The Technician is a multi-effects pedal from Matthews Effects, designed by Rick Matthews and packing reverb, delay, modulators, a resonance filter and a stereo looper into a single stompbox1. It is a digital unit running at 48kHz/24-bit on a 550MHz ARM processor, and it launched in November 2024 at a MAP/RRP of $399 in the US1.
A departure for Matthews Effects
Guitar Pedal X, reviewing the pedal at launch, called it "A distinct and different departure for Rick Matthews with an entirely different brand personality," setting it apart from everything the maker had released before1. Matthews Effects is better known for standalone delay and reverb pedals such as The Cosmonaut V2 Void Reverb/Delay and The Surgeon Delay; The Technician gathers several of those effect types into one dual-channel unit1.
The reviewer found the layout well judged: "The interface / topology is elegantly and clearly delineated with all the labels visible," though he noted the secondary function labels look a touch small and presumably difficult to spot from a standing position1.
Effects and controls
The Technician is a dual-channel unit. The reverb section carries four modes and its own set of controls1:
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Mix (Mode One) | Reverb mix level |
| Decay (Mod Two) | Reverb decay length |
| Clock (Pre-Delay) | Reverb pre-delay |
| Reverb Mode | Hall / Plate / Chasm / Grim |
Alongside the reverbs, the pedal carries delay, modulators, a resonance filter and a stereo looper in the same box1. Bypass is a "Try Bypass / Trails" arrangement, so tails can be allowed to ring out or cut when the pedal is disengaged1.
Routing, presets and MIDI
Routing is flexible for both channels, with myriad mono and stereo configurations: Stereo / Mono, Stereo / Stereo, and Mono / Parallel Mono1. The pedal holds 120 presets with full MIDI functionality over 3.5mm ports1, and a USB-C connection handles firmware updates, MIDI and linking to the computer editor1.
Three footswitches cover the main operations1:
- Bypass / Preset One footswitch
- Control Page / Save Preset (Hold) switch
- Tap Tempo / Preset Two / Rec / Dub / Stop / Erase footswitch (Looper)
An expression jack offers complete hands-free control over your parameters1, which pairs well with the pedal's preset system for live use.
Firmware updates
Matthews Effects maintains the pedal through firmware releases, delivered over USB-C, which also carries MIDI and the connection to the computer editor1. The maker's support page covers the update process and troubleshooting, and directs players with persistent problems to its "contact us" section for further help2.
Power and size
The Technician needs 9V DC center negative and draws 450mA1. That current draw rules out a battery and most daisy-chain connections, so plan a dedicated high-current output on your power supply. The pedal measures 4.8" x 5.5" (122mm x 139mm)1, larger than a standard compact enclosure to accommodate the dual-channel control layout.
At 450mA on 9V DC1, The Technician needs its own high-current power output. It will not run from a battery or a typical daisy chain.
An earlier Technician
The name has been used before. Guitar Pedal X notes there was a previous version of The Technician in and around 2019, which was simply a combination dual pedal of the 3-Mode Astronomer and Cosmonaut pedals, with the two circuits just side-by-side1. The current multi-effects unit shares the name but not the architecture.
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Questions
How much power does the Matthews Effects Technician need?
The Technician runs on 9V DC center negative and draws 450mA. That is well beyond what most daisy-chain supplies or a battery can deliver, so it needs its own high-current output on a pedalboard power supply.
How many presets does the Technician hold?
The Technician holds 120 presets and offers full MIDI functionality over 3.5mm ports, so presets can be recalled and managed from a MIDI controller as well as from the pedal's own footswitches.
Does the Technician work in stereo?
Yes. It offers flexible audio routing for both channels with myriad mono and stereo configurations: Stereo/Mono, Stereo/Stereo and Mono/Parallel Mono. Firmware version 1.7.0 also mixes 25% of the opposite side's wet signal into Stereo mode for a better stereo image.
Can I connect an expression pedal to the Technician?
Yes. The Technician has an expression jack that, per Guitar Pedal X's review, offers complete hands-free control over your parameters.
What reverb types does the Technician have?
The reverb section has four modes: Hall, Plate, Chasm and Grim, controlled alongside Mix, Decay and Clock (Pre-Delay) controls. Firmware version 1.7.0 adjusted the dampening on all reverbs.
Does the Technician have a looper?
Yes. The Technician includes a stereo looper, with a dedicated footswitch handling Rec, Dub, Stop and Erase functions alongside the pedal's other switching duties.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-11-26
- Firmware Update, Matthews Effects
