The Free The Tone AMBI SPACE AS-1R-CS is a Custom Shop version of the company's AS-1R stereo digital reverb pedal. Free The Tone describes the AS-1R as a reverb effect unit that combines the analog and digital technology the company has built up over the years, developed over a long period, and the CS version takes that unit and modifies the power supply section and the HTS circuit section at the Custom Shop in response to musicians seeking even higher sound quality1. It is a compact pedal format unit, with a footswitch and jacks included in its dimensions1.
Free The Tone states that the AS-1R-CS is not regularly sold: it is offered only at Free The Tone event venues or on special occasions, with general sale offered irregularly1. If you want the standard version, the Free the Tone Ambi Space AS-1R is the regularly available pedal the CS is built from.
A stereo digital reverb
The AS-1R at the heart of this pedal is a stereo digital reverb2. Free The Tone describes the original unit as the product of a long development period, combining the company's analog and digital technology, and the AS-1R-CS carries that design forward as a variant of the AMBI SPACE AS-1R41.
The CS version differs from the standard AS-1R in its internals rather than its feature set: the Custom Shop work targets the power supply section and the HTS circuit section, Free The Tone's signal routing circuitry1.
The controls
The front panel carries a small set of knobs and switches1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| PRE DELAY | Sets the delay before the reverb begins |
| DECAY | Sets the length of the reverb tail |
| TONE | Shapes the tone of the reverb |
| MIX | Blends reverb with the dry signal |
| MODE | Selects the reverb mode |
| INST(−10dB)/LINE(+4dB) switch | Switches input level between instrument and line level |
| KILL DRY switch | Cuts the dry signal |
The INST/LINE switch matters for what you plug in. At the INST (−10dB) setting the maximum input level is +3dBu with an input impedance of 1MΩ or higher, which suits a guitar or bass plugged in directly; at the LINE (+4dB) setting the maximum input level rises to +11dBu with an input impedance of 300kΩ or higher, for line-level sources1.
Inputs, outputs and MIDI
The pedal is stereo throughout. It has four 1/4-inch standard phone jacks: L(mono)/R INPUT and L(mono)/R OUTPUT, with the L input usable as a mono input, so a single guitar cable in and out works fine and a second pair of cables opens up full stereo. MusicRadar's review of the AS-1R highlighted "Stereo inputs, switchable to instrument or line-level, along with a handy pair of stereo outputs"41. The output load impedance is 10kΩ or higher1.
For control, there is a MIDI IN on a DIN 5-pin connector, letting the pedal receive MIDI program changes or other commands from a MIDI controller or switching system1.
Power comes from a DC 9V AC adapter. Free The Tone names its own FA-0905D-JA and FA-0905H-JA adapters, both sold separately, connected to a dedicated DC 9V input jack1. There is no battery option, so plan a 9V adapter output on your pedalboard power supply.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
FreeTheToneMovie
FreeTheToneMovie
Questions
Can you buy the Free The Tone AMBI SPACE AS-1R-CS regularly?
No. Free The Tone states that the AS-1R-CS is sold only at Free The Tone events or on special occasions, with general sale offered irregularly. It is a Custom Shop product rather than a regularly stocked pedal, so availability depends on when the company offers it.
Does the AMBI SPACE AS-1R-CS work in mono?
Yes. The pedal has stereo L/R inputs and outputs, and the L input is usable as a mono input. Running a single cable into the L input and out of the L output gives you a mono setup, while a second cable opens up full stereo operation.
Does the AMBI SPACE AS-1R-CS have MIDI?
It has a MIDI IN connection on a DIN 5-pin connector, so it can receive MIDI commands. There is no MIDI OUT or MIDI THRU listed, so it sits at the end of a MIDI chain rather than passing messages along.
What power supply does the AMBI SPACE AS-1R-CS use?
It runs on a DC 9V AC adapter, and Free The Tone names its own FA-0905D-JA and FA-0905H-JA adapters, which are sold separately. There is no battery option, so a suitable 9V adapter is required to use the pedal.
What is the INST/LINE switch for?
It switches the input level between INST (−10dB) and LINE (+4dB). The INST setting suits a guitar or bass plugged straight in, while the LINE setting suits line-level sources such as the output of a mixer or another effects unit, with correspondingly higher maximum input level.
How much does the AMBI SPACE AS-1R-CS weigh?
Free The Tone lists the weight as approximately 385g, excluding accessories. The pedal measures 120 x 102.3 x 58.5mm including protrusions such as the footswitch and jacks.
Sources (4)
- AMBI SPACE AS-1R-CS｜CUSTOM SHOP カスタムショップ｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone
- Free The Tone Ambi Space AS-1R Stereo Digital Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2021-10-13
- Free The Tone Announces the Ambi Space Digital Reverb, Premier Guitar, 2016-09-26
- Free The Tone AS-1R Ambi Space review, MusicRadar, 2017-07-18
