The Chaos Audio Stratus is a digital multi-effects stompbox from Chaos Audio, a Florida-based startup. It is built around a companion smartphone app: the pedal itself carries just a single knob, a footswitch and a strip of LEDs, while the bulk of its functionality lives on your phone over Bluetooth or USB-C. Chaos Audio describes it on its own website as "a Swiss Army Knife for your guitar"1.
The Stratus took an unusual path to market, and its price and feature set differ between coverage from 2021, 2022 and 202523:
The Stratus has been through several iterations over the past two years: an early version was reported in 2020, and an updated version followed in 2021 after a Kickstarter campaign2. GuitarPlayer reported the pedal's Kickstarter stock price at $2493. By December 2022 it was set for general release on December 9 at $3992. Guitar.com's January 2025 review lists it at $299/£2451.
Controls and the app
The Stratus is deliberately minimal on its top panel. Guitar.com's reviewer Jason Mays describes "a strip of LEDs up top and a single knob and a footswitch", with everything else handled by the companion smartphone app, which is available on both iOS and Android1. The USB-C port is the link to the app3. The enclosure departs from the usual flat-topped stompbox layout: as Guitar.com puts it, "this is more like a black chunky doorstop"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Single knob | On-panel adjustment1 |
| Footswitch | On/off control on the pedal itself1 |
| LED strip | Status display along the top of the enclosure1 |
| Smartphone app | The bulk of the Stratus's functionality, on iOS and Android over Bluetooth or USB-C13 |
Power and connections
The pedal's physical connections are straightforward: input and output jacks, a power socket and USB-C control1. For power away from the wall, GuitarPlayer reports a rechargeable battery with up to seven hours of use3, so the Stratus can be played unplugged from mains, which is unusual for a multi-effects unit.
| Connection | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Input jack | Guitar input1 |
| Output jack | Signal out1 |
| Power socket | Mains power1 |
| USB-C | Control link to the companion app13 |
The Stratus has been through several iterations. Early versions were reported in 2020, and the design was updated in 2021 after the second Kickstarter campaign2, so features and pricing differ between coverage from 2021, 2022 and 2025.
Effects, amp modeling and looper
Guitar World reported that the multi-effects platform ships with 24 boutique quality digital effects, with more to be added regularly2. gearnews.com described it as "This app-controlled stompbox, full of digital effects and a looper"4. Alongside the effects, the Stratus includes a five-minute looper1 and tuner functions1, which places it in the same broad territory as dedicated looping pedals and tuner pedals.
With its most recent update, Guitar.com notes, the Stratus also gained integrated AI amp modeling, with three quality amp plugins by way of Aida DSP's AIDA-X tech1. That puts amp modeling on the pedal itself, driven from the app rather than from a panel of knobs.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's review credits the Stratus with "⊕ Great sounds" among its points, and frames it as "a multi-effects for people who maybe don't love multi-effects"1. The reviewer's summary of the design, minimal panel, app-driven editing and unlimited presets, is the through-line of the coverage: a stompbox form factor with the depth handled in software1.
Guitar.com's review summed up the pedal positively, with the reviewer awarding it a plus for "Great sounds"1. The publication described it as "a multi-effects for people who maybe don't love multi-effects," and noted that as Chaos Audio puts it on their own website, it is "a Swiss Army Knife for your guitar"1.
Videos
Chaos Audio
Chaos Audio
John Nathan Cordy
News
Questions
Does the Chaos Audio Stratus run on a battery?
Yes. The Stratus has a rechargeable battery that GuitarPlayer reports gives up to seven hours of use, so it can be played away from a power supply. It also has a power socket for mains use, and a USB-C port that connects the pedal to its companion smartphone app.
How do you control the Chaos Audio Stratus?
On the pedal itself there is a single knob and a footswitch, with a strip of LEDs along the top. The bulk of the Stratus's functionality is controlled through a companion smartphone app, available on both iOS and Android, connected over Bluetooth or via the USB-C port.
Is the Chaos Audio Stratus analog or digital?
The Stratus is a digital multi-effects platform. Guitar World reported that it ships with 24 boutique quality digital effects, with more to be added regularly through updates.
How long is the looper on the Chaos Audio Stratus?
Guitar.com's review lists a five-minute looper among the Stratus's features, alongside its effects and tuner functions.
How many presets can the Chaos Audio Stratus store?
According to Guitar.com's review, the Stratus can store unlimited presets, so you are not limited to a fixed bank of memory slots.
Does the Stratus have amp models?
Yes. Guitar.com reports that with the Stratus's most recent update you get integrated AI amp modeling, with three quality amp plugins based on Aida DSP's AIDA-X technology.
Sources (4)
- Chaos Audio Stratus review, Guitar.com, 2025-01-06
- A guitar pedal has been sent into space for the first time, Guitar World, 2022-12-05
- Chaos Audio Unveils New Stratus Multi-Effects Pedal, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2020-11-03
- Chaos Audio Stratus: The last guitar pedal you'll ever need?, gearnews.com, 2021-06-02