The Botanist Black Friday Edition is a compact modulation pedal from Matthews Effects that combines three effects in one box: phaser, chorus/vibrato and tremolo. Matthews describes it as "the definitive modulation pedal for musicians of all kinds," and its compact design is aimed at gigging players1. It is a limited run Black Friday version of the standard Botanist, and it is sold out1.
What the Black Friday Edition changes
The Black Friday Edition keeps the Botanist's trio of algorithms, which Matthews calls "its trio of distinct algorithms: Phaser, Chorus, and Harmonic Tremolo," but swaps two of them1:
- Chorus/Vibrato: a CE-2 inspired, more traditional chorus/vibrato replaces the previous chorus algorithm. The CE-2 reference points to the classic Boss chorus circuit of that name1.
- Tremolo: a new square wave tremolo replaces the standard "Harmonic" tremolo1.
- Phaser: carried over from the standard Botanist1.
This is a limited run edition, and Matthews lists it as sold out. Its chorus and tremolo algorithms differ from the standard Botanist, so the two versions are not interchangeable if you are after a specific sound.
Controls and switching
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate | Governs the effect's tempo1 |
| Depth | Modulates the effect's intensity1 |
| Mix | Smoothly blends the wet signal1 |
| Bypass/Hold switch | Bypasses the pedal; held down, it engages Hold1 |
The Hold function is the pedal's performance trick: holding down the "Bypass/Hold" switch instantly maxes out the Depth control, and releasing the switch restores it to your set position1. That gives you a momentary deep sweep of the effect, useful for a swell into a section change.
Presets and MIDI
The Botanist stores up to 6 presets, reached by holding the bypass switch or through MIDI PC messages1. The pedal's MIDI capabilities give remote control over bypass, presets, algorithms and features, with control also available via CC messages. The connection is a Type A TRS 3.5mm jack, so connecting it to a controller means a TRS MIDI cable or adapter rather than a standard 5-pin DIN lead1. Players building a MIDI rig can see how this fits with other MIDI pedals.
Power
The pedal runs on 9V and draws 150mA1. That is enough current that a small daisy chain supply may not carry it alongside other pedals, so a dedicated output on a power supply is the safer plan.
Where it sits in the Matthews range
The Botanist follows the same multi-modulation idea as Matthews' earlier Chemist pedals, which combined chorus/vibrato, octave and phaser in one two-channel box. If you want to compare, see The Chemist and The Chemist V2 Atomic Modulator. For the individual effects it covers, see Chorus Pedals, Phaser Pedals, Tremolo Pedals and Vibrato Pedals.
Videos
MatthewsEffects
Nobes Music
Gio Cor
Questions
How many presets does The Botanist hold?
The Botanist lets you access up to 6 presets. You can reach them two ways: by holding down the bypass switch, or through MIDI PC messages if you have the pedal connected to a MIDI controller. MIDI also gives you remote control over bypass, algorithms and other features.
What is the Hold function on The Botanist?
The Bypass/Hold switch does double duty. A normal press bypasses the pedal, but holding it down engages the Hold function, which instantly maxes out the Depth control for as long as you keep it pressed. When you release the switch, the Depth control returns to where you set it.
Is The Botanist Black Friday Edition true bypass?
Yes. Matthews Effects lists the pedal as true bypass, so when it is off your signal passes through without the circuit loading it.
What power does The Botanist need?
The Botanist runs on 9V and draws 150mA. That draw is worth keeping in mind when planning a daisy chain or a low-output power supply, since it is more than many simple modulation pedals need.
Sources (1)
- Limited Run The Botanist, Matthews Effects
