The Keeley Parallax Spacial Generator is a delay and reverb pedal built around a two-channel, two-footswitch layout: analog-style modulated delays on one side, and a set of Shoegaze-inspired reverbs on the other. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio describes it as "the perfect end-of-pedalboard solution for Shoegaze, Ambient, and Experimental tone seekers," and added it to the site's roundup of pedals for Shoegazer and Ambient music1.
Where it comes from
The Parallax takes the delay side of the Keeley Caverns Delay and Reverb, a circuit De Gregorio calls "already a favorite among that niche of musicians," and expands its reverb section with three modes inherited from the Keeley Realizer1. The control layout is almost identical to the Caverns, with the only exception being a Depth knob replacing the Rate knob on the reverb's side. As on the Caverns, the two effects have separate Blend controls1.
The delay side
On one side of the Parallax, analog-style modulated delays create what the maker describes as "a soft bed of warm repeats"1. The modulation effect is controlled through a Rate knob and a 3-way toggle beneath it:
| Toggle setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Off | No modulation, classic analog-style warm delay |
| Deep | Heavy, swirling modulation added to the delay trail |
| Light | A subtler modulation on the repeats |
The reverb side
The reverb circuit is placed after the delay, with controls for Decay, Depth and Warmth1. It offers three modes:
- Hall (Hall Reverb with Ascending Shimmer): hall reverb with an octave up, where the output of the reverb is fed into an octave effect creating an infinitely ascending octave feedback loop1
- Reverse: inspired by the two most popular rack mount reverb effects of the 80s and 90s, the Yamaha SPX90 and the Alesis Midiverb II, with an envelope triggered vibrato that emulates the pitch bend from a Jazzmaster tremolo bar. The DEPTH control sets how deep the trem bar is pushed, and DECAY switches between 8 different fixed delay times from a quick 150ms all the way up to a half second1
- Soft Focus: a lush, surreal recreation of the popular Soft Focus patch from the Yamaha FX500 multi effects processor, a long-standing favorite in Shoegaze circles. Adjusting the DECAY control here changes both the decay time of the reverb and the feedback for the dual delay1
Inserting pedals between delay and reverb
The Parallax has TRS In/Outs that allow you to insert a chain of pedals between the delay and the reverb, working as an FX loop inside the pedal. That makes it possible to place a chorus, tremolo or other effect where it only affects the repeats before they hit the reverb1.
The loop connections are TRS, so inserting pedals between the delay and reverb sections requires the appropriate TRS cabling rather than standard mono instrument cables.
Keeley's delay range
The Parallax sits in a wider Keeley delay lineup that includes the Keeley HALO Andy Timmons Dual Echo, the streamlined Keeley Halo Core, the Keeley Eccos, the Keeley Multi Echo ME-8 and the Keeley RK2000 Funk Siren Delay, a recreation of the 1983 Ibanez DM2000 rackmount delay. For more on the category, see Delay Pedals and Reverb Pedals.
Videos
Sweetwater
Keeley Electronics
The Pedal Zone
Questions
What is the difference between the Keeley Parallax and the Keeley Caverns?
The Parallax keeps the Caverns' two-channel, two-footswitch delay and reverb layout and its separate Blend controls, but expands the reverb section with three modes inherited from the Keeley Realizer: Hall with ascending shimmer, Reverse, and Soft Focus. The only control change is a Depth knob replacing the Rate knob on the reverb side.
Does the Parallax Spacial Generator put the reverb before or after the delay?
The reverb circuit is placed after the delay, so your repeats feed into the reverb. The reverb side carries controls for Decay, Depth and Warmth, and the delay side has its own set of controls and a modulation section.
Can I put other pedals between the delay and the reverb on the Parallax?
Yes. The Parallax has TRS In/Outs that let you insert a chain of pedals between the delay and the reverb, working like an FX loop inside the pedal. That means a chorus, tremolo or other effect can sit between your repeats and the reverb wash.
What is the Soft Focus mode based on?
Soft Focus is a recreation of the popular Soft Focus patch from the Yamaha FX500 multi effects processor, described as a lush, surreal sound. That patch has long been a favorite among Shoegaze players.
What does the Depth knob do in Reverse mode?
Reverse mode features an envelope triggered vibrato that emulates the pitch bend from a Jazzmaster tremolo bar. The DEPTH control sets how deep that trem bar is pushed.
What are the delay modulation settings on the Parallax?
The delay's modulation is controlled by a Rate knob and a 3-way toggle with three settings: Off, for no modulation and a classic analog-style warm delay; Deep, for heavy, swirling modulation added to the delay trail; and Light, for a subtler effect.
Sources (1)
- Keeley Parallax Spacial Generator, Delicious Audio, 2024-07-24
