The Astronomer V2 Celestial Reverb is a reverb pedal from Matthews Effects, the second version of a pedal whose original Astronomer launched in 20151. It is built around two channels, each of which can be assigned one of three reverb algorithms, and you can toggle between the two channels instantly with the footswitches2. Guitar.com described the V2 update, released in June 2018, as making the stompbox "even better for ambient swells and spacey effects" with its three new algorithms3.
The pedal is a hybrid design: the dry signal path is 100 percent analog, so your straight guitar tone stays analog, while the digital wet signal creates the reverb2. Sweetwater's Mitch Gallagher called it "an ambient reverb processor from Matthews effects"4.
What it does
The Astronomer V2 gives you two footswitchable reverb channels. You assign one of three algorithms to each channel using switches on the pedal's side, set different knob values for each, and then swap between the two complete reverb sounds as needed2. Pedal of the Day found this two-channel approach well suited to players who need "two set reverb tones that can be swapped in and out at a moment's notice"2.
The three algorithms are2:
| Algorithm | What it is |
|---|---|
| Orion | Quintessential hall reverb with shimmer |
| Canis Major | Echoverb effect designed with droning and swells in mind |
| Ursa Major | Chamber reverb with pre-octave tones and haunting, dark particles |
Delicious Audio describes the same three as the original reverb from the V1, plus an echoverb and a room reverb with an octaver circuit mixed in1. In Sweetwater's demo, Mitch Gallagher described Canis Major as "an echoed reverb along with the shimmer effect"4.
Josh Scott of JHS Pedals highlighted the shimmer voice in particular, noting that the pedal can produce octave-based shimmer, and that the two switches effectively give you two sounds at once5.
"You can actually have two sounds with the two different switches."
Controls
The knobs are arranged in two rows, one set per channel, and the controls do different things depending on the algorithm loaded2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mass | Sets the wet/dry signal blend, going to 100% wet when maxed out |
| Travel | Adjusts the decay time for all three algorithms |
| Glow | Adjusts the shimmer mix for Orion and Canis Major, and sets the octave mix for Ursa Major |
The Mass knob reaching a full 100 percent wet mix makes the pedal usable for ambient swells and drones where you want no dry signal at all2.
Expression and remote switching
Two jacks extend control beyond the pedal's own knobs and switches2:
- Expression Jack: allows dynamic control of the Travel knob on the second row of controls, via a TRS cable, so you can sweep reverb decay with an expression pedal.
- Alternate Jack: an output that lets you control the Alt and Bypass switches remotely, useful for triggering channel changes from elsewhere in a larger rig.
The pedal can also be set to Trails or Bypass mode, so the reverb either rings out after bypass or cuts immediately, depending on how the rest of your rig is set up2.
Versions and what changed
The Astronomer line has gone through several forms. The original Astronomer V1 launched in 2015, and the V2 arrived in June 2018 with its three algorithms, trails or hard bypass toggling, and the same two-circuit preset switching13. Josh Scott notes there was also an early version of the V2 with onboard toggles, and that after a rebrand of the whole line the switches moved to the side of the pedal5.
If you are buying used, check which V2 you are looking at: early units have algorithm toggles on the top of the pedal, while later units after the rebrand have the switches on the side5.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's overall take on the sound was enthusiastic:
"Spacious, engulfing, spectrum-sweeping and inspiring are some words that come to mind when describing this reverb."
The same review concluded that the pedal suits players who need two ready-made reverb tones they can swap instantly2. Guitar.com's news coverage framed the V2's three algorithms as a step up for ambient and spacey effects work3.
Sweetwater's demo video walks through the three reverb modes, the dual control banks, and the footswitch functions, with Mitch Gallagher demonstrating each algorithm in turn4.
Videos
Pete Thorn
MatthewsEffects
Questions
What are the three algorithms on the Astronomer V2?
The three algorithms are Orion, a hall reverb with shimmer; Canis Major, an echoverb designed with droning and swells in mind; and Ursa Major, a chamber reverb with pre-octave tones. Delicious Audio describes them as the original reverb from the V1, plus an echoverb and a room reverb with an octaver circuit mixed in.
Does the Astronomer V2 have an expression input?
Yes. An Expression Jack allows dynamic control of the Travel knob, the decay time control on the second row of controls, via a TRS cable. This lets a player sweep reverb decay in real time with an expression pedal rather than bending down to turn the knob.
Is the Astronomer V2 analog or digital?
It is a hybrid. The dry signal path is 100 percent analog, so your untouched guitar signal stays in the analog domain, while the wet reverb signal is digital. Pedal of the Day describes this as keeping the dry signal intact while the digital wet signal creates the reverb.
Can the Astronomer V2 do reverb trails?
Yes. The pedal can be set to Trails or Bypass mode. In Trails mode the reverb continues to ring out after you switch the pedal off; in Bypass mode the effect cuts immediately, which suits rigs where a hard cut is preferred.
What does the Glow knob do on the Astronomer V2?
Glow adjusts the mix of the shimmer effect for the Orion and Canis Major algorithms, and it sets the octave mix for Ursa Major. So the same knob controls a different effect ingredient depending on which of the three algorithms you have loaded.
What is the Alternate Jack on the Astronomer V2 for?
The Alternate Jack is an output that lets you control the Alt and Bypass switches remotely. Instead of tapping the footswitches on the pedal itself, you can trigger channel switching and bypass from elsewhere in your rig, which helps on larger boards.
Sources (5)
- Matthews Effects The Astronomer V2 Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2018-06-13
- Matthews Effects Astronomer V2 Celestial Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2020-10-14
- Matthews Effects updates Astronomer reverb pedal, Guitar.com, 2018-06-08
- Matthews Effects The Astronomer v2 Celestial Reverb Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2019-05-01
- 10 EXTRAORDINARY REVERBS, JHS Pedals
