The M.D. Effects High Tide is a chorus/delay/reverb pedal: three effect types in one box, arranged as three Modes, each pairing an original chorus sound with a secondary effect. Delicious Audio describes the pedal as featuring "three sets of uniquely programmed algorithms each featuring an original chorus sound, paired with a s[econdary effect]"1. Pedal of the Day's review found "extremely expansive chorus algorithms, gorgeous, reflective reverb tones and smooth, clear delay repeats"2.
How the three Modes work
The High Tide is built around its Modes rather than separate footswitches for each effect. Delicious Audio explains that "the features continually change as you switch from one of High Tide's 'Modes' to another, laying out a massive platform" of combinations1. Each Mode pairs the pedal's chorus with a different secondary effect, so the chorus character stays present while the delay and reverb roles shift around it.
The Tap switch also changes what it does depending on the Mode:
Across all Modes, tapping faster or slower changes the delay time and the reverb decay time1.
Controls and connections
The front panel keeps things simple. The MIX knob "adjusts the master output level of both the Chorus and Effect together," according to Delicious Audio, alongside a Clarity control that the same source describes as pure analog1.
- MIX: Master output level of the Chorus and Effect together1
On the back, the pedal offers 2 Inputs and 2 Mono Outputs. Pedal of the Day notes that these "make it easy to connect the High Tide to any setup you can throw at it"2.
The TAP OUTPUT jack accepts a remote tap switch over a TS 1/4 inch connection, but it requires a Normally Open (NO) tap switch1. A momentary switch of the wrong type will not tap correctly.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review was favorable on both sound and flexibility, calling the pedal "a gamechanger in the realms of chorus, reverb and delay overall"3. The same review highlighted the pedal's expansive chorus algorithms and its reverb and delay tones2.
For players weighing the High Tide against single-effect pedals, it sits in the same territory as a delay pedal or reverb pedal combined with a chorus pedal, with the trade-off being shared controls across Modes rather than dedicated knobs for each effect1.
Videos
M.D. Effects
Brett Kingman
shnobel
Questions
Is the M.D. Effects High Tide analog or digital?
It is a hybrid. Delicious Audio describes it as pairing pure analog Mix and Clarity controls with the complex digital programs inside the pedal. In practice that means the digital side generates the chorus, delay and reverb algorithms, while those two analog controls shape the blend and clarity of the sound on its way out.
Does the High Tide have tap tempo?
Yes. The Tap switch changes the delay time, and it also changes the reverb decay time by tapping faster or slower. How it behaves depends on the mode: Pedal of the Day reports that in Mode 1 it changes the reverb time, while in Modes 2 and 3 it sets the length of the delay time.
Can I add a remote tap switch to the High Tide?
Yes. The TAP OUTPUT jack lets you tap in tempos from a separate switch through a TS 1/4 inch connection. Delicious Audio notes that it requires a Normally Open (NO) tap switch, so check that any external switch you use is of that type.
Does the High Tide have stereo outputs?
Not in the true stereo sense. The pedal has 2 Inputs and 2 Mono Outputs, which Pedal of the Day describes as making it easy to connect the High Tide to any setup. Each output carries a mono signal, so you can feed two mono paths rather than a single stereo pair.
What effects does the High Tide combine?
Chorus, delay and reverb in one pedal. It is organized as three Modes, each featuring an original chorus sound paired with a secondary effect, and the features change as you switch from one Mode to another.
Sources (3)
- M.D. Effects: HIGH TIDE Chorus/Delay/Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2018-02-22
- M.D. Effects High Tide Chorus Reverb Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2018-01-12
- M.D. Effects Moondust Stereo Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2018-05-09