The Juliet Collective Circadia is a polyrhythmic auto wah, a pedal that runs preset rhythmic patterns behind your picking rather than simply filtering your tone. Premier Guitar's reviewer called it "the perfect embodiment of the Juliet Collective's philosophy" and found that "the Circadia does things that no ordinary wah or auto-wah can do."1 It sits in the wider family of filter pedals and wah pedals, but its preset polyrhythms set it apart from both.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Alters the tempo of any preset, from very fast to very slow; fully counterclockwise selects tap-tempo mode, activated by turning the pedal off and then on again |
| Mode | Scrolls through the Circadia's preset polyrhythms, which play behind your picking |
| Fat | Makes wah swells rounder and more vowel-like as you turn it clockwise |
| Level | Aggressively voiced and reactive, especially with the Fat knob creating resonant peaks |
The Level control deserves a note of its own. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that at high settings the resonant peaks "can be dangerous," but that set right they "can be a funky accent for solos."1
The controls are not entirely intuitive. Premier Guitar's reviewer wrote that "this isn't really a pedal for a player who wants things neat and easy," and that it demands releasing preconceptions about how a pedal should work.1
Presets and sounds
The Circadia's preset polyrhythms range from Boloero-style 3/4 rhythms to drum-and-bass-type syncopations and four-on-the-floor beats.1 Rhythms are shown visually through the glowing, multicolored JC logo on the left of the pedal.1
Premier Guitar's reviewer described two broad uses:
- Slow, odd-meter tempos create wah-like swells ideal for rhythmically oriented ambient work or slower soul and blues tunes1.
- The Fat knob gives a Funkadelic- and Garcia-esque envelope filter effect regardless of tempo1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the Circadia in August 2021. The reviewer's verdict was enthusiastic about its character while candid about its demands:
"The Juliet Collective Circadia will take you on an adventure every time you plug it in1."
Premier Guitar1
The reviewer also saw it as a compositional tool, writing that "the Circadia has the potential to be one of those magic bullets when you're in a compositional rut," leading down paths a player may not have known to exist.1 The buy-or-skip advice followed the same line: buy it if you are fearlessly adventurous and intrigued by the thought of an auto-wah that sometimes seems to have a mind of its own; skip it if 4/4 time is about as tricky as you like to get.1
One build detail the reviewer flagged: the graphics are screened onto a thin piece of plastic applied to the round metal chassis.1
Videos
HarmonyCentral
Questions
What does the Juliet Collective Circadia do?
The Circadia is a polyrhythmic auto wah. It runs preset rhythmic patterns behind your picking, and Premier Guitar's reviewer found it does things that no ordinary wah or auto-wah can do. The presets range from Boloero-style 3/4 rhythms to drum-and-bass-type syncopations and four-on-the-floor beats, with the rhythms shown visually through the glowing multicolored JC logo on the left of the pedal.
How do you use tap tempo on the Circadia?
The Speed knob alters the tempo of any preset, from very fast to very slow. Turn Speed fully counterclockwise to select tap-tempo mode, which is activated by turning the pedal off and then on again.
What does the Fat knob do on the Circadia?
The Fat knob makes wah swells rounder and more vowel-like as you turn it clockwise. Premier Guitar's reviewer also noted that using Fat to create resonant peaks makes the Level control especially reactive, and that at high settings Fat gives a Funkadelic- and Garcia-esque envelope filter effect regardless of tempo.
What kinds of rhythms are in the Circadia presets?
The presets range from Boloero-style 3/4 rhythms to drum-and-bass-type syncopations and four-on-the-floor beats. Slow, odd-meter tempos create wah-like swells suited to rhythmically oriented ambient work or slower soul and blues tunes.
How much does the Circadia cost?
Premier Guitar's August 2021 review listed the Circadia at a street price of $239.
Sources (1)
- Juliet Collective Circadia Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-10-18