The External / Internal is a pedal from Empty Head Effects that sits in the territory between a chorus, a fuzz and a delay. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists it as "CHORUS FUZZ DELAY" on one circuit, and it is analog throughout1.
What makes it unusual is that it does not behave like a conventional chorus or delay. The maker's own description is worth quoting in full1:
"It's a delay and a chorus, nor really is it either, with a permanent noise floor, dirt, humanity, it modulates itself based on the strength of the affected signal, it becomes unpredictable."
In practice, that means the effect responds to how hard you play: the modulation follows the strength of the affected signal, so the sound shifts with your dynamics rather than sitting at a fixed rate and depth. The maker is upfront that a noise floor is part of the design, not a defect to be hidden1.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Effect type | Chorus, fuzz, delay |
| Circuit type | Analog |
| Voltage | 9V DC, center negative |
| Current | 100mA |
The External / Internal draws 100mA, which is more than many pedalboard power supply outputs deliver per outlet. It needs a supply output rated for at least that current, and a daisy chain shared with other pedals is not a suitable way to run it.
Where it fits on a board
Because it combines three effect types in one analog circuit, The External / Internal does not map cleanly onto the usual pedal categories. Players comparing it against a dedicated chorus or delay should expect something less predictable than either: the maker's description of "dirt" and self-modulation places it closer to a character effect than a clean time-based one1.
Videos
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Questions
What kind of pedal is The External / Internal?
It is an analog pedal from Empty Head Effects that covers chorus, fuzz and delay. The maker describes it as a delay and a chorus, but not really either one: it has a permanent noise floor, dirt and humanity, and it modulates itself based on the strength of the affected signal, which makes it unpredictable. Players looking for a single, fixed chorus or delay sound should treat it as its own effect rather than a replacement for either.
How is The External / Internal powered?
It runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 100mA. Because of that current draw, it needs its own adequate power supply output rather than a low-current supply position. The circuit is analog.
Sources (1)
- The External / Internal by Empty Head Effects, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026