The NUX Atlantic is a delay and reverb pedal from NUX that puts three delay types and three reverb types in one box, along with a bonus shimmer effect. Announced in January 2018, it was introduced with NUX's Core Image Technology, which Guitar World described as allowing "for pro-level sound enhancement"1. The three delays cover analog, tape and digital flavors, and the three reverbs cover spring, plate and hall, so one pedal can cover most time-based needs on a small board.
The pedal has two footswitches, one per effect, and both of them do double duty: the delay switch also handles tap tempo, and the reverb switch produces shimmer or a reverb freeze when held down2. Its MAP price at announcement was $149 in the US1.
Three delays in one pedal
The delay side offers three modes, each named for the era and technology it emulates. On his review video, Pete Thorn described how they differ: "70s corresponds like an analog delay like bucket-brigade style delay," "60s is more like a tape delay," and "80s is straight-up digital delay"4.
| Mode | What it emulates | Time range | NUX's description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60's | Tape echo | 55ms to 550ms | "A warm & dusty tape-echo machine effect"3 |
| 70's | BBD analog delay | 40ms to 400ms | "Retro-delay meets modern technology, without losing the realistic BBD-effected repeats"3 |
| 80's | Digital delay | 80ms to 800ms | "A digital era invention, crystal clear repeats"3 |
The delay controls are Level, Time and Repeat1. In the 60's mode, NUX says that tweaking the Repeat knob to the max and using the Time knob gives "an experience, just like the real Tape-Echo Machine"3.
Three reverbs, plus shimmer and freeze
The reverb side offers Spring, Plate and Hall algorithms36. The controls are Reverb Level and Decay1, and NUX explains them in physical terms: the Level knob adjusts tank size in spring mode and room size in plate and hall, while the Decay knob sets reflection distance in spring, the delay bounce point in plate, and the number of objects on the walls in hall3.
The Reverb footswitch is where the hidden features live. In plate mode, holding it down brings in the shimmer effect; in spring and hall modes, holding it down freezes the reverb tail. Thorn demonstrated both on his video43:
"in the plate mode if you hold the switch down shimmer comes in really cool"4
Pete Thorn4
"it'll do a freeze function okay so you can get like an endless sustain thing whatever you just play just push that pedal"4
Pete Thorn4
NUX describes the shimmer in plate mode in similar terms: holding the Reverb switch means "straight reflections will be heated and swirled throughout the inside of the room"3.
Serial and parallel routing
A Parallel or Serial Output switch sets how the two effects are chained5. In Serial Mode, NUX says you can create a deep-reflection reverb with wet or dry repeats, or split your guitar signal and run each effect in a parallel chain with its own dry signal3. Thorn explained the practical difference between the two settings on his video: in parallel, "you hear your reverb and then you're gonna hear very define delay repeats," with the reverb and the delay repeats more defined and separate4.
Tap tempo and the footswitches
Each effect has its own footswitch. The left one turns the delay on and off and also serves as the tap tempo switch4, and the right one turns the reverb on and off, with the shimmer and freeze functions on a long press42.
The tap tempo system is what NUX calls its patented Smart Tap function, which "automatically understands if you want to turn on/off the delay or tap in the tempo"3. The Time knob sets the TAP Division, so the delay pattern can be locked to a subdivision of your tapping: NUX's example is that setting the Time knob to 1/4 and tapping in tempo with the drum beat gives a delay speed four times faster than your tapping speed3.
Connections, stereo and the effects loop
The Atlantic has a 6.35 mm stereo input and two outputs3. Pedal of the Day confirmed you can run it in stereo via the two output jacks5. The TRS input can also be used as a Send/Return connection with a "Y" cable or insert cable31, which is what makes it usable in an amplifier's effects loop, and the input level switch (-10dB / +4dB) lets you match the pedal to line-level signals15.
Firmware
NUX publishes firmware for the Atlantic on its product page. Firmware V2.1.0 is available for both macOS and Windows3.
What reviewers said
Guitar World announced the pedal in January 2018 with its full feature list, including the Core Image Technology, the three delays, the three reverbs and the shimmer effect1. Pete Thorn's video review found the delay and reverb types genuinely distinct from one another: "they all sound quite different you're gonna hear the clearly," and his overall impression was that the pedal sounds really good4.
"With tap tempo, shimmer and a few other options, this is a pedal that can take up just a little space on your board, but fill any room or concert venue with glorious sonic explosions"5
Pedal of the Day5
Delicious Audio lists the Atlantic among its delay plus reverb combo picks and calls it "one of the best-selling delays in this effect niche"6. In a 2024 ambient and shoegaze reverb roundup, the same site noted that each effect has its own footswitch, with the left footswitch also controlling tap tempo and the right one producing a shimmer effect when held2. MusicRadar, in a 2023 news piece, quoted a price of £111 on Thomann for the pedal7.
Pete Thorn's full video review walks through every mode, the footswitch functions and the connections4:
Videos
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Questions
How do you get the shimmer on the NUX Atlantic?
Select Plate Reverb mode, then hold down the Reverb footswitch. The shimmer effect only works in plate mode; in spring and hall modes, holding the same switch down activates a freeze function instead, which holds the reverb tail for ambient playing.
Does the NUX Atlantic have tap tempo?
Yes. The delay footswitch doubles as a tap tempo switch, and NUX's patented Smart Tap function automatically works out whether you are trying to turn the delay on or off or tap in a tempo. The Time knob sets the tap division, for example 1/4, which gives a delay speed four times faster than your tapping speed.
Is the NUX Atlantic stereo?
Yes. It has a 6.35 mm stereo input and two outputs, so you can run it in stereo. A Parallel or Serial Output switch sets how the delay and reverb are routed to those outputs.
Can you use the NUX Atlantic in an effects loop?
Yes. Its TRS input can be used as a Send/Return connection with a Y cable or insert cable, and it has an input level switch with -10dB and +4dB settings to match line-level effects loop signals.
How do you update the NUX Atlantic firmware?
NUX publishes firmware updates for the Atlantic on its product page. Firmware V2.1.0 is available for both macOS and Windows, so you download the version for your system and follow the maker's update instructions.
Does the NUX Atlantic have a reverb freeze?
Yes. In Spring Reverb and Hall Reverb modes, holding down the Reverb footswitch freezes the reverb tail, holding it for as long as you keep the switch pressed, which players use for endless ambient sustain.
Sources (7)
- NU-X Announces New Atlantic Delay & Reverb Pedal, Guitar World, 2018-01-23
- The Best Ambient-Shoegaze Reverb Pedals In 2024, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-15
- Atlantic, NUX Audio, 2025-08-13
- NUX ATLANTIC, Pete Thorn (YouTube channel), 2018-12-11
- NUX Atlantic Delay Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2019-07-02
- NUX Atlantic Delay & Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2021-08-13
- Will the Nux Trident set the bar for a relatively affordable multi-effects pedal?, MusicRadar, 2023-05-15
