The Catalinbread FX40 Soft Focus Reverb is a reverb pedal built around one of the most sought-after sounds of late-eighties digital multi-effects: patch forty on the vintage Yamaha FX500, known as Soft Focus12. Rather than a straight reverb, it functions primarily as a heavily modified plate reverb with adjustable decay times, split into three concurrent signal paths: a multi-voiced chorus modulator on the wet signal, a shimmering octave-up effect, and a clean path1. The result is the big, diffuse, chorus-washed wash that players associate with shoegaze and ambient playing, in a single stompbox.
Catalinbread announced the pedal as available in September 2022 for $2093, and Premier Guitar's reviewer later called it "the $209 price will be a fair one for this lovingly designed, U.S.-built pedal"4.
What it does to your signal
The pedal takes the Soft Focus recipe and splits your signal three ways at once1:
- A plate reverb with adjustable decay forms the core of the sound
- A multi-voiced chorus modulator acts on the wet signal
- A shimmering octave-up effect sits above the reverb
- A clean path keeps the dry signal intact
Knobs are onboard to adjust Mod, which controls the chorus3. Compared with the original rack unit, Catalinbread also added an input preamp volume control and a comprehensive wet/dry mix blend, which RockBoard's PedalPedia says remedies the original rack unit's flaws1.
From the Yamaha FX500 patch forty to a pedal
The Yamaha FX500 was a multi-effects unit whose Patch 40, aka Soft Focus, became a sound players went looking for long after the unit itself2. Premier Guitar's reviewer describes the FX-40 as inspired by the sounds of the Soft Focus preset, and notes that "the Catalinbread Soft Focus may be more an interpretation of the FX500 Soft Focus preset than a to-the-letter emulation"4. In other words, this is a pedal that takes a few liberties with recreating the Yamaha preset rather than cloning it4.
How it compares
Within Catalinbread's own reverb range, the FX40 sits among pedals that each chase a different classic reverb idea: the Talisman and Talisman Ghost pursue plate reverb, the Topanga line pursues spring reverb, and the CB Paint captures a late-eighties digital reverb. The FX40's territory is the Soft Focus combination of plate, chorus and shimmer in one preset-style pedal14.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's Michael Astley-Brown, covering the launch, wrote that "Catalinbread's offering might just have the simplicity and versatility to win over a wider range of guitarists, however"3. Premier Guitar's reviewer, after spending time with the pedal, concluded that "the $209 price will be a fair one for this lovingly designed, U.S.-built pedal"4.
The pedal draws 100mA at 9V DC, center negative1. Make sure your power supply can supply that current on the outlet you use.
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Questions
Is the Catalinbread FX40 Soft Focus analog or digital?
Catalinbread lists the FX40 Soft Focus Reverb as a hybrid circuit. That fits what the pedal does: it emulates the classic digital architecture of the Soft Focus preset on the vintage Yamaha FX500 multi-effects unit, while adding an input preamp volume control and a comprehensive wet/dry mix blend that the original rack unit lacked.
What power does the FX40 Soft Focus Reverb need?
The FX40 Soft Focus Reverb runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 100mA. That current draw is worth checking against your power supply, since some daisy-chain supplies and low-output outlets may not cover it comfortably.
What is patch forty on the Yamaha FX500?
Patch 40 on the Yamaha FX500 multi-effects unit is known as Soft Focus. It is the preset the Catalinbread FX40 is built to emulate, and it combines a plate-style reverb with chorus modulation and a shimmering octave-up effect into one signature sound.
What did Catalinbread add to the original rack unit's sound?
Catalinbread added an input preamp volume control and a comprehensive wet/dry mix blend, which the maker says remedies the original rack unit's flaws. The pedal also puts onboard knobs in place for adjusting the chorus Mod, making the effect quicker to dial in than the original preset.
How much does the Catalinbread FX40 Soft Focus Reverb cost?
The FX40 Soft Focus Reverb was announced as available for $209 in September 2022, and Premier Guitar's reviewer called the $209 price a fair one for the pedal, describing it as lovingly designed and U.S.-built.
Sources (4)
- FX40 Soft Focus Reverb by Catalinbread, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Catalinbread launches the shoegaze-in-a-box X40 Soft Focus Reverb, MusicRadar, 2022-09-09
- Catalinbread makes shoegazers' dreams come true with the FX40 Soft Focus Reverb, Guitar World, 2022-09-09
- Catalinbread Soft Focus Effects Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2022-12-11
