The Deep Space Devices Dust is a fuzz pedal with a momentary sampler and looper built in. As Paolo De Gregorio put it in Delicious Audio's write-up, "So it's a fuzz and a momentary sampler/looper." The Alabama-based builder returned after a break with the pedal in November 2021, and it works on an unusual premise: a single playback fuzz where the delayed note has a maximum length of half a second, and one knob that changes the length of that single playback note1.
The fuzz voice itself is fixed. As the Delicious Audio piece describes it, "The fuzz sound is set to 'gnarly,'" and there is no external volume control: an internal trimpot adjusts the overall output1.
The controls and footswitches
The Dust has one knob and two footswitches, and each does a distinct job1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Main knob | Changes the length of the single playback note |
| Main knob at 7 o'clock | Fuzzed out |
| Main knob between 8 and 12 o'clock | Chorus-like fuzz effect |
| Main knob beyond 12 o'clock | Experimentation territory, not recommended |
| Internal trimpot | Adjusts the overall output |
| Left footswitch (Bypass) | Turns the effect on and off; orange LED shows bypass state |
| Right footswitch (Momentary) | While held down, holds the audio you played for as long as you hold it, depending on knob position |
The knob's positions map to different behaviors. At 7 o'clock the Dust is simply fuzzed out. Increased between 8 to 12 o'clock, you get what Delicious Audio describes as "a chorus-like fuzz effect." Beyond 12 o'clock, the write-up calls it "experimentation and fun from there," but with a firm warning attached1.
The Dust can get very loud, loud enough to potentially damage speakers or hearing. Going past 12 o'clock on the main knob is not recommended; the suggested range is between 7 and 11 o'clock1.
The momentary footswitch is the pedal's second half. When held down, depending on the knob's position, it holds the audio you have played for as long as you keep the switch down, up to that half-second maximum1.
Using the Dust with other gear
Two placement caveats are worth knowing before you patch it in:
- If a compressor is placed before the Dust, the momentary footswitch may operate differently1.
- With a synth or instruments other than guitar or bass going into the Dust, the effect may operate differently depending on the input signal strength1.
If you are pairing it with a compressor, it is worth reading up on compressor pedals first, and the momentary hold function puts the Dust in company with looping pedals as much as with fuzz pedals.
The enclosure
Each Dust is its own variant of acid etching, so no two enclosures look alike1. For comparison, the related Emanating Fist Electronics Black Dust takes a different approach: it presents only a single control for master volume, is internally pre-set for maximum fuzz and drive, and its maker describes "a solid bulletproof design that offers excellent longevity and supreme performance"2.
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Questions
What does the momentary footswitch do on the Deep Space Devices Dust?
The right footswitch is momentary: while you hold it down, the Dust holds the audio you have played for as long as you keep the switch pressed, with the length of that held note set by the position of the main knob. Note that if you place a compressor before the Dust, the momentary footswitch may operate differently.
How long is the delayed note on the Dust?
The Dust is a single playback fuzz, and the delayed note has a maximum length of half a second. The main knob changes the length of that single playback note, so the knob position determines how much of the half-second you hear.
Does the Dust have a volume control?
There is no volume knob on the outside of the pedal. Instead, an internal trimpot lets you adjust the overall output level. The pedal can get very loud, so the maker's guidance is to keep the main knob between 7 and 11 o'clock.
Can the Dust be used with a synth?
Possibly, but with a caveat: if you feed the Dust a synth or other instrument other than guitar or bass, the effect may operate differently depending on the strength of the input signal.
Is the Dust very loud?
It can be. The pedal can get very loud enough to potentially damage speakers or hearing. Going past 12 o'clock on the main knob is not recommended; staying between 7 and 11 o'clock is the suggested range.
Why does each Dust enclosure look different?
Each Dust enclosure is its own variant of acid etching, so no two units look the same.
Sources (2)
- Deep Space Devices Dust Fuzz/Glitch Looper, Delicious Audio, 2021-11-05
- Black Dust, stompboxes.co.uk, 2025
