The Catalinbread CB Paint is a compact reverb pedal from Catalinbread that puts the sound of the Alesis Microverb, a late '80s studio rack unit, into a stompbox1. It presents players with eight different modes from the Microverb, each one lifted directly from the original's algorithms12. The pedal launched in spring 2026 and is available now, priced $2091.
The eight patches cover a lot of ground. Patches one through six are hall and room sounds that grow progressively larger, from a small wooden room to a cathedral2. Patch 7 is gated reverb, and patch 8 is reverse reverb, the two effects that give the pedal its character34.
Where it came from: the Alesis Microverb
The CB Paint is inspired by the Alesis Microverb, a rack unit from the late '80s with 18-bit converters54. The '80s classic reverb is now available as a stompbox4. Catalinbread did not reimagine the unit so much as port it: the CB Paint distills it into eight patches, each one lifted directly from the original's algorithms2.
Patches 1 through 6 are taken straight from the Microverb's original patches, with the filtering and processing methods intact3. The room size, and thus the decay time, increase from 1 to 6, with 1 being the smallest and shortest, and 6 being the largest and longest3.
"The CB Paint distills that unit into eight patches, each one lifted directly from the original's algorithms."
The controls: Mode, Onset, Tone and Mix
The pedal has four controls: an 8-way Mode switch, and Onset, Tone and Mix knobs34.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mode | An 8-way switch that gives you 8 different reverb patches from the Microverb3 |
| Onset | Otherwise known as pre-delay, this controls how long the reverb kicks in after playing. At minimum the sound is instantaneous; at maximum the reverb takes about 200ms to kick in3 |
| Tone | Controls a 2-pole low-pass filter for softening high peaks, working just like a tone control. Up is bright, down is dark3 |
| Mix | Dictates how much dry signal is heard versus the wet signal. At minimum you hear only what you run into the pedal; at maximum you hear just the reverberated signal3 |
The centerpiece of the pedal is the Mode switch. The first six positions offer a progressive journey through the Microverb's original algorithms, from tight room sounds to cavernous, infinite decays4. Onset controls pre-delay, how long before the reverb catches up with you2. Tone is a two-pole lowpass filter that smooths out the digital highs, turning bright reflections into warm fog2. Mix lets you hover anywhere between bone-dry and fully submerged2.
Gated and reverse reverb modes
The two patches that set the CB Paint apart from a standard reverb pedal are positions 7 and 834.
- Patch 7, gated reverb: the gate mode from the original Microverb3. It recreates the punchy, abrupt cutoff that defined the drum and guitar production of the mid '80s4. In gate mode, Onset controls the gate time3.
- Patch 8, reverse reverb: the reverse reverb patch from the Microverb3. It emulates the Microverb's unique mathematical approach to "backwards" sound, a swelling, rushing effect4. In reverse mode, Onset controls how much smearing there is on the reverse sound to make it sit in the mix a little better3.
Delicious Audio called patch eight the wild card: reverse reverb that rushes backward like tape played in a dream2.
How it differs from the Catalinbread CBX
Gated reverb is an effect Catalinbread has offered before, notably as a mode in its CBX Gated Reverb1. The CB Paint is broader: where the CBX centers on gated reverb, the CB Paint presents eight different modes from the Microverb, of which gated reverb is only one position1. A player who wants the gated sound alone has the CBX; a player who wants the full Microverb patch set, including reverse reverb, is the CB Paint's audience.
Where it sits in your signal chain
The CB Paint works in different positions, with different results. Put it in the loop and it is lush and endless, the sound of memories dissolving2. Put it before your amp and the reverse patch turns into controlled chaos, with feedback that swims and swirls and notes that arrive before you play them2.
"Put it in the loop and it's lush, endless, the sound of memories dissolving."
Power
The CB Paint accepts a center-negative power supply capable of supplying 9VDC with at least 63mA of current; over 63mA is fine3. Run it on 9V DC from a pedalboard power supply and you're good to go1.
Improper powering voids your warranty3.
What reviewers said
Coverage of the CB Paint has been positive and consistent about who it is for. MusicRadar noted that the pedal blurs "the line between yesterday and yesteryear"1. Gearnews suspected it would appeal to players of ambient styles:
"I suspect anyone who enjoys shoegaze, dreampop, or ambient adventures will want to check this pedal out."
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Questions
What is the Alesis Microverb?
The Alesis Microverb is a late '80s studio reverb rack unit with 18-bit converters. Catalinbread based the CB Paint on its original reverb patches, keeping the filtering and processing methods intact, and distilled them into the pedal's eight modes.
Does the CB Paint work in an effects loop?
Yes. Delicious Audio describes it in the loop as lush and endless, while running the reverse patch before your amp produces controlled chaos, with feedback that swims and swirls and notes that seem to arrive before you play them.
What does the Onset knob do in reverse mode?
In reverse mode, Onset controls how much smearing there is on the reverse sound, which helps the effect sit in the mix a little better. In gate mode the same knob controls the gate time, and in the standard patches it works as pre-delay.
How is the CB Paint different from the Catalinbread CBX?
The CBX is Catalinbread's gated reverb pedal, and gated reverb is one effect Catalinbread has offered before as a mode on it. The CB Paint goes further, presenting eight different modes from the Alesis Microverb, of which gated reverb is patch 7 and reverse reverb is patch 8.
Sources (5)
- Catalinbread unveils Alesis Microverb-inspired CB Paint reverb, MusicRadar, 2026-04-07
- New Pedal: Catalinbread CB Paint Vintage Digital Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2026-03-12
- CB Paint Reverb (B-Stock), Catalinbread Effects
- Catalinbread CB Paint: 80s Reverb in a Pedal, gearnews.com, 2026-04-02
- Alesis MicroVerb 4, Alesis, 2026
