The Maneco Labs Mesmeriser is a stereo reverb pedal aimed squarely at shoegaze and ambient players. Maneco Labs calls it "a collection of our favourite reverbs for shoegaze all in one pedal," with three modes: shoegaze reverb, blossoming reverb, and infinite reverb1. It runs stereo inputs and stereo outputs for what the maker describes as "a vast, immersive tone," and is optimized for use anywhere on a pedalboard1.
What sets it apart from most modern digital reverbs is its engineering. The Mesmeriser is digital, but designed at a lower bit depth of 14 bit using vintage digital technology with original designs, which Maneco Labs says gives an authentic lofi sound1. The pedal is priced at $299.00 USD2, and the maker notes it is intentionally priced far below average despite its feature set, though it is uncertain how long that price can be kept1.
Three reverb modes
Each mode has its own character, and all three run in stereo as part of the pedal's signature sound3.
| Mode | What it is |
|---|---|
| Shoegaze reverb | A gated non-linear reverb with numerous delay lines; pair it with the built-in analog saturation for "encompassing walls of shoegaze noise"1 |
| Blossoming reverb | An enhanced and expanded version of the blossoming reverse reverb from the Dreamgazer pedal, hugely dense and lush; stereo and 14 bit for enhanced textures, aimed at ethereal and ambient music1 |
| Infinite reverb | An atmospheric sustaining ethereal reverb, which Maneco Labs calls the longest reverb they have ever tried1 |
The blossoming mode is a direct descendant of the Dreamgazer, so players who know that pedal will recognize the reverse swell character, here expanded and running in stereo1. A bundle page for the Mesmeriser and Dreamgazer together lists the full family of shoegaze reverbs across both pedals: blossoming reverb, gated non-linear reverb, and infinite reverb in stereo, plus reverse, blossom, and shallower reverbs in mono on the Dreamgazer side3.
The controls
The Mesmeriser's knobs each shape a different part of the sound, and several behave differently depending on the selected mode1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Essence | Adjusts the sample rate, length, and tonality of the entire pedal; lower settings create slower, more lofi sounds1 |
| Immerse | Alters the level of immersion; in blossoming and infinite modes it alters reverb decay, in shoegaze mode it alters reverb length1 |
| Soft Nostalgia | The shoegaze modulation, placed pre-reverb for ethereal dream pop guitar sounds; try it with blossoming mode for shoegaze flanger sounds1 |
| Analog Saturation | Everything from subtle analog compression through to heavy shoegaze distortions that degrade and warp the decay of the reverb1 |
| Blend | Controls the amount of effected signal; the pedal goes 100% wet1 |
The Essence control is the heart of the lofi character: because it adjusts the sample rate of the whole pedal, it changes how degraded and vintage the reverb sounds across all three modes1. The Soft Nostalgia control is notable for its placement. Maneco Labs explains that "a little different this time, the modulation is placed pre-reverb for ethereal dream pop guitar sounds"1, meaning the modulation colors the signal before it hits the reverb rather than modulating the tail afterwards.
Footswitches and the peak level indicator
The pedal has two footswitches. The Mesmerise footswitch turns the pedal on and off, and the Eternal latching footswitch freezes any sound1. In blossoming and infinite modes the reverb signal continues while frozen, so a held chord keeps blooming rather than locking statically1.
A peak level indicator on the pedal visualises the strength of the signal level, which Maneco Labs compares to the lights on vintage effects units1.
Who designed it and where it is made
The Mesmeriser is an original concept by Pedal Partners and Maneco Labs1. The idea was dreamt up by Paige, Becca, and Luca of Pedal Partners, who have been sharing their shoegaze music and visuals for many years through Pedal Partners, Abstract in Sound, and Violet Oscillation1. The enclosure artwork and layout were also designed by Pedal Partners, with what the maker calls a unique nostalgic aesthetic1.
Each pedal is engineered by Maneco Labs in Uruguay1. Maneco Labs is a Uruguayan company known primarily for manufacturing Eurorack modules4, and the maker describes itself as having over thirty years of experience creating vintage-inspired effects1. That Eurorack background shows in the Mesmeriser's approach: low bit depth, sample rate control, and signal-level metering are all ideas borrowed from vintage digital hardware rather than modern pedal conventions.
Buying the Mesmeriser
The pedal is sold in limited drops, exclusively through manecolabs.com, with worldwide shipping1. Maneco Labs also sells a shoegaze reverb bundle pairing the Mesmeriser with the Dreamgazer for players who want the mono reverse and blossom reverbs alongside the Mesmeriser's stereo modes3. For enquiries and technical support, the maker can be contacted through manecolabs.com.
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Questions
Is the Maneco Labs Mesmeriser stereo?
Yes. The Mesmeriser has stereo inputs and stereo outputs, which Maneco Labs describes as giving a vast, immersive tone. The blossoming reverb mode runs in stereo at 14 bit, and the pedal is optimised for use anywhere on a pedalboard.
Is the Mesmeriser analog or digital?
It is digital, but deliberately lofi. Maneco Labs designs the Mesmeriser at a lower bit depth of 14 bit using vintage digital technology with original designs, which the maker says gives an authentic lofi sound rather than a clean modern digital reverb.
Where can you buy the Maneco Labs Mesmeriser?
It is sold in limited drops, exclusively through manecolabs.com, with worldwide shipping. Maneco Labs lists the pedal at $299.00 USD and says it is intentionally priced far below average for its feature set, though the maker is uncertain how long that price can be kept.
What does the Eternal switch do on the Mesmeriser?
The Eternal latching footswitch freezes any sound, letting a chord or note hang in place. In the blossoming and infinite reverb modes the reverb signal continues while frozen, so the tail keeps sustaining rather than stopping dead.
Where is the Maneco Labs Mesmeriser made?
Each pedal is engineered by Maneco Labs in Uruguay. Maneco Labs is a Uruguayan company that also manufactures Eurorack modules, and the Mesmeriser is an original concept developed together with the shoegaze collective Pedal Partners.
Sources (4)
- Mesmeriser stereo shoegaze reverb pedal by Pedal Partners & Maneco Labs, Maneco Labs
- Dreamgazer Reverb Pedal by Pedal Partners and Manecolabs, Maneco Labs
- Shoegaze reverb pedal bundle (mesmeriser & dreamgazer), Maneco Labs
- New Pedal: Maneco Labs 4AD, Delicious Audio, 2023-11-22
