The Death By Audio / Levitation Psychedelic Nightmare is a light-responsive reverb and tremolo pedal, made as a collaboration between Death By Audio and the Levitation festival. Pedal of the Day describes it as pairing "a lush stereo reverb" with "a sharp chopping tremolo," with the light sensor on top bending the whole effect in real time. It was released in July 2025 as a limited edition of 333 units, sold exclusively from Levitation1.
What it does to your sound
The pedal combines two effects: a stereo reverb and a tremolo, the effect that chops the volume rhythmically. On top of that sits the light sensor. Pedal of the Day describes the result as "wildly shapeable soundscapes, warping reverbs, shifting tremolo speeds, and a light-controlled, tape-like warble on the clean signal"1. The festival connection is deliberate: the pedal was designed to capture the otherworldly sonic experiences of the Levitation festival1.
In one line, the pedal's building blocks are:
- A stereo reverb, described as lush1
- A sharp chopping tremolo1
- A light sensor that warps both in real time1
- A tape-like warble applied to the clean signal1
How the light sensor works
The sensor is the heart of the pedal. It dynamically alters the clock speed of the effect in response to light on the sensor eye: in a dark room the clock runs slow, and when light shines on the pedal the clock speeds up1. Changing the clock speed shifts the character of the reverb and tremolo, which is where the warping, tape-like quality comes from.
The Warp Range knob sets the sensitivity of the light-reactive sensor that controls the main clock speed of the pedal1. In practice, that knob decides how much the light in the room moves the sound: a low setting keeps the effect steadier, a high setting lets a stage light or a shadow sweep reshape the reverb and tremolo as you play.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Warp Range | Sets the sensitivity of the light-reactive sensor that controls the main clock speed1 |
Using it in mono or stereo
The Psychedelic Nightmare is a stereo in/stereo out pedal, but it can also be used in mono or in mono-to-stereo configurations1. That means it works with a single amp or pedalboard input, or feeds two amps or a stereo rig for the full width of the reverb.
This is a limited edition of 333 units, available exclusively from Levitation as of its July 2025 release1. It is not part of Death By Audio's standard catalog, alongside pedals like the Rooms Stereo Reverberator or the Reverberation Machine.
Videos
Death By Audio
Pedal of the Day and Death By Audio
gutternoize pedals, james heighway
Questions
How does the light sensor on the Psychedelic Nightmare work?
The pedal has a built-in light sensor, described as the sensor eye, that dynamically alters the clock speed of the effect in response to light falling on it. In a dark room the clock runs slow, and when light shines on the pedal the clock speeds up. The Warp Range knob sets how sensitive the sensor is, so you can control how much the light around you warps the reverb and tremolo.
Can the Psychedelic Nightmare be used in mono?
Yes. The Psychedelic Nightmare is a stereo in/stereo out pedal, but it can also be used in mono or in a mono-to-stereo configuration, so it works on a single-amp pedalboard as well as a stereo rig.
How many Psychedelic Nightmare pedals were made?
It is a limited edition of 333 units, made as a collaboration between Death By Audio and the Levitation festival.
Where can you buy the Psychedelic Nightmare?
As of its July 2025 release, the pedal was available exclusively from Levitation. Because it is a limited run of 333 units, it is not a standard catalog pedal you will find at every dealer.
Sources (1)
- Death By Audio / Levitation Psychedelic Lightmare Light-Responsive Reverb Tremolo, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2025-07-18
