The Supernova Zoeldrive is a boost and overdrive pedal from Interstellar Audio Machines, aimed at the grit and growl of vintage tweed amps. Delicious Audio calls it a "tweed-inspired boost/overdrive pedal," and it sits in the boost and overdrive territory rather than the higher-gain side of the family. It is a three-knob design with a two-position voice toggle, and it is built entirely in analog12.
What it does to your sound
The Zoeldrive's brief is the tweed amp response: touch-sensitive overdrive that cleans up and bites with picking dynamics. Delicious Audio describes it as "offering the typical grit and growl of those vintage amps"2. Guitar World's reviewer, Paul Riario, came away with a strong verdict, calling it "well on its way to a meteoric rise as a supremely dynamic boost and touch-sensitive, tweed-style overdrive"1.
Controls and the voice toggle
The pedal carries three knobs plus a voice toggle. Delicious Audio's description highlights the Tone knob and the toggle's down position2:
- Three knobs, including a Tone knob that controls part of the boosted midrange2
- Voice toggle with two distinct tonal options2
- Down setting: delivers a boosted midrange, in part controllable via the Tone knob, which Delicious Audio notes is "always useful" for cutting through a dense mix2
- Bright red LED indicator to show when the effect is on1
Power, jacks and build
The Zoeldrive runs on a 9-volt battery or a 9V power supply, so it works on a board or off one1. Guitar World notes top-mounted 1/4-inch input and output jacks, which help the pedal fit in tight pedalboard rows, and describes the build as rugged, with an all-analog, op-amp circuit design1.
How it relates to the Octonaut Hyperdrive
Interstellar Audio Machines also makes the Octonaut Hyperdrive, a different overdrive in the lineup. Guitar World draws the line between the two this way: "Whereas IAM's Octonaut Hyperdrive builds upon the iconic Klon sound, the Supernova Zoeldrive is an in-your-face overdrive" in the tweed style1. In other words, the Klon-flavored circuit lives in the Octonaut, not the Zoeldrive. Premier Guitar reported that the Octonaut Hyperdrive is available at select retailers and directly from the Interstellar Audio Machines online store3.
Videos
Guitar World
Interstellar Audio Machines
Interstellar Audio Machines
Questions
Is the Supernova Zoeldrive analog?
Yes. Guitar World's review describes it as ruggedly built with an all-analog, op-amp circuit design, and lists a 100 percent analog, op-amp driven circuit among its features.
Does the Supernova Zoeldrive run on a battery?
Yes. According to Guitar World, the pedal is powered via a 9-volt battery or a 9V power supply, so it can run either way.
What does the voice toggle do on the Zoeldrive?
Delicious Audio describes the voice toggle as offering two distinct tonal options. The down setting delivers a boosted midrange, which can be partly shaped with the Tone knob, something the site notes is always useful to cut through a dense mix.
Where is the Interstellar Audio Machines Supernova Zoeldrive made?
Guitar World lists the pedal's origin as the USA.
Is the Zoeldrive based on a Klon?
No. Guitar World draws the distinction that Interstellar Audio Machines' Octonaut Hyperdrive builds upon the iconic Klon sound, while the Supernova Zoeldrive is a tweed-style overdrive instead.
Sources (3)
- Interstellar Audio Machines Supernova Zoeldrive, Guitar World, 2024-10-14
- Interstellar Audio Machines Supernova Zoeldrive, Delicious Audio, 2024-07-15
- Octonaut Hyperdrive: Interstellar Audio's New Tech, Premier Guitar, 2021-11-05
