The Visitor is a dual modulation pedal from Old Blood Noise Endeavors that runs two modulations in parallel rather than chaining them in series. The maker describes it as a "Parallel Multi-Modulator": you pick a primary effect from tremolo, chorus or phaser, then layer a secondary tremolo or chorus on top of it, for six possible combinations123. The idea came out of what the company saw as the unique complexities of running modulations in parallel, and the pedal was first shown around NAMM 20202.
For a player, the appeal is modulation textures that a single-effect pedal cannot get: two choruses at once, a chorus and phaser together, or a tremolo with a second tremolo moving against it. Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen found the secondary effects made things "altogether more interesting with very usable effects from all six combinations," noting that two choruses or a chorus/phaser combination can make things really swimmy3.
Tremolo, chorus or phaser with a second modulation
The Visitor's primary modulation is selected via a toggle switch between tremolo, chorus and phaser3. Rate and Depth knobs set the primary effect, giving you the familiar control set of a standalone tremolo, chorus or phaser pedal4.
The secondary modulation is switchable between tremolo and chorus, and it runs in parallel with the primary rather than after it2. Old Blood Noise Endeavors frames the secondary as an additional flavor: the primary modulation gives familiar sounds, and the secondary creates the combinations that a single pedal normally cannot4. With three primary and two secondary options, that gives six combinations in total1.
On the primary effects alone, Curwen found the tremolo "has plenty of natural variation including extreme on/off choppiness"3.
The controls
The Visitor keeps its control count low, with the Secondary knob doing the heavy lifting for the second effect24.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Primary toggle | Selects tremolo, chorus or phaser as the primary effect3 |
| Rate | Sets the speed of the primary modulation4 |
| Depth | Sets the depth of the primary modulation4 |
| Secondary knob | Simultaneously controls depth, rate and delay offset of the secondary modulation2 |
| Secondary switch | Selects tremolo or chorus as the secondary modulation2 |
| Master mix | Blends the overall effect with your dry signal2 |
| Regen | Master feedback control2 |
The Secondary knob is the pedal's distinctive idea: instead of a second full set of Rate and Depth knobs, one control simultaneously sets the depth, rate and delay offset of the secondary modulation2. The delay offset is what lets the two parallel modulations move out of step with each other, which is where the less familiar textures come from.
An expression jack lets you externally control the Secondary knob, so you can sweep the secondary modulation in real time with an expression pedal4.
Power, bypass and connections
The Visitor runs on a 9V DC center negative power supply through a 2.1mm jack, drawing 110mA, and the supply is not included4. There is no battery option, so it needs a pedalboard power source from day one.
The 110mA draw means the Visitor will not run on a battery, and it is worth checking that a shared or daisy-chain supply can spare that much current before plugging it in alongside other digital pedals.
Bypass is true bypass, engaged with a soft-touch footswitch designed for minimal switch noise4. Gearnews also reported relay bypass switching at the pedal's launch1. Connections are a standard input, a standard output and the expression pedal input3.
Where it came from and what it costs
Old Blood Noise Endeavors unveiled the Visitor around NAMM 2020, describing it as a parallel multi-modulator inspired by the unique complexities of running modulations in parallel21. The pedal is made in the USA3.
On price, the maker's current listing is $209.004, while Guitar World's review lists it at $1993. The two figures are close but not identical, so treat $209 as the current maker price and $199 as the figure published in the review.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review is the fullest published assessment. Curwen's verdict was that the primary effects are solid on their own, and that the parallel secondary effects are where the pedal earns its keep3:
"Bringing in the secondary effects makes things altogether more interesting with very usable effects from all six combinations"
He specifically called out two choruses or a chorus/phaser combination as capable of making things really swimmy3. Delicious Audio's Alex Maiolo, writing at the pedal's launch, summed up the appeal for players who want modulation textures without building a chain: the Visitor "immediately inspires new sounds in a single pedal format"2.
Videos
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
The Pedal Zone
Questions
Does the Old Blood Noise Endeavors Visitor have true bypass?
Yes. The Visitor uses a soft-touch bypass footswitch for true bypass and minimal switch noise, so your dry signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off, and engaging it is quiet rather than an audible click.
Can the Visitor run on a battery?
No. The Visitor requires a 9V DC center negative power supply with a 2.1mm jack, capable of supplying 110mA, and the supply is not included with the pedal. There is no battery option, so you will need a pedalboard power source.
What does the Secondary knob do on the Visitor?
The Secondary knob is a single control that simultaneously sets the depth, rate and delay offset of the secondary modulation. Rather than giving the second effect its own set of knobs, Old Blood Noise Endeavors ties those parameters together so one turn dials in a complete second flavor.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Visitor?
Yes. The Visitor has an expression jack that lets you externally control the Secondary knob, so you can sweep the secondary modulation's depth, rate and delay offset in real time with an expression pedal while you play.
Where is the Visitor made?
The Visitor is made in the USA by Old Blood Noise Endeavors, the Oklahoma-based effects maker. Guitar World lists its origin as USA in the pedal's specifications.
How much current does the Visitor draw?
The Visitor requires a 9V DC center negative power supply capable of 110mA. That is modest by modern pedal standards, but it means a small isolated output on a typical pedalboard power supply will run it comfortably.
Sources (4)
- Old Blood Noise Endeavours announce the Visitor, gearnews.com, 2020-01-20
- Old Blood Noise Visitor Multi-Modulation, Delicious Audio, 2021-03-12
- Old Blood Noise Endeavors Visitor review, Guitar World, 2020-12-03
- Old Blood Noise Endeavors, Old Blood Noise Endeavors
