The Malekko Heavy Industry Omicron Analog Vibrato is a vibrato pedal in the company's Omicron Series of mini pedals. It produces what Pedal of the Day calls "super-lush, warm, analog, true-pitch (no dry) vibrato tones," meaning the entire signal is pitch-modulated with no unaffected signal blended underneath1. It sits in the wider field of vibrato pedals, most of which are full-size units.
What it does to your sound
Because the circuit is true-pitch with no dry signal, the whole note moves in pitch rather than sitting against an unchanged copy, which is what separates vibrato from chorus-style effects. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the Speed and Depth controls have a bigger range than many similar pedals, covering everything from a slight shimmering sound to ring-mod and pitch-bending territory1. That puts the usable range well beyond a gentle warble if you push it.
The heart of the circuit is the MN3007 bucket-brigade (BBD) chip, an analog delay-line component that Pedal of the Day describes as infamous and often used in this kind of design1. The BBD is what allows pitch shifting while keeping the signal path analog.
Size, power and practicalities
The Omicron measures just 3.6" x 1.5" x 1.2", so it takes up very little board space1. The reviewer's overall verdict was that it "packs a wallop of tone and flexibility into a itty-bitty pedal, perfect for saving space but not sacrificing any sound," addressing the common worry that mini pedals give something up1.
"packs a wallop of tone and flexibility into a itty-bitty pedal, perfect for saving space but not sacrificing any sound"
One power note worth knowing before you plug it in:
The pedal runs fine at the usual 9V, but Malekko encourages running it at 18V. Pedal of the Day reports that 18V brings more headroom and richer, fuller sounds1. Check your power supply's output options before choosing, since not all supplies offer an 18V outlet.
How it compares
Most vibrato pedals in this space, such as the Boss VB-2, EarthQuaker Devices Aqueduct or TC Electronic Shaker Mini, are standard-size or compact enclosures. The Omicron's pitch is its footprint: a full analog vibrato with a wide control range in a case smaller than nearly all of them1.
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Questions
Does the Malekko Omicron have a dry signal?
No. Pedal of the Day describes the Omicron Analog Vibrato as producing true-pitch vibrato with no dry signal blended in. That means the whole signal is pitch-modulated, so the effect is fully wet rather than a mix of an unchanged signal and a wobbling one. Players who want a subtle, chorus-like blend would need to pair it with other gear or use the Depth control to keep the movement gentle.
What chip does the Malekko Omicron Analog Vibrato use?
It is built around the MN3007 bucket-brigade (BBD) integrated circuit, the same family of chip long used in analog delay and chorus designs. Pedal of the Day calls the MN3007 infamous and notes it is often used in this kind of circuit. The BBD chip is what lets the pedal shift pitch while staying fully analog.
How big is the Malekko Omicron?
The Omicron Analog Vibrato measures 3.6 by 1.5 by 1.2 inches, according to Pedal of the Day. That is small enough to squeeze onto a crowded pedalboard, and the reviewer's point was that the compact enclosure does not cost the pedal much in sound or build quality.
Is the Malekko Omicron analog or digital?
It is analog. Pedal of the Day describes its tones as super-lush, warm, analog and true-pitch, and the MN3007 bucket-brigade chip at its core is an analog component. There is no digital conversion in the signal path.
Sources (1)
- Malekko Heavy Industry Omicron Analog Vibrato, Pedal of the Day, 2016-11-02
