The CNZ Audio Time Warp, listed by the maker as the STW-50 Time Warp Delay Pedal, is a delay pedal with 11 different delay types, stereo inputs and outputs, tap tempo and a hidden looper. CNZ Audio describes it as covering everything "from subtle delays to straight-up outlandish echoes," and positions it as an expansion of the company's mini delay pedals, "giving you even more adjustable parameters."1
Pedal of the Day, reviewing the pedal in February 2019, summed up its appeal: "The Time Warp from CNZ Audio is a delay with many modes, stereo connections and a price point that will blow your mind." The reviewer added that "the Time Warp has all the options that the big boy delay pedal have, but at a fraction of the price."2
The 11 delay modes
The Time Warp's headline feature is its mode selection. CNZ Audio lists 11 different settings: Pure, Analog, Tape, Mod, LoFi, Reverse, Reverse Tape, Pitch, Tremolo, Tube and Ping Pong.1 Pedal of the Day counts the same 11 modes, listing Pitch Shift among them, and describes the pedal as a multi-delay.2
For a player, that range means one box can cover a clean, uncolored repeat (Pure), darker and wobblier character echoes (Analog, Tape, Mod), experimental textures (LoFi, Reverse, Reverse Tape, Pitch), and rhythmic or stereo effects (Tremolo, Tube, Ping Pong). If you are weighing it against other options, the Delay Pedals page covers the wider field, and the CNZ Audio STE-10 is one of the mini delay pedals the Time Warp builds on12.
Controls and footswitches
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time knob / footswitch | Adjusts the speed of the delay, via the knob or the footswitch1 |
| FeedBack knob | Controls the number of repeats1 |
| FX knob | Adjusts the amount of delay effect, from wet to dry1 |
| Mix knob | Adjusts the volume of the delay1 |
| Left footswitch | Bypasses or holds your delay sounds1 |
| Right footswitch | Tap tempo: "With the right switch you can tap in your delay for on the go tempo changes."1 |
Pedal of the Day confirms the Time knob's dual role: "Time sets the speed of the delay (which can also be set via the Tap footswitch)."2
The hidden looper
One of the Time Warp's less obvious features is a looper tucked into the footswitch logic. Pedal of the Day explains how to reach it: "Hold down the Tap/Hold/Mute footswitch to swap between the three modes, with Hold activating the hidden Looper feature." The reviewer called this "another eye-opening option to this sneakily-awesome overall" pedal.2
In practice, that means the right footswitch does more than tap tempo: holding down the Tap/Hold/Mute footswitch swaps between the three modes, with Hold activating the hidden Looper feature. If looping is your main interest, the Looping Pedals page covers dedicated options12.
Stereo connections
The Time Warp has 1/4 inch left and right input and output connectors, and CNZ Audio lists stereo capability on most delay settings.1 Pedal of the Day highlights this alongside the mode count as part of what makes the pedal competitive: "Boasting Stereo In and Outs as well, the Time Warp has all the options that the big boy delay pedal have, but at a fraction of the price."2 Stereo operation matters most on modes like Ping Pong, where repeats bounce between channels.
Build and what reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review speaks well of the hardware: "the slim body has a solid build, the jacks are strong and the switches are firm."2 The reviewer's overall verdict put the pedal's value front and center, describing it as a multi-delay with the options of big-name pedals at a fraction of the price.2
Videos
CNZ Audio
CNZ Audio
Aaron J Livecchi
Questions
Does the CNZ Audio Time Warp have tap tempo?
Yes. The right footswitch is dedicated to tap tempo, so you can tap in your delay time for on-the-go tempo changes. The Time knob also sets the speed of the delay by hand, and Pedal of the Day notes that delay speed can be set via the Tap footswitch as well as the knob.
Is the CNZ Audio Time Warp stereo?
Yes. CNZ Audio lists stereo capability on most delay settings, with 1/4 inch left and right input and output connectors. Pedal of the Day highlights the stereo ins and outs as one of the features that lets the Time Warp stand next to much more expensive multi-delay pedals.
How do you activate the looper on the Time Warp?
The looper is hidden. Hold down the Tap/Hold/Mute footswitch to swap between the three modes, and holding it in the Hold position activates the hidden looper feature. Pedal of the Day called this another eye-opening option on the pedal.
How many delay modes does the CNZ Time Warp have?
Eleven. The modes are Pure, Analog, Tape, Mod, LoFi, Reverse, Reverse Tape, Pitch, Tremolo, Tube and Ping Pong, covering everything from clean digital-style repeats to reverse and pitch-shifted echoes.
Who makes the Time Warp pedal?
The Time Warp is made by CNZ Audio, which lists it as the STW-50 Time Warp Delay Pedal. It expands on CNZ Audio's mini delay pedals by adding more adjustable parameters.
Sources (2)
- STW-50 | Time Warp Delay Pedal | CNZ Audio, CNZ Audio
- CNZ Audio Time Warp Multi-Delay Echo Effect, Pedal of the Day, 2019-02-07
