The FTelettronica Pedals Tempus Fugit is an analog delay pedal, reviewed by Pedal of the Day on 27 February 2021. It features a Delay section, as well as a Modulation section you can add onto the repeats1. It sits in the same family as the maker's Sonic Dream Analog Delay, another delay with modulation from the same builder1.
The controls
The Tempus Fugit keeps its layout to five knobs and a switch. The FDBK control is the one that pushes the pedal into its wilder territory: Pedal of the Day notes that fully counterclockwise it gives one repeat, while fully clockwise it produces infinite repeats and crazy noises1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DELAY | Controls the delay time1 |
| BLEND | Level of delayed signal1 |
| FDBK | Sets the repeats of the delay signal; fully CCW gives one repeat, infinite repeats and crazy noises at fully CW1 |
| RATE | Speed of modulation1 |
| DEPTH | Level of the modulation applied to repeats1 |
The Modulation switch is a simple on/off: as Pedal of the Day puts it, "As for the Modulation, you just flick the switch up to turn it on"1. With it engaged, RATE and DEPTH shape the wobble on the repeats; with it off, those knobs have nothing to act on.
Filtering modes and tone shaping
Beyond the knobs, the pedal offers "the choice of 4 Filtering Modes to choose from, for a plethora of delay tones"1. Filtering modes change how the repeats are voiced, which is how an analog delay like this can cover a range of dark, muffled textures and brighter, more open ones without leaving the delay circuit. For a player, that means the four modes plus the BLEND and FDBK knobs cover most of the tonal ground before any modulation is added.
Power and bypass
The Tempus Fugit "requires a 9V DC negative center power supply" and is "a True Bypass effect"1. The 9V DC negative center standard means it will run from a normal pedalboard power supply output; true bypass means the delay circuit is removed from the signal path when the pedal is off.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict leans positive while flagging the pedal's character: "actually one of the tamer pedals we've seen from these guys, and it's still pretty bonkers. One of our favorites yet from" the company1. In other words, even by FTelettronica Pedals' standards the Tempus Fugit is on the restrained side, and the reviewer counts it among their favorites from the maker overall1. Players who know the builder's other designs, like the Sonic Dream Analog Delay, will read that as a fair warning that this is still an unconventional take on the delay pedal format.
Videos
FTelettronica Handmade Pedals
Pedal of the Day
FTelettronica Handmade Pedals
Questions
Is the FTelettronica Tempus Fugit true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the Tempus Fugit as a True Bypass effect, so when the pedal is switched off your guitar's signal passes through without the delay circuit coloring it. That matters on a pedalboard where the pedal sits between the guitar and the amp, since the dry tone stays intact when the effect is not in use.
What power supply does the Tempus Fugit need?
The Tempus Fugit requires a 9V DC negative center power supply, according to Pedal of the Day. That is the standard arrangement for most compact pedals, so a typical pedalboard supply with center-negative outputs will run it. Use a proper isolated supply rather than a battery or an unregulated adapter.
What happens when the FDBK knob is turned fully clockwise?
The FDBK knob sets how many repeats the delay produces. Turned fully counterclockwise it gives a single repeat, and Pedal of the Day notes that fully clockwise it produces infinite repeats and, in their words, crazy noises. It is a control that runs from clean single repeats into self-oscillation territory.
How many filtering modes does the Tempus Fugit have?
The Tempus Fugit offers four filtering modes for its delay tones. Pedal of the Day describes this as a choice of 4 Filtering Modes for a plethora of delay tones, giving the player a range of tonal colors on the repeats beyond what the blend and feedback knobs alone provide.
Can the modulation on the Tempus Fugit be turned off?
Yes. Modulation is switched on and off with a dedicated switch: Pedal of the Day says you just flick the switch up to turn it on. When it is off, the repeats stay unmodulated, and when it is on, the RATE and DEPTH knobs control the speed and level of the modulation applied to the repeats.
Sources (1)
- FTelettronica Pedals Tempus Fugit Analog Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2021-02-27
