The Hotone Binary Mod is a compact digital modulation pedal from Hotone, released in 2018 as part of the Binary series alongside the Binary Amp and Binary Eko. It carries 24 modulation effects, including chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, rotary speaker, vibrato, wah and detune, in a dual-footswitch case with an OLED display. MusicRadar listed it at $139 USD when it became available in June 201812.
The Binary series and where the Mod fits
Hotone introduced the Binary series as a line of dual-footswitch pedals built on the same effect library as its XTOMP platform. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the series as letting "loose versatile pro-level effects in compact" cases, with compact housings, dual footswitches, versatile inputs and outputs, and a bright, clear OLED display3. The Mod is the modulation pedal of the group: gearnews described it as "almost identical to the Eko, but produces a range of modulation effects," with the Eko covering the delay-style duties in the series instead2.
Effects and controls
The 24 effects cover the standard modulation families. Delicious Audio's report on the series listed "choruses, flangers, phasers, tremolos, rotary speaker simulators, vibratos, wahs, detuners and more"4, and gearnews named the same set: "the 24 effects include Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, Rotary, Vibrato, Wah, Detune and more"2.
On the top panel there are five knobs:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output level |
| A | First adjustable parameter for the selected effect |
| B | Second adjustable parameter for the selected effect |
| Depth | Modulation depth |
| Rate | Modulation speed |
Controls for Level, A, B, Depth and Rate are common to the effects, with A and B changing their function depending on the effect selected2. The dual footswitches handle preset selection across the 10 presets, arranged as 5 banks of 2, and tap tempo is included for setting the rate by foot4.
Stereo outputs and expression input
The Binary Mod has stereo input and output. The output can be run as a true stereo pair or as dual mono when feeding a single amp, and there is a dedicated expression pedal input for hands-free control of a parameter while playing24. For a modulation pedal, that stereo path matters: effects like rotary speaker and chorus read very differently in stereo than collapsed to mono, and the expression input lets a player sweep rate or depth without bending down to the knobs.
The Binary Mod draws 200mA at 9V DC3. Check that your pedalboard supply has an output rated for that current; a low-current daisy-chain output will not run it reliably.
Power
The pedal runs on 9V DC, center negative, drawing 200mA3. There is no battery option at that draw, so plan a supply output that can deliver the full current.
Videos
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Questions
Does the Hotone Binary Mod take a battery?
The Binary Mod runs on a 9V DC, center-negative power supply with a current draw of 200mA. That draw is higher than many compact pedals, so it is best fed from a supply that can deliver enough current on its own output rather than a shared daisy chain.
What power supply does the Hotone Binary Mod need?
Hotone specifies 9V DC, center negative, at 200mA. A standard isolated pedalboard supply output rated for at least that current will run it.
How many presets does the Hotone Binary Mod have?
The Binary Mod holds 10 presets, arranged as 5 banks of 2, and includes tap tempo for matching modulation speed to a song.
Does the Hotone Binary Mod have tap tempo?
Yes. Alongside its 10 presets (5 banks of 2), the Binary Mod includes tap tempo, so modulation rate can be set by tapping the footswitches rather than turning a knob.
Can the Hotone Binary Mod run in stereo?
Yes. The Binary Mod has stereo input and output, and the output can also be run as dual mono if you are feeding a single amp or mono rig.
Which effects are in the Hotone Binary Mod?
The Binary Mod carries 24 modulation effects. Published descriptions list choruses, flangers, phasers, tremolos, rotary speaker simulators, vibratos, wahs and detuners among them.
Sources (4)
- Hotone unveils 4 “versatile, pro-level” Binary dual-footswitch pedals with OLED displays, MusicRadar, 2018-06-21
- Hotone intros Binary series of budget pedals: Amp, Cab, Mod and Eko, gearnews.com, 2018-06-22
- Binary Mod by HOTONE, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- New At The BKLYN Stompbox Exhibit: Hotone Binary Series, Delicious Audio, 2018-05-21
