The NativeAudio Pretty Bird Woman is a compact chorus and vibrato pedal built around what its maker calls "a unique filtered delay line delivering warm modulated tones." NativeAudio describes its range as "lush chorus to syrupy vibrato," and the pedal carries four programmable presets, a feature not often found on a two-knob modulation pedal. It is a digital design with analog bypass, and it is mono: one audio output, no stereo path1.
The pedal was announced in November 2021, when Delicious Audio described it as "a two-knob mono digital chorus/vibrato with four presets"2. Pedal of the Day, featuring it in March 2022, called it "a preset-capable chorus and vibrato designed with an intuitive layout"3.
How it sounds
NativeAudio's own description sets the character: "Lush chorus to syrupy vibrato," a warm modulated experience from the filtered delay line1. Premier Guitar's reviewer placed the chorus voice against a familiar reference: "Middle-of-the-range depth settings, meanwhile, evoke an EHX Small Clone's queasy wobble"4. Players who know the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone sound have a starting point at mid-depth, with the depth control extending toward vibrato on either side.
Pedal of the Day's verdict was broad approval, calling it "a modulation effect that's perfect for all occasions"3.
Controls and presets
The front panel is deliberately simple. Premier Guitar noted "There are just two knobs for modulation rate and depth" alongside "a footswitch that saves and scrolls presets"4. In full, the pedal's controls work like this:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate knob | Sets the modulation rate4 |
| Depth knob | Sets the modulation depth, from chorus toward vibrato4 |
| On (Hold) switch | Turns the effect on and off; when the effect is on, hold to access (mode)1 |
| Preset (Save) switch | Press and release to cycle through the presets; hold to enter the save routine1 |
Switching can be set to momentary or latching, so the pedal can be used for momentary swells of vibrato or as a standard on/off effect1. The pedal runs firmware version 1.01.
The preset (save) switch does double duty: a quick press cycles presets, while a hold enters the save routine. Settings are stored to one of the four programmable slots13.
Power
The Pretty Bird Woman needs a 9V DC supply with a 2.1mm center-negative plug and draws 70mA12. NativeAudio lists the same specification on its product page that Delicious Audio gave at announcement, so the two sources agree. There is no battery option in the maker's specifications, and the center-negative requirement means a standard isolated supply output covers it.
Name, artwork and lineage
The pedal's name and artwork come from Mike Trombley's family. As he put it: "Pretty Bird Woman is the birth name given to my grandmother who embodies the values of our Blackfeet (Amsskaapipiikuni)"3. The artwork shows Pretty Bird Woman in her traditional gown under the moonlight3. NativeAudio has carried the personal and cultural naming through other designs, including the NativeAudio Aakii.
Videos
NativeAudio
NativeAudio
NativeAudio
Questions
Is the NativeAudio Pretty Bird Woman analog or digital?
NativeAudio describes the Pretty Bird Woman as a digital design with analog bypass. The modulation itself is produced digitally, from a filtered delay line, while the bypass switching keeps the signal path analog when the effect is off. Delicious Audio has also described it as a digital chorus/vibrato.
Does the Pretty Bird Woman have stereo outputs?
No. The Pretty Bird Woman is a mono pedal with a single audio output, as Delicious Audio noted when the pedal was announced in November 2021.
What power supply does the Pretty Bird Woman use?
The pedal runs on a 9V DC supply with a 2.1mm center-negative plug and draws 70mA. NativeAudio lists these requirements on its product page, and Delicious Audio's announcement gives the same figures. A supply meeting that specification is required; the pedal has no battery option listed.
How many presets can the Pretty Bird Woman store?
Four. Pedal of the Day describes the effect as providing 4 programmable presets for immediate access to your essential settings, and the preset (save) footswitch cycles through them or enters the save routine when held.
Is the Pretty Bird Woman true bypass?
No. NativeAudio lists the pedal's bypass switching as buffered bypass rather than true bypass. A buffer remains in the signal path when the effect is off, which can be useful on long pedalboard cable runs.
Who designed the NativeAudio Pretty Bird Woman?
The pedal was designed by Mike Trombley, the founder of NativeAudio, who signs the product page. It is named for his grandmother: Pretty Bird Woman is the birth name given to her, and the artwork shows her in her traditional gown under the moonlight.
Sources (4)
- NativeAudio: Native-owned effect pedal company, NativeAudio
- New Pedal: NativeAudio Pretty Bird Woman Chorus/Vibrato, Delicious Audio, 2021-11-18
- NativeAudio Pretty Bird Woman Chorus Vibrato, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2022-03-05
- NativeAudio Pretty Bird Woman Review, Premier Guitar, 2022-04-26
