presets does the Seabee Harmochorus store?
The Seabee Harmochorus holds 16 onboard presets, divided across four color-coded banks. You can also set a favorite preset to load automatically when the pedal starts up, which is handy for grabbing your core sound at a gig.
Is the Seabee Harmochorus Limited Edition DARK still available?
No. The maker's product page lists the Limited Edition DARK as sold out. It was a limited-run finish of the standard Seabee Harmochorus, and other limited editions in the series, such as the Red Fade and Orange Buzz, have also sold out.
Can the Seabee Harmochorus be controlled by MIDI?
Yes. The Seabee Harmochorus supports full MIDI control, along with an expression input and external tap. That lets you switch its 16 presets, sync modulation and automate parameter changes from a MIDI controller rather than bending down mid-song.
Sources (11)
- Seabee Harmochorus • Limited Edition • DARK, Beetronics
- Seabee Harmochorus • Limited Edition • RED FADE, Beetronics
- Seabee Harmochorus • Limited Edition • Orange, Beetronics
- Beetronics Seabee Harmochorus: Reinventing the chorus, gearnews.com, 2023-03-15
- Seabee Harmochorus • Custom Shop • 420, Beetronics (www.beetronicsfx.com)
- Beetronics unleashes a different approach to a chorus pedal with the Seabee Harmochorus, MusicRadar, 2023-03-14
- Seabee Harmochorus • Limited Edition • Majin Bee • BEE STOCK, Beetronics
- Seabee Harmochorus • Custom Shop • 8-Beet Skull, Beetronics
- Seabee Harmochorus • Limited Edition • SIREN, Beetronics
- Beetronics Seabee Harmochorus review, Guitar World, 2023-07-24
- Seabee Harmochorus Custom Shop SB142, Beetronics
