Where most flanger pedals offer one or two flavors of the effect, Pyramids treats flanging as a family of related sounds: classic jet-style sweeps, through-zero flanging, infinitely rising or falling barber pole sweeps, pick-attack-triggered sweeps, stepped and random modulation. It is built on the same proprietary DSP architecture as the company's Avalanche Run delay and reverb pedal.1
Eight flanger modes and what they do
The heart of the pedal is its eight flanger modes: Classic, Through-Zero, Barber Pole Up, Barber Pole Down, Trigger Up, Trigger Down, Step and Random.3 Delicious Audio's product page describes the range as "a full palette of great sounds."1
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Classic | Traditional flanger sweep1 |
| Through-Zero | Through-zero flanging, where the delayed signal crosses the dry signal's timing1 |
| Barber Pole Up | Infinitely rising sweep1 |
| Barber Pole Down | Infinitely falling sweep1 |
| Trigger Up | Infinitely upward-sweeping flanger that restarts with each new pick attack or by pressing the Tap/Trigger footswitch1 |
| Trigger Down | The same, with a downward sweep1 |
| Step | Stepped modulation1 |
| Random | Random modulation1 |
The Trigger Up and Trigger Down modes are the most unusual. Beyond restarting on pick attack or footswitch press, they allow what EarthQuaker Devices calls Side Chain Flanging, in which an external control source such as a drum machine, sequencer or control voltages can be used to trigger the flanger while you play your instrument.1 That opens up synchronized, rhythmic flanging driven by gear outside your signal chain, something a conventional LFO-based flanger like the MXR Flanger or Ibanez FL9 cannot do.
The controls: Rate, Mix, Modify and the footswitches
The control panel is built around four knobs, with the Modify knob doing different work in each mode.1
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Rate | Flanging speed1 |
| Mix | Volume control for the effect1 |
| Manual | Sets the delay time and resulting pitch of the modulated signal; can also be controlled via foot pedal or control voltage source1 |
| Modify | A different function in each of the eight modes1 |
The Modify knob is the key to the pedal's flexibility. In Classic and Barber Pole modes it acts as a tone control; in Through-Zero it sets the through-zero point; in the Trigger modes it adjusts pick-attack sensitivity; and in Step and Random modes it controls the glide between steps.1 Pedal of the Day summarized the same behavior: "from tone control to sensitivity adjust to delay time and more."3
There are two footswitches. The Tap/Trigger footswitch is a tap tempo control for most modes, but in Trigger Up and Trigger Down modes it triggers the effect whenever pressed.3 The Activate footswitch carries Flexi-Switch technology, EarthQuaker Devices' true-bypass switching platform that allows both momentary and latching operation, so you can hold it for a quick burst of flanging or press it to leave the effect on.1 MusicRadar noted the switching lets players go from momentary to latching operation on the fly.2
Stereo outputs, expression input and power
Pyramids has stereo inputs and outputs, which Delicious Audio says allow flexible signal routing for a range of guitar setups as well as keyboards.1 MusicRadar likewise highlighted that the stereo I/O makes for a range of routing options.2
For players running wet-dry-wet rigs, Pedal of the Day found the two outputs well suited to the job3:
"The Stereo field the two outputs create is unrivaled, engulfing the room or your headphones in an auditory experience like no other."
An expression pedal can be connected for the Manual parameter, for on-the-fly changes and exploration.3 The pedal runs on 9-volt DC and comes with a power supply in the box.1
Built on the Avalanche Run's DSP
Pyramids is a digital pedal, built on the same proprietary DSP architecture as EarthQuaker Devices' Avalanche Run delay and reverb pedal.1 MusicRadar confirmed the lineage at launch, reporting that the flanger is based on the same DSP architecture as the Avalanche Run.2 For players familiar with the Avalanche Run, that shared platform is what makes the pedal's more exotic modes, presets and side-chain triggering possible in a flanger.
Presets
Pyramids lets you save five user-definable presets, which Delicious Audio noted was a first for any EarthQuaker Devices pedal.1 Pedal of the Day reported that EarthQuaker Devices loads the five presets at the factory, but you can replace them with your own settings.3 Combined with tap tempo and tap subdivision, the presets let you move between very different flanger sounds mid-set without rebending knobs.3
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Knobs
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Questions
What does the Modify knob do on the Pyramids?
The Modify knob changes function depending on which of the eight modes is selected. In Classic and Barber Pole modes it works as a tone control, in Through-Zero it sets the through-zero point, in the Trigger modes it adjusts pick-attack sensitivity, and in Step and Random modes it controls the glide between steps.
Can the Pyramids be set up for Wet-Dry-Wet?
Yes. The pedal has stereo inputs and outputs, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the stereo field its two outputs create well suited to a Wet-Dry-Wet setup, describing the effect as engulfing the room or your headphones. The routing is flexible enough for a range of guitar setups as well as keyboards.
Does the Pyramids have momentary and latching bypass?
Yes. The Activate footswitch uses EarthQuaker Devices' Flexi-Switch relay switching, a true-bypass platform that allows both momentary and latching operation. You can hold the switch for a momentary burst of flanging or press it to latch the effect on, switching between the two behaviors on the fly.
What is the Pyramids' price in the UK?
When the pedal launched in May 2018, MusicRadar reported a UK price of £319. In the United States, Delicious Audio listed it at $299 MAP. Both figures are launch-era prices; check current pricing with retailers, as street prices change over time.
How do the Trigger Up and Trigger Down modes work?
Trigger Up is an infinitely upward-sweeping flanger that restarts with each new pick attack or when you press the Tap/Trigger footswitch. Trigger Down does the same with a downward sweep. Both modes also support Side Chain Flanging, where an external source such as a drum machine, sequencer or control voltages triggers the flanger while you play.
Are the Pyramids presets editable?
Yes. The pedal holds five user-definable presets, which Delicious Audio noted was a first for any EarthQuaker Devices pedal. Pedal of the Day reported that EarthQuaker Devices loads the presets at the factory, but you can overwrite them with your own settings.
Sources (3)
- EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-11
- EarthQuaker Devices debuts ultra-versatile Pyramids Stereo Flanger pedal, MusicRadar, 2018-05-02
- EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanger, Pedal of the Day, 2020-07-18
