The Catalinbread Pads (Proto 365) is a reverb pedal with a built-in tremolo, released through Catalinbread's Proto Club line as a limited offering available only from October 7 to October 211. It combines a reverb trail with a pulsing tremolo effect, placing it among the more atmospheric entries in the maker's reverb range alongside pedals like the Talisman Ghost and CB Paint.
The controls
The Pads has four knobs, each covering a distinct part of the reverb-plus-tremolo effect2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| MIX | Controls the ratio of dry input signal to reverb output; at maximum only reverb trails, at minimum exactly the dry input |
| FEEDBACK | Determines the length of the reverb trail; at maximum it may cause the Pads to oscillate depending on input signal strength |
| RATE | Governs the speed at which the tremolo effect pulses |
| PWM | Adjusts the trem's on/off ratio via pulse width modulation; up increases on time to 100% on, down decreases off time to 100% off |
The MIX knob is the wet/dry balance for the whole pedal. Turned fully down it passes exactly the dry input signal, and turned fully up it outputs only the reverb trails, so the Pads can run fully wet if a player wants reverb on a parallel loop or wants nothing but the effect2.
FEEDBACK sets how long the reverb trail hangs in the air. Catalinbread notes that at the maximum setting the Pads may oscillate, with the outcome depending on how strong the input signal is, which gives players a way into long, self-sustaining washes by pushing FEEDBACK to the top and driving the input harder2.
The tremolo side is handled by RATE and PWM together. RATE sets the speed of the tremolo pulses, while PWM, standing for pulse width modulation, adjusts the trem's on/off ratio: turning it up increases the on time until the effect reaches 100% on, and turning it down decreases the off time until it reaches 100% off2.
Power and availability
The Pads runs on a pedal-standard center-negative DC plug, with a supply capable of delivering between 9 and 18 volts and at least 64mA of current. Catalinbread notes that more current than that is fine2.
The Pads draws at least 64mA, so a low-current output on a pedalboard supply may not run it on its own. It takes a pedal-standard center-negative plug at 9 to 18 volts2.
As a Proto Club release, the standard version was available only from October 7 to October 211. A B-Stock version of the Pads is also listed on Catalinbread's site, with a stated ship window of mid-April2.
Where it sits in Catalinbread's reverb range
Catalinbread's reverb line covers a wide spread of approaches, from the spring-style Topanga to the plate-style Talisman and the shoegaze-oriented Soft Focus. The Pads is the one that pairs its reverb with a tremolo, and its Proto Club limited availability sets it apart from the maker's regularly stocked pedals. For a broader look at the category, see the site's Reverb Pedals page21.
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Questions
Can the Catalinbread Pads self-oscillate?
Yes, under the right conditions. Catalinbread says the FEEDBACK knob determines the length of the reverb trail, and that setting it to the maximum may cause the Pads to oscillate depending on the strength of the input signal. Players who want long, self-sustaining washes can push FEEDBACK up and drive the input harder to reach that point.
What power supply does the Catalinbread Pads need?
The Pads needs a DC power supply capable of delivering between 9 and 18 volts, with at least 64mA of current. Catalinbread notes that more current than that is fine. Because of the 64mA minimum draw, a low-output supply position may not be enough on its own.
Is the Catalinbread Pads center-negative?
Yes. Catalinbread says the Pads accepts a pedal-standard center-negative DC plug, the same polarity used by the vast majority of guitar pedals, so it works with standard pedalboard power supplies and daisy chains that meet its voltage and current requirements.
Can the Pads output only reverb with no dry signal?
Yes. The MIX knob controls the ratio of dry input signal to reverb output. At its maximum setting the pedal outputs only the reverb trails, and at its minimum it outputs exactly the dry input signal, so fully wet operation is available at the top of the knob's travel.
Sources (2)
- Pads (Proto 365), Catalinbread Effects
- Pads (Proto 365) B-Stock, Catalinbread Effects
