The Electro-Harmonix Next Step Slammi is a foot-controlled pitch shifter: a rocker pedal you lean on to bend your notes and chords across a range of up to three octaves. Electro-Harmonix describes it as delivering "Three-octave polyphonic dive bombs, smooth as silk pitch shifting, fixed interval harmonies and bends plus much more", with "precise control and glitch-free operation"1. It is a digital pedal built around what the maker calls an "Advanced new algorithm that sounds great and provides glitch-free tracking"1.
Discontinued status
The Next Step Slammi is no longer in production. Electro-Harmonix's product page marks it "DISCONTINUED 2023"1. It belonged to the Next Step family of rocker-style pedals, and most of that line has been wound down too: the Next Step Volume Pedal, the Next Step Expression Pedal and the Next Step Talking Pedal were all discontinued in 2020, and the Next Step Pan Pedal and Next Step Crying Bass followed in later years23456.
Because the Slammi is discontinued, used units are the main route to one. Electro-Harmonix still makes other pitch shifters, including the Pitch Fork, the Pitch Fork Plus and the Slammi Plus, and the POG3 carries the company's polyphonic octave format forward.
What it does and how it is controlled
The Slammi's pitch range is set by the MAX BEND control, which Electro-Harmonix describes as acting "as an 11-way switch to set the maximum bend/interval"1. The rocker pedal then sweeps the shift from unison up to whatever maximum you have chosen, so the same pedal position gives a subtle detune or a three-octave drop depending on the setting.
| MAX BEND setting | Interval |
|---|---|
| Detune | Fine detune |
| 1/2 Step | Semitone |
| Major 2nd | Whole tone |
| Major 3rd | Four semitones |
| Perfect 4th | Five semitones |
| Perfect 5th | Seven semitones |
| Major 6th | Nine semitones |
| Minor 7th | Ten semitones |
| 1 Octave | Twelve semitones |
| 2 Octaves | Twenty-four semitones |
| 3 Octaves/Dive Bomb | Thirty-six semitones |
The interval names come from the maker's product page1.
Because the shifting is polyphonic, chords survive the bend rather than falling apart note by note. Electro-Harmonix says the Slammi "revolutionizes foot-controlled pitch shifting with a powerful new algorithm that yields tremendous improvements"1, and the maker's copy promises smooth, glitch-free operation across the range1. For a player, that means the pedal can be used with open chords and full voicings, not just single-note lines, and the rocker gives continuous control in the way an expression pedal or a wah does, rather than the stepped latching shifts of a switch-based pitch pedal like the Pitch Fork.
Power: battery or optional supply
The Slammi ships with a 9 Volt battery fitted, and Electro-Harmonix lists the 9.6DC-200BI power supply as optional1. That makes it playable out of the box, and a player who wants it on a permanent board can add the optional supply rather than burning through batteries.
There is no adapter in the box. If you plan to run the Slammi from a pedalboard power supply rather than the included battery, you will need the 9.6DC-200BI or an equivalent 9 Volt output.
Where it sits in the Electro-Harmonix range
Electro-Harmonix has long offered pitch and octave effects in several shapes, from the analog sub-octave Octave Multiplexer to the polyphonic POG family, including the Micro POG, the Nano POG and the Pico POG. The Next Step Slammi's place in that range was as the foot-controlled rocker option: hands-free, continuous pitch bending with polyphonic tracking, in a format the company has since retired. Players who want a similar sweep under their foot today would pair one of the company's switch-based shifters with an expression input, or look at the Slammi Plus, the later take on the Slammi name1.
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Questions
Does the Electro-Harmonix Slammi come with a battery?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix says the Next Step Slammi comes with a 9 Volt battery already fitted, so it can be played straight away without a separate supply. A 9.6DC-200BI power supply is optional, so players who prefer to run it from mains power on a board can add one rather than relying on the battery.
Is the Next Step Slammi discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix's own product page marks the Next Step Slammi as discontinued in 2023. It was part of the Next Step line of rocker pedals, most of which have since been discontinued as well. The company has continued to make other pitch shifters, including the Slammi Plus and the Pitch Fork range.
What intervals can the Slammi's Max Bend switch select?
The MAX BEND control acts as an 11-way switch that sets the maximum bend or interval. The choices are Detune, 1/2 Step, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Minor 7th, 1 Octave, 2 Octaves and 3 Octaves/Dive Bomb. The rocker pedal then sweeps the pitch between no shift and the selected maximum.
What power supply does the Slammi use?
The Next Step Slammi runs on a 9 Volt battery, which is included, and takes the Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC-200BI power supply as an optional extra. There is no included adapter, so a player who wants mains power needs to add that supply or use a compatible 9 Volt output from an existing pedalboard power source.
Is the Slammi polyphonic?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix describes the Slammi as polyphonic, meaning it can shift full chords rather than single notes, and says its algorithm provides glitch-free tracking. The maker's copy highlights three-octave polyphonic dive bombs and smooth pitch shifting, with fixed interval harmonies and bends also available.
Sources (6)
- Next Step Slammi, Electro-Harmonix, 2023
- Next Step Volume Pedal, Electro-Harmonix, 2020
- Next Step Expression Pedal, Electro-Harmonix, 2020
- Next Step Talking Pedal, Electro-Harmonix, 2020
- Next Step Pan Pedal, Electro-Harmonix, 2023
- Next Step Crying Bass, Electro-Harmonix
