The NUX Voodoo Vibe (NCH-3) is a mini Uni-Vibe pedal with two modes, Vibe and Chorus, built by NUX. It was announced on 16 November 2022 and aims to deliver the rotating-speaker swirl of the classic Uni-Vibe sound in a compact, DSP-based enclosure1. NUX says the pedal was inspired by the Dunlop Uni-Vibe, whose "gorgeous sound" is easily associated with Hendrix's playing1.
The original Uni-Vibe circuit was designed as a Leslie rotating speaker simulator, and NUX describes the timeless Uni-Vibe as delivering its huge 3D sound by simulating the physical rotating speaker effect1. The Voodoo Vibe reproduces that character digitally, which NUX says makes it easier to enhance the Chorus mode without volume drop issues2.
A mini Uni-Vibe with a chorus mode
The Voodoo Vibe packs two effects into one mini box. Vibe mode reproduces the Uni-Vibe's phase-shifting swirl, while Chorus mode adds a classic modulation option, and Delicious Audio added the pedal to its Best Uni-Vibe Pedals article when it launched2.
The choice of DSP is central to the design. NUX describes its modern-tech DSP as yielding "a perfect combination of both worlds: analog and digital," and the company says using DSP technology is what makes a mini pedal with Smart Tap Tempo possible1. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio noted the practical benefit: "it's easier to enhance the Chorus mode without volume drop issues in the digital world"2.
That sets it apart from the analog alternatives. The Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe, for example, is an analog pedal that includes the same sinewave oscillator, incandescent lamp and photocells as the original 1968 Uni-Vibe circuit, and JHS Pedals' gear guide calls it "a classic"34. The Voodoo Vibe takes the digital route instead, trading the lamp-and-photocell circuit for DSP in a smaller enclosure.
The controls
The pedal keeps the control set simple, with three standard knobs and one smart footswitch2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | At lower settings (counterclockwise) it produces slow, sweep effects; at higher settings (clockwise) a rapid, shimmery pulse2 |
| Intensity (Vibe mode) | Changes the degree of pitch modulation12 |
| Intensity (Chorus mode) | Changes the depth of the sweeping effect1 |
| Footswitch | Smart footswitch that does both on/off duties and Tap Tempo1 |
Delicious Audio's launch coverage suggests adjusting the Intensity knob first when setting the pedal up2. You switch between Vibe and Chorus modes by pressing and holding the footswitch1.
The Smart Tap Tempo function is a notable feature for a mini pedal: the single footswitch handles bypass and speed setting, so you can tap in the modulation rate live without a second switch12.
Inspired by the Dunlop Uni-Vibe
NUX states plainly that "Voodoo Vibe was inspired by the Dunlop® Uni-Vibe® for its gorgeous sound easily associated with Hendrix's bending facial" expressions1. The Uni-Vibe itself dates back to the late 1960s, and Delicious Audio's history of the effect notes that the "Uni-Vibe" is now a registered trademark of Dunlop Manufacturing5. Dunlop has carried the effect forward in its own Hendrix line of pedals6.
The original circuit, designed as a Leslie rotating speaker simulator, is a variation of a four-stage phase shifter rather than a true chorus or vibrato, which is why Uni-Vibe clones and tributes occupy their own corner of the modulation world3. Players comparing options today can find that circuit reproduced in analog form by several makers, with the Voodoo Vibe representing the compact digital take on it.
Power, connections and bypass
The pedal runs on 9V DC with a negative tip, using the optional NUX ACD-006A adapter, and draws less than 100mA1. It supports stereo I/O with a TRS cable, so a single cable carries both channels in and out of the mini enclosure1. Input impedance is 1MΩ and output impedance is 10kΩ1.
The bypass is switchable between true bypass and buffer bypass, which NUX calls Tails. Buffer bypass keeps the modulation tail ringing after you switch the effect off, rather than cutting it dead as true bypass does1.
For players who want more than two modulation sounds, NUX also makes the MOD Core Deluxe, a larger multi-algorithm modulation pedal, and a range of compact chorus pedals including the Rivulet Chorus, the Mini SCF, the Ukiyo-E Chorus and the CH-3 Chorus.
News
Questions
Is the NUX Voodoo Vibe analog or digital?
It is a DSP-based pedal. NUX says its modern-tech DSP combines the analog and digital worlds, and the company uses DSP technology to fit a mini pedal with Smart Tap Tempo into the small enclosure. The dry signal path is kept analog.
Does the NUX Voodoo Vibe have tap tempo?
Yes. It has a Smart Tap Tempo function, and the single smart footswitch handles both on/off duties and tap tempo, so you can set the modulation speed with your foot while playing.
How do you switch between Vibe and Chorus mode on the Voodoo Vibe?
Press and hold the footswitch to switch between the two modes. A quick press handles on/off and tap tempo duties, while press and hold changes the mode.
Can the NUX Voodoo Vibe run in stereo?
Yes. NUX lists stereo I/O with a TRS cable, so both input and output can run in stereo from the mini enclosure.
Is the NUX Voodoo Vibe true bypass?
It offers a choice of true bypass or buffer bypass, which NUX calls Tails. Buffer bypass lets the modulation tail continue after you switch the effect off instead of cutting it dead.
What is the NUX Voodoo Vibe model number?
The model number is NCH-3. NUX lists firmware version 1.0 for the pedal, and a user manual is available in English, French, Italian and Japanese.
Sources (6)
- Voodoo Vibe, NUX Audio, 2026-05-11
- New Pedal: NUX Voodoo Vibe Stereo Mini Uni-Vibe/Chorus, Delicious Audio, 2022-11-16
- Micro Vibe (NOS), Voodoo Lab, 2026-10-14
- GUITAR RIG ESSENTIALS, JHS Pedals, 2020
- Retro Corner: Uni-Vibe, Delicious Audio, 2012-11-21
- Dunlop Gypsy Fuzz And Uni-vibe Hendrix Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2017-08-03
