The Electro-Harmonix Micro Synth is an analog guitar synth pedal, listed by the maker as the Analog Guitar Microsynth. It builds synthesizer textures from your guitar signal using four voices: GUITAR, OCTAVE, SUB OCTAVE and SQUARE WAVE, all fed through a 3-pole analog resonant filter. It was released in 2008 and carries a list price of $324.80 USD as of 26 October 20261.
Four voices and a resonant filter
Electro-Harmonix describes the pedal as able to create some of the most popular synthesizer textures with its four voices: GUITAR, OCTAVE, SUB OCTAVE and SQUARE WAVE1. The guitar voice is your original signal; the octave and sub octave voices sit above and below it; the square wave voice adds a synth-style tone on top. Each voice has its own volume control, so you can blend them in any proportion, from a single sub octave thump to a full stacked synth patch.
Everything then runs through a 3-pole analog resonant filter1. The filter's sharpness is set by the RESONANCE knob, which "affects the degree of sharpness, or 'Q' of the filter" according to Electro-Harmonix1. Higher resonance settings give the filter a more pronounced, sweeping character as notes trigger it.
The TRIGGER knob determines the input volume at which the filter circuits will "turn on"1. Set it to match your guitar's output: a hotter pickup or harder attack brings the filter in earlier, a lower setting keeps it reserved for stronger notes.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GUITAR | Volume of the original guitar voice |
| OCTAVE | Controls the output volume of the Octave1 |
| SUB OCTAVE | Controls the output volume of the Sub-Octave1 |
| SQUARE WAVE | Controls the output volume of the Square wave1 |
| RESONANCE | Affects the degree of sharpness, or "Q" of the filter1 |
| TRIGGER | Determines the input volume at which the filter circuits will "turn on"1 |
The footswitch selects either effect mode or true bypass1. The input jack accepts your instrument or the output of another effects pedal, and the output jack sends the audio signal on1.
The pedal draws 55mA1, more than a typical single-effect pedal. The included 9.6VDC-200mA adapter1 covers it; on a shared power supply, check the per-output current budget.
Where it sits among synth pedals
The Micro Synth is one of the longer-lived entries in the synth pedal field. Electro-Harmonix's own range has since grown around it, from the Superego Synth Engine and the Mono Synth to the compact Pico Atomic Cluster Spectral Decomposer. Compared with digital modeling synths such as the BOSS SY-1 or the Source Audio C4 Synth, the Micro Synth's approach is simpler and fully analog: four fixed voices and one resonant filter, blended by hand. There is also a bass-oriented sibling in the Bass Mono Synth1.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Prymaxe
EHX
Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix Micro Synth analog or digital?
It is analog. Electro-Harmonix lists it as the Analog Guitar Microsynth, and its filter section is described as a 3-pole analog resonant filter. The four voices, the sub octave, the octave, the square wave and the guitar signal itself are all processed in the analog domain, which is the core of what the pedal does.
Does the Micro Synth have true bypass?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix specifies true bypass, and the footswitch selects either effect mode or true bypass. When the pedal is off, your guitar signal passes through without the synth voices or the filter in the way.
Does the Micro Synth come with a power adapter?
Yes, a 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter is included in the box, according to Electro-Harmonix's product page.
How much current does the Micro Synth draw?
Electro-Harmonix lists the current draw at 55mA. That is more than many standard pedals pull, so it is worth checking your power supply's per-output budget before adding it to a daisy chain.
What does the Trigger knob do on the Micro Synth?
The Trigger knob determines the input volume at which the filter circuits will turn on. In practice it sets how hard you have to play before the filter voices kick in, so you adjust it to match your guitar's output level and your picking dynamics.
Sources (1)
- Micro Synth, Electro-Harmonix
