The Catalinbread FX-40 Soft Focus is a compact reverb pedal built around one idea: recreating the "Soft Focus" preset, patch 40, from the Yamaha FX500 rack unit. That factory preset mixed chorus, delay and reverb into a single lush, ambient wash, and it became a sought-after sound for players chasing shoegaze-style textures. Catalinbread's pedal takes a few liberties with the original, dropping the delay stage and focusing on the chorus, reverb and a subtle octave effect described in the company's documentation123.
What it does and how it is controlled
The pedal keeps things simple. Two onboard knobs cover the core of the sound12:
Under the hood, the effect combines reverb, modulation and chorus, with an octave effect that Catalinbread itself calls subtle in its documentation24. Premier Guitar's reviewer framed the pedal as more an interpretation of the FX500 Soft Focus preset than a to-the-letter emulation, and noted that it removes the Yamaha preset's redundant delay component2.
If you are after the delay element of the original Yamaha patch, the FX-40 leaves it out by design. Catalinbread later expanded the concept in the Soft Focus Deluxe, a separate pedal with more algorithms and features.
Where it came from
The Yamaha FX500 was a rack multi-effects unit, and its Soft Focus preset became the pedal's whole reason for existing. Guitar World reported the launch in September 2022, noting the pedal was named after the FX500's patch 40, aka Soft Focus, and that Catalinbread installed superior bypass circuitry1. Delicious Audio's write-up likewise recalled that Soft Focus was a factory preset found in that device, mixing chorus, delay and reverb3.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer came away warm on the pedal, calling it a lovingly designed, U.S.-built pedal and judging the $209 price a fair one2.
"The ease with which you shape variations on celestial textures is a delight."
Guitar World's Michael Astley-Brown, writing at launch, suggested that Catalinbread's offering might just have the simplicity and versatility to win over a wider range of guitarists, even against the many compact stompboxes capable of deep, ambient reverbs12.
For context within Catalinbread's own range, the FX-40 sits among the company's ambient-leaning designs such as the Topanga Spring Reverb and the Talisman Ghost, and alongside other reverb pedals in the wider field5.
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Questions
What is the Soft Focus preset on the Yamaha FX500?
Soft Focus was a factory preset, patch 40, found in the Yamaha FX500 rack unit. It mixed chorus, delay and reverb into one lush, ambient patch, and it became a favorite of players chasing shoegaze-style washes. The Catalinbread FX-40 Soft Focus takes its name and its inspiration from that preset.
Does the Catalinbread FX-40 Soft Focus include the delay from the Yamaha preset?
No. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that the pedal removes the Yamaha preset's redundant delay component, so the FX-40 concentrates on the chorus, reverb and subtle octave character of the original patch rather than reproducing it to the letter.
Where is the Catalinbread FX-40 Soft Focus made?
Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as a lovingly designed, U.S.-built pedal, so it is made in the United States.
How much does the Catalinbread FX-40 Soft Focus cost?
The FX40 Soft Focus Reverb was available at launch for $209, a figure reported by Guitar World in September 2022 and matched by Premier Guitar's review later that year.
Does the Soft Focus have a chorus control?
Yes. An onboard knob adjusts Mod, which governs the chorus part of the effect, alongside a Verb knob that sets the reverb's decay time.
Sources (5)
- Catalinbread announces the FX40 Soft Focus Reverb, Guitar World, 2022-09-09
- Catalinbread Soft Focus review, Premier Guitar, 2022-12-11
- Catalinbread Soft Focus, Delicious Audio, 2022-12-06
- Catalinbread FX40 Soft Focus Reverb PedalPedia entry, RockBoard, 2026
- Reverb Pedals, Tonebox
