The IdiotBox Effects Bad Dreams is a noise generator pedal: rather than cleaning up your signal like a noise gate, it creates noise of its own. The maker describes it as "a pedal board friendly noise generator that sounds just like the name," producing "haunting echoes of eerie modulations."1
What it does to your signal
Bad Dreams does not affect the input signal. It can run in parallel with your guitar signal, or the input signal can be muted using the toggle switch. IdiotBox points out that the mute mode is "greet for having eerie sounds while tuning between songs in stead of awkward silence!"1
That makes it a different animal from the suppressors and gates on this site, such as the Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor or the MXR Smart Gate, which cut noise out of your signal. The Bad Dreams adds noise instead, and leaves your playing untouched underneath it.1
Controls and the expression jack
The pedal keeps its panel simple, with four controls labeled E, T, V and 11:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| E | Controls echo repeats |
| T | Controls echo time |
| V | Controls noise effect volume |
| 1 | Controls the first modulation |
There is also an expression jack. IdiotBox says it is there "to take control of the delay time for even weirder bending effects," so an expression pedal can sweep the echo time while the effect runs.1
Power and practical details
The Bad Dreams runs on a common 9V DC center negative BOSS style power input, the standard connector type shared by most pedalboard power supplies. A power supply is not included, so you will need to use your own. The maker's page lists the current draw as unknown.1
No power supply is included with the Bad Dreams. It uses a 9V DC center negative BOSS style input, so a standard pedal power supply with that connector is what you need.1
The pedal is built in a 1590BB2 sized enclosure measuring 4.72" x 3.71" x 1.49", which the maker describes as pedalboard friendly.1
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Questions
Does the IdiotBox Bad Dreams change my guitar signal?
No. IdiotBox Effects states that the Bad Dreams does not affect the input signal. Instead, it generates its own eerie modulated echoes alongside your playing. You can run it in parallel with your input signal, or use the toggle switch to mute the input signal entirely if you want only the noise effect to sound.
Can the Bad Dreams mute the dry signal?
Yes. A toggle switch lets you mute the input signal while the Bad Dreams keeps producing its noise effects. IdiotBox suggests this is good for having eerie sounds while tuning between songs instead of awkward silence.
Is the IdiotBox Bad Dreams true bypass?
Yes. The Bad Dreams uses true bypass switching, according to the maker's product page.
Does the Bad Dreams come with a power supply?
No, a power supply is not included. The pedal uses a common 9V DC center negative BOSS style power input, the same connector type used by most standard pedal power supplies.
Can I control the delay time with an expression pedal?
Yes. The Bad Dreams has an expression jack that takes control of the delay time. IdiotBox Effects describes this as a way to get even weirder bending effects by moving an expression pedal while the noise effect runs.
What size enclosure does the Bad Dreams use?
The Bad Dreams is built in a 1590BB2 sized enclosure, measuring 4.72 inches by 3.71 inches by 1.49 inches, which IdiotBox describes as pedalboard friendly.
Sources (1)
- Bad Dreams, IdiotBox Effects
