The DigiTech Nautila Chorus/Flange is a compact stompbox that combines two modulation effects in one enclosure: a chorus running up to eight voices and a flanger running up to four. DigiTech debuted it at Summer NAMM 2016, with a US street price of $149.95 and a UK price of £119 RRP ex VAT, and availability expected in July 201612.
Voices, modes and the Drift control
The Nautila's central idea is stacking modulation voices and then moving them around. Guitar.com's report on the announcement explains that the Voice and Drift controls "allow you to add up to eight chorus voices or four flanger voices, and then blend and morph these waveforms"1. In chorus mode the pedal runs 1 to 8 Voices with a Tone (Emphasis) control1.
DigiTech's own pitch for the sound leans on water imagery:
"Create never before heard tidal swirls or soothing rhythmic waves with the Voice and Drift controls"
MusicRadar, covering the same announcement, put it as the chance to "experience never before heard tidal swirls" with the pedal1.
Controls
The controls reported at the announcement break down as follows:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Voice | Adds up to eight chorus voices, or four flanger voices in flange mode1 |
| Drift | Blends and morphs the stacked voice waveforms1 |
| Tone (Emphasis) | Tone shaping in chorus mode, which runs 1 to 8 Voices1 |
| Momentary footswitch | Held down, it increases the modulation speed in real time; releasing it returns the speed to its previous setting1 |
The momentary footswitch
Beyond the Voice and Drift controls, the pedal's most distinctive feature is its footswitch behavior. Holding down the momentary footswitch increases the modulation speed in real time, and releasing it returns the speed to its previous setting1. MusicRadar describes the same feature as the pedal's "modulation speed can be altered by holding down the momentary footswitch"2. Guitar.com also lists slow to fast or fast to slow foot-switchable speeds, on a compact enclosure with a soft click vacuum-style footswitch1.
Stereo operation, bypass and power
The Nautila is built for stereo rigs. It has True Stereo I/O with stereo inputs and outputs1, which MusicRadar's report confirms as "Stereo ins and outs"2. When the pedal is off, True Bypass circuitry preserves your tone, and DigiTech pairs that with silent switching and rugged construction1. For power, the pedal supports 9V battery operation2.
The features reported at the announcement, at a glance:
- Up to eight chorus voices or four flanger voices1
- Voice and Drift controls for blending and morphing waveforms1
- True Stereo I/O, with stereo inputs and outputs1
- True Bypass circuitry, silent switching and rugged construction1
- Momentary footswitch for real-time speed changes, slow to fast or fast to slow1
- Compact enclosure with a soft click vacuum-style footswitch1
- 9V battery operation2
The Nautila was announced at Summer NAMM 2016 as an upcoming release, with availability expected in July 20161 and MusicRadar reporting it would dock "later this year"2.
Where it sits
For a wider view of the effect type, see the site's pages on Chorus Pedals.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Premier Guitar
Sweetwater
Questions
Is the DigiTech Nautila true bypass?
Yes. DigiTech says the Nautila uses True Bypass circuitry that preserves your tone when the pedal is not in use, alongside silent switching and rugged construction. That means the effect is removed entirely from your signal path when the pedal is off, which matters on a pedalboard where buffers and hardwired bypass stages can each dull the signal a little.
Does the Nautila work in stereo?
Yes. The Nautila has True Stereo I/O, with stereo inputs and stereo outputs. MusicRadar's report on the pedal's Summer NAMM 2016 announcement lists stereo ins and outs, and Guitar.com describes it as true stereo. That lets you run a stereo rig or place the pedal after another stereo effect without collapsing the signal to mono.
Can the Nautila run on a battery?
Yes. MusicRadar's coverage of the announcement lists 9V battery operation among the pedal's features. As with any battery-powered pedal, a power supply is the practical choice for regular use, but the battery option means the Nautila can be used without a supply on the board.
What does the momentary footswitch do on the Nautila?
Holding down the momentary footswitch increases the modulation speed in real time, and releasing it returns the speed to where it was. Guitar.com describes it as a way to ramp the speed up and then continue on your way, and MusicRadar notes the pedal offers slow to fast or fast to slow foot-switchable speeds.
How many chorus voices does the Nautila have?
Up to eight. Guitar.com reports that the Voice and Drift controls let you add up to eight chorus voices, or four flanger voices when the pedal is in flange mode, and then blend and morph those waveforms. The chorus mode runs 1 to 8 Voices with a Tone (Emphasis) control.
What did the Nautila cost at launch?
MusicRadar gave a street price of $149.95 when the pedal was announced at Summer NAMM 2016. Guitar.com's report from the same show quoted a UK price of £119 RRP ex VAT, with availability expected in July 2016.
Sources (2)
- Summer NAMM 2016: DigiTech announces the Nautila Chorus/Flange pedal, Guitar.com, 2016-06-24
- Summer NAMM 2016: Experience "never-before-heard tidal swirls" with DigiTech's Nautila Chorus/Flange effects pedal, MusicRadar, 2016-06-22
