The Catalinbread Nautilux is an all-analog chorus-vibrato pedal, unveiled at NAMM 2012. It runs on high voltage MN3007 bucket brigade chips, the analog delay-line chips long associated with vintage modulation designs, and it takes its cues from the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, the mains-powered unit that paired chorus and vibrato modes in one box12.
What it does
The Nautilux gives you two modulation modes with independent rate and depth controls for each, so a chorus setting and a vibrato setting can be dialed in separately1. The modulation waveforms follow the CE-1's approach: vibrato mode is modulated by a sine waveform, chorus by a triangular waveform, which Catalinbread describes as "again inspired by the CE1"1. The Level Control is likewise "inspired by the classic CE-1"2.
The CE-1 itself, the pedal the Nautilux draws on, is a chorus and vibrato unit that TONEHOME describes as "a mains powered unit that features both chorus and vibrato modes"3. It remains a reference point for this kind of circuit; gearnews notes that "some people love that old chorus/vibrato pedal"4.
Controls and connectivity
- Rate and depth: independent for both vibrato and chorus modes1
- Level: styled on the CE-1's Level Control2
- Tap tempo: tap tempo capable1
- Expression pedal: capable of controlling rates or depths1
- Outputs: stereo, dual modulated outputs1
The expression input is worth noting for players who move modulation around live: it can sweep either the rate or the depth, so one expression pedal can take the Nautilux from a slow, shallow chorus to a fast, deep warble without touching the knobs1.
Where it sits among Catalinbread's chorus pedals
The Nautilux is an analog bucket brigade design in a maker's range that has since grown to include other approaches to modulation. Catalinbread later released the Callisto, an analog BBD chorus, and more recently digital designs such as the Wake 8-Voice Chorus with Sub-Octave and the Sinkhole Modulated Reverb, which pairs reverb with a four-voice chorus. For more on the effect type generally, see Chorus Pedals and Vibrato Pedals21.
Videos
HarmonyCentral
Questions
Is the Catalinbread Nautilux analog or digital?
The Nautilux is all analog. Catalinbread's press release describes it as all analog, using high voltage MN3007 bucket brigade chips, the same family of delay chip associated with vintage modulation circuits. That makes it a choice for players who specifically want an analog signal path in their chorus or vibrato rather than a digital emulation.
Does the Nautilux have tap tempo?
Yes. Catalinbread's announcement describes the Nautilux as tap tempo capable, which is unusual for an analog bucket brigade modulation pedal. Combined with the expression pedal input, it gives the player control over modulation speed in time with a song.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Nautilux?
Yes. The Nautilux has an expression pedal input capable of controlling rates or depths, according to Catalinbread's press release. That means an expression pedal can sweep the speed or the intensity of the chorus or vibrato while you play.
Is the Nautilux stereo?
Yes. The Nautilux is stereo, with dual modulated outputs. Running both outputs to two amplifiers or a stereo rig lets the modulated signal move between channels, in the manner of the stereo chorus units the pedal draws on.
What bucket brigade chips does the Nautilux use?
The Nautilux uses high voltage MN3007 bucket brigade chips, per Catalinbread's press release. MN3007 chips are the analog delay lines long associated with classic chorus and vibrato designs, and the Nautilux runs them at high voltage.
What waveforms do the Nautilux vibrato and chorus use?
Vibrato mode is modulated by a sine waveform and chorus mode by a triangular waveform, again inspired by the CE-1, according to Catalinbread's announcement. The two waveforms give the two modes distinct movement: a smoother sweep for vibrato and a rounder, more rolling motion for chorus.
Sources (4)
- Catalinbread Launches 3 Pedals & Custom Fuzz Flowers, Premier Guitar, 2012-01-19
- NAMM 2012: Catalinbread unveils new pedals, MusicRadar, 2012-01-19
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME (www.tonehome.de)
- Guitar Gear Gems: Behringer CE-1, Walrus DI, Robben Ford PRS, gearnews.com, 2022-04-12
