The Dreadbox Darkness is a digital true stereo reverb effect pedal, with true stereo input and output1. It came out in 2021 as one of three new stereo stompboxes from the Greek maker2. Dreadbox says it ranges "from soft, ethereal reflections to endless, shimmering reverb"3.
What makes the Darkness different from most reverb pedals is what sits inside the box. Rather than offering several switched reverb algorithms, it uses a single formula: a granular pitch shifter feeding the digital reverb circuit from the Dreadbox Typhon synthesizer, followed by a gate generator, plus a 150 millisecond loop for the Hold effect2. The result is a shimmer reverb that can be gated, modulated and frozen in place.
Built on Sinevibes algorithms and the Typhon reverb
Dreadbox describes the Darkness as "a collaboration with Sinevibes"3. Delicious Audio explains the lineage in more detail: the pedal combines two Sinevibes algorithms, which the Dreadbox team extended for use as an effect pedal, and the reverb itself is the digital reverb circuit found in the Dreadbox Typhon synth2.
The architecture runs in a fixed order. A granular pitch shifter feeds the Typhon reverb, then a gate generator, with the 150ms loop available for the Hold effect2. Instead of having several switched algorithms, the Darkness has a single versatile and flexible formula, and everything else, the gate, the modulation, the filters, is layered on top of that one reverb2. There is also a modulation circuit with three selectable LFO waves: Triangle or Sample & Hold2.
The controls and shift functions
On the surface the Darkness has four knobs and two footswitches. Underneath, MusicRadar found it is "actually three layers of controls with 'pages' two and three accessed by holding either the On or Hold footswitches"5. Page two carries a reverb filter (lowpass and highpass), an LFO for wobbling the reverb, and the tails on/off option for bypassing. Page three brings in the gating, with threshold, attack and release settings5.
| Control | Normal function | Left Shift (hold On) | Right Shift (hold Hold) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverb Size | Sets the reverb size | ||
| Feedback | Sets the effect's feedback | Modulation Depth | Gate Attack |
| Control | Several parameters, depending on the Mode | Modulation Rate | Gate Release Time |
| Mix | Balances dry and wet | Damping Filter | Gate Threshold |
| Loop | Loops 150ms of the input signal |
The shift functions also change what the CONTROL knob affects: Left Shift toggles Tails ON/OFF, and Right Shift toggles Gate ON/OFF3. MusicRadar describes the core sound shaping as controlled by the Spread and Decay pots, which set the size and length of the reverb5.
The two footswitches do double duty. The On footswitch is a CMOS bypass with a soft touch switch, and holding it down gives Left Shift. The Hold footswitch works with the Loop control, and holding it down gives Right Shift; both footswitches, held, open pages two and three of the controls35.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar reviewed the Darkness alongside other Dreadbox pedals in April 2022. The reviewer's one practical criticism was noise5:
"Darkness is a little noisy, even when bypassed, so it may need to have a full bypass in a pedalboard context, especially"
The point matters most if the Darkness sits before compression and overdriving gain stages, where its noise floor will be amplified along with everything else5.
On That Pedal Show's demo, Dan and Mick noted there is no option for an expression pedal6, so players who like to sweep reverb parameters with their feet will not find that here.
Power and connections
The Darkness runs on 9V DC from a BOSS style center pin negative 2.1mm supply, which is not included, and draws 150mA3. That draw is high enough that a small daisy chain may be tight if it shares a supply with several other digital pedals. It is true stereo, with stereo TS unbalanced 6.4mm inputs and outputs, and the inputs expect up to 2Vpp signal levels31.
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Questions
Does the Dreadbox Darkness have an expression pedal input?
No. On That Pedal Show's demo, Dan and Mick noted there is no option for an expression pedal. All control changes on the Darkness are made with its four knobs, the two footswitches and the shift functions they unlock, rather than with an external controller.
Is the Dreadbox Darkness true bypass?
The Darkness uses a CMOS bypass with a soft touch switch, which Dreadbox calls Selectable Tails Bypass. That means you can choose whether the reverb tail continues to ring out after you bypass the pedal, or cuts off immediately, by toggling the Tails setting with the Left Shift function.
Can the Darkness keep reverb tails when bypassed?
Yes. The bypass is a Selectable Tails Bypass, and the Left Shift function toggles Tails ON or OFF. With Tails on, the reverb decays naturally after the pedal is bypassed instead of being cut dead, which suits ambient playing and swells.
What does the Hold footswitch do on the Darkness?
The Hold footswitch works with the Loop control, which captures 150 milliseconds of your input signal and loops it. Holding the Hold footswitch also accesses page three of the controls, which brings in the gate with threshold, attack and release settings.
Is the Dreadbox Darkness noisy?
MusicRadar's reviewer found the Darkness a little noisy, even when bypassed, and suggested it may need a full bypass in a pedalboard context, especially if it is followed by compression and overdriving gain stages. If your board runs high gain after the reverb, plan your switching accordingly.
Sources (6)
- Darkness, Dreadbox Synthesizers, 2026-09-21
- Dreadbox Darkness Stereo Granular Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2022-03-30
- Darkness Effect Pedal, Dreadbox, 2024-09-09
- Komorebi, Dreadbox Synthesizers
- Dreadbox effects pedals review, MusicRadar, 2022-04-21
- Kernom Ridge, Geckoplex EP-5, Dreadbox Darkness, Boss SL-2 Slicer New Pedal Day, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2022-11-29