The EMMA Electronic ND-1 Navigator is a compact delay pedal from Danish maker EMMA Electronic, announced in November 2018 and distributed in the US through Godlyke123. It is a hybrid design: the dry signal path stays 100% analog, which Pedal of the Day describes as a way "to avoid signal latency and digital sterility," while the delayed signal is generated by DSP and fed back into the analog realm4. EMMA says the pedal "can generate classic delay tones as well as many unique new sounds"1.
What sets the Navigator apart from most single-delay pedals is its beat-split function. A second delay voice can be set at one-half, two-thirds, or three-quarter intervals against the main delay, producing rhythmic, multi-tap patterns such as dotted-eighth effects, and that second voice has its own Level control14.
Controls and how it works
The Navigator's front panel keeps things simple while covering a lot of ground. Gearnews noted that it "covers a lot of ground but manages to keep the user interface relatively simple, which takes some thought"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time | Controls length of the main delay repeat3 |
| Feedback | Controls amount of delay repeats3 |
| Main D | Controls level of the main delay voice3 |
| Color | Controls the tonality of the delay voice, from dark to bright3 |
| Second Level | Sets the level of the beat-split delay repeats, so you can emphasize the second voice or turn the main delay off entirely14 |
| Beat-Split switch | Selects the time interval for the secondary delay voice3 |
| Tap Tempo | Lets you tap in the delay time with your foot53 |
The beat-split toggle sets the second delay at one-half, two-thirds, or three-quarter intervals against the main delay, which Pedal of the Day describes as a way to create rhythmic, "multi-tap" effects and classic patterns like dotted eighth delays4. Because the second voice has its own Level control, you can push it front and center or mute the main delay and use only the beat-split repeats4.
Pedal of the Day also notes that the Color (Tone), Level (Output) and Feedback (Repeats) controls "add additional warmth and realism to the effect" once the delayed signal is fed back into the analog realm4.
Power, bypass and connections
The Navigator runs on a 9-volt battery or a 9V DC power adaptor, with a 70mA current draw15. At 70mA it draws more current than a basic analog pedal, so a battery will not last as long as it would in a low-current overdrive.
The Navigator is not true bypass. It uses a buffered bypass with a low impedance output15. Players who run long cable runs or many true-bypass pedals may find the buffer helps their signal; players who want a fully passive signal chain when the pedal is off should know it is always in the circuit.
For stereo setups, the wet and dry signals are split to separate outputs, so the delayed signal and the clean signal can go to two different amps or destinations15.
Where it came from
EMMA Electronic, a Danish company, announced the ND-1 Navigator in November 201812. The announcement described a hybrid analog and digital delay with tap tempo, modulation, beat-splits, trails and wet/dry outputs, at a $279 street price in the US15. European pricing was listed at an RRP of EUR 2492. In the US, the pedal is sold through Godlyke3.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Navigator in November 2021 and called it "a pinnacle of elegant simplicity, offering everything you need in a delay pedal, and nothing you don't"4.
"The Navigator's hybrid circuit keeps the dry signal path 100% analog to avoid signal latency and digital sterility."
Gearnews, covering the launch, highlighted the balance between features and usability, writing that the pedal "covers a lot of ground but manages to keep the user interface relatively simple"2.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the EMMA Navigator true bypass?
No. The ND-1 Navigator uses a buffered bypass with a low impedance output, rather than true bypass. A buffer keeps the signal strong through long cable runs, though some players prefer true bypass switching on their pedalboards.
Does the EMMA ND-1 Navigator run on a battery?
Yes. The Navigator runs on a 9-volt battery or a 9V DC power adaptor, drawing 70mA. The battery option makes it usable on a simple board without a power supply, though a 70mA draw will drain a battery faster than a low-current analog pedal.
What is the maximum delay time on the Navigator?
The ND-1 Navigator offers delay times of up to 1 second. Delay time can be set with the Time knob or tapped in with your foot using the tap tempo footswitch, and the beat-split function sets a second delay voice against the main one.
Is the EMMA Navigator analog or digital?
It is a hybrid. The dry signal path is 100% analog, which EMMA says avoids signal latency and digital sterility, while the delayed signal is generated by DSP and fed back into the analog realm for its repeats.
Does the EMMA ND-1 Navigator have tap tempo?
Yes. The Navigator has a tap tempo function that lets you tap in the delay time with your foot, so repeats stay locked to the tempo of the song rather than being set by ear on a knob.
Sources (5)
- Emma Electronic Unveils ND-1 Navigator Delay Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2018-11-21
- EMMA Electronic ND-1 Navigator: A new analogue/digital hybrid delay pedal, gearnews.com, 2018-11-26
- EMMA Electronic Unveils ND-1 Navigator Delay, Guitar World, 2018-11-26
- EMMA Electronic ND-1 Navigator Delay, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2021-11-17
- Godlyke releases EMMA Navigator hybrid delay, MusicPlayers.com, 2018-11-16
