The Catalinbread Bicycle Delay is a delay pedal made by Catalinbread, hand-built in Portland, Oregon1. What sets it apart from a standard delay is its Mood control, which pitch shifts the repeats up or down at a rate you set, so the echoes move rather than simply fade. Catalinbread's own description of the pedal frames it as something other than a utility echo box:
"a physical manifestation of the experience of consciousness, letting go of the desire to control everything, and maintaining a positive attitude to leave room for a positive experience"
Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in January 2017, wrote that "it really transcends the laws of sound and echo"2.
The controls: Reflect, Radiance, Lucidity, Expanse and Mood
The five knobs cover repeats, tone, mix, time and pitch. Here is what each one does, from the maker's own descriptions3 and Pedal of the Day's review2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Reflect | Sets the number of repeats, from one repeat up to self-oscillation at maximum, where repeats build infinitely until interrupted3 |
| Radiance | A filter for the repeated signals, sharpening or softening the repeats; Pedal of the Day describes it as going from "a dark and brooding or high and light overall tone"2 |
| Lucidity | Wet/dry mix, balancing the effected and original signals32 |
| Expanse | The delay time between the original sound and its echoed repeats32 |
| Mood | Determines the direction and velocity of the pitch shift of the repeats32 |
Mood is the control that defines the pedal. Rather than holding each repeat at the same pitch, it pushes them up or down at a speed you choose, so a single note can turn into a rising or falling cascade of echoes. Reflect at its maximum takes this further into self-oscillation, where the repeats keep building on their own until you interrupt them3.
There is also a presence trimpot inside, accessible by removing the bottom plate, that fine-tunes the amount of presence or high treble frequencies. It ships set at the factory3. Pedal of the Day additionally notes an internal Gain trimmer you can set for a pre-determined amount of boost that kicks in when the pedal is engaged2.
Power and size
The Bicycle Delay runs on a 9 to 18 volt DC supply with a negative tip, sold separately, and draws 50mA31. It does not operate on batteries3. Catalinbread describes the difference between the two supply voltages in practical terms: an 18-volt supply gives increased volume, headroom and a sharper percussive attack, while 9 volts gives a slightly softer sound that saturates more readily3.
The enclosure measures 2.36" wide, 4.33" deep and 1.96" high, and weighs .53 lbs1.
Design and inspiration
The pedal was partially inspired by Albert Hofmann and "Bicycle Day", an experience Catalinbread channeled into a delay whose repeats wander in pitch rather than staying put2. The designer credited on Catalinbread's product page is Nicholas Harris3.
Catalinbread sells the pedal as B-stock: discounted units with minor cosmetic imperfections that have been tested and are guaranteed to work perfectly31.
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Questions
What does the Mood knob do on the Catalinbread Bicycle Delay?
Mood determines the direction and velocity of the pitch shift of the repeats. Depending on where it is set, the echoed repeats drift up or down in pitch at faster or slower rates, which is what gives the pedal its shifting, unstable character rather than straight repeats.
What voltage does the Bicycle Delay run on?
It runs on a 9 to 18 volt DC power supply with a negative tip, sold separately. At 18 volts Catalinbread says you get increased volume, headroom and a sharper percussive attack, while 9 volts gives a slightly softer sound that saturates more readily.
Does the Bicycle Delay come with a power supply?
No. The power supply is sold separately, and the pedal does not operate on batteries, so you need a 9 to 18 volt DC negative tip supply to run it.
What is the gain trimmer inside the Bicycle Delay?
There is an internal trimmer you can set for a pre-determined amount of boost that kicks in when the pedal is engaged. Catalinbread also fits a presence trimpot, accessible by removing the bottom plate, for fine-tuning high treble frequencies; it is set at the factory.
Where is the Catalinbread Bicycle Delay made?
Catalinbread makes the Bicycle Delay by hand in Portland, Oregon.
Sources (3)
- Bicycle Delay (B-STOCK), Catalinbread Effects
- Catalinbread Bicycle Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2017-01-13
- Bicycle Delay 3D (B-Stock), Catalinbread Effects
