The Black Hole Chorus is an all-analog chorus effect pedal from Henretta Engineering, one of the maker's one-stomp pedals. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as a pedal that will add shimmer, dimension, fullness and character to your sound, and it does so from an enclosure of just 2-5/8" x 3", small enough to squeeze into a crowded board1. It belongs to the wider family of chorus pedals, but it takes a different approach to controls than most.
Controls: trimpots, not knobs
Where most chorus pedals put Speed and Depth on the front panel, the Black Hole hides both as trimpots on the circuit board. That shapes how the pedal is used: Pedal of the Day called it "pretty much a set-it-and-go pedal, unless you want to try adjusting trimpots on a dimly lit stage"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| SPEED (trimpot) | Controls the frequency of the pitch modulation that creates the chorus effect1 |
| DEPTH (trimpot) | Controls the intensity of pitch modulation, more intense as you adjust clockwise1 |
| VIBRATO SWITCH | Tiny switch near the left side of the circuit board; flipping it to OFF removes the parallel dry signal1 |
The Speed trimpot covers a wide range of territory. At fully clockwise the review describes classic rotating speaker type sounds, at mid-sweep settings a throbbing modulation, and at fully counterclockwise more subtle comb-filtering1.
Vibrato mode
The vibrato switch is the pedal's second character. Flip it to OFF and the parallel dry signal is removed, leaving only the pitch-modulated signal for what the review calls a dizzying vibrato effect, closer to the territory of dedicated vibrato pedals1. One thing to know before relying on it live:
With the vibrato switch OFF, the pitch-modulated signal sits slightly quieter than unity gain, because the circuit has been voiced in favor of providing optimum chorus effects when the switch is ON1.
Bypass and board fit
The effect is completely removed from your signal chain when the pedal is off, which the review identifies as true bypass1. Combined with the tiny enclosure and top-mounted jacks, which the review says help keep things neat and tidy, it is laid out with tight pedalboards in mind1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2021 review is the published verdict on record: an all-analog chorus with a set-it-and-go character, a wide sweep of sounds from subtle comb-filtering to rotating-speaker warble, and a vibrato mode hiding behind an internal switch1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Henretta Engineering Black Hole Chorus true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review notes that the effect is completely removed from your signal chain when the pedal is off, which is true bypass operation. That means your clean tone passes through untouched until you engage the chorus.
Can the Black Hole Chorus do vibrato?
Yes. A tiny switch near the left side of the circuit board removes the parallel dry signal, leaving only the pitch-modulated signal for what the review calls a dizzying vibrato effect. In that mode the modulated signal sits slightly quieter than unity gain, since the circuit is voiced for optimum chorus when the switch is on.
How big is the Henretta Black Hole Chorus?
It is housed in a tiny 2-5/8 inch by 3 inch enclosure, with top-mounted jacks that help keep things neat and tidy on a pedalboard. It is one of Henretta Engineering's one-stomp pedals.
Are the Speed and Depth controls on the Black Hole Chorus knobs?
No. Speed and Depth are trimpots, small adjustment pots on the circuit board rather than external knobs. Speed sets the frequency of the pitch modulation and Depth sets its intensity, so changes are made with a tool rather than by foot or finger.
Sources (1)
- Henretta Engineering Black Hole Chorus, Pedal of the Day, 2021-03-31