The Holy Island Audio Deforming is a delay pedal built around the PT2399 chip, made by Holy Island Audio, a maker hailing from Wales. What sets it apart from other PT2399 delays is a peculiar, footswitch-triggered "warp" function that links the delay's time to an envelope, sweeping the delay time while you play. The pedal can also be controlled via CV, which makes it great for Eurorack players.1
The warp effect
Holding down the left footswitch engages the warping effect. While it is held, an envelope sweeps the delay time, generating the classic "sound warping" effect you get when you turn the time knob while the guitar strings are vibrating. The shape of the effect is determined by an envelope that can be set to eight patterns, selected by the 8-way rotary Waveform switch, and the speed of execution of that pattern is controlled via the Length knob.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Waveform (8-way rotary switch) | Selects one of eight envelope patterns for the shape of the warp effect1 |
| Length | Controls the speed of execution of the envelope pattern1 |
| Reflection | Acts as a feedback control1 |
| Blend | Acts as a dry/wet mix1 |
| Input | A preamp that can generate saturation emulating the preamp of vintage echo machines1 |
The Input knob is worth a note on its own: rather than simply setting the level into the delay, it is really a preamp that can generate saturation emulating the preamp of vintage echo machines, so it shapes the character of the repeats as well as the drive into the circuit.1
The warp effect can be controlled via CV as well as by the footswitch, which makes the Deforming usable with Eurorack systems.1
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Questions
What chip does the Holy Island Audio Deforming use?
The Deforming is a delay built around the PT2399 chip, a common echo IC used in many compact delay designs. Holy Island Audio pairs it with a footswitch-triggered warp function that links the delay's time to an envelope, and the shape of that envelope is set by an eight-way rotary switch.
How do you trigger the warp effect on the Deforming?
You engage the warping effect by holding down the left footswitch. While it is held, the delay time is swept by an envelope, generating the classic sound-warping effect you get when you turn the time knob while the guitar strings are still vibrating. The Length knob controls how fast the envelope pattern runs.
What does the Waveform switch do on the Deforming?
The Waveform control is an eight-way rotary switch that selects one of eight envelope patterns for the shape of the warp effect. The speed at which the selected pattern is executed is set by the Length knob.
Can the Deforming be controlled by CV from a Eurorack system?
Yes. According to Delicious Audio, the warp effect can be controlled via CV, which makes the pedal great for Eurorack players who want to drive the delay-time warping from modular gear.
Sources (1)
- Holy Island Audio Deforming Delay, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-14