The Paradox Effects Arquitecto Fictional Space Reverberator is a reverb pedal built around two cascading modulated reverbs, each with its own time, voicing and two depth modulation settings. One engine, Reflector, is bright and short-decayed; the other, Diffuser, is darker and low-end focused. A momentary Expand switch pushes either engine into self-oscillating feedback, and Pedal of the Day called the whole package "an ambient player's dream wrapped in a futuristic enclosure."1
Two cascading modulated reverbs
The Arquitecto's core idea is that its two reverb engines run in series rather than offering a choice between them. Each engine carries different time, voicing and 2 depth modulation settings, so the pedal can be voiced as two distinct spaces feeding one another. Pedal of the Day described the range as going "from a reverberated wash to cavernous landscapes and way beyond," with the Expand switch opening up self-oscillating feedback on top of that.1
Reflector and Diffuser
The two engines have clearly divided characters:
| Engine | Voice | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Reflector | Bright, short decay | "Shiny, sparkling tone"1 |
| Diffuser | Darker, low-end focused | "Almost swampy, sludgy" character1 |
Reflector handles the shimmering, shorter end of the pedal's range, while Diffuser focuses on the lower end and produces a darker voice. Run in cascade, the bright engine feeds the dark one, which is where the pedal's larger fictional spaces come from.1
The Expand switch and modulation toggles
Expand is a momentary switch: hold it and it expands the decay and feedback of the Reflector engine (up position) or the Diffuser engine (down position). Because it is momentary rather than latching, the swell and collapse of the feedback stay under the player's foot.1
Each reverb also has its own modulation toggle. In the Up position, you get a deeper, more present modulation sound on that engine; the Down position gives a subtler take. With independent time, voicing and depth settings per engine, the two toggles let the modulation differ between the cascaded reverbs.1
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day found the Arquitecto "nothing if not both innovative and unique," and summed it up as an ambient player's dream with otherworldly sounds overall. The review closed with credit to the builder: "Cheers to Paradox Effects for yet another distinct pedal in a killer lineup."1
For players drawn to the Arquitecto, the same review framed the appeal plainly: an ambient player's dream, wrapped in a futuristic enclosure.2
Videos
Paradox Effects
Paradox Effects
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What is the difference between Reflector and Diffuser on the Arquitecto?
Reflector is the brighter of the two engines: Pedal of the Day describes it as having a shiny, sparkling tone with a bright voice and a short decay time. Diffuser sits at the other end, focusing more on the lower end of things and producing a darker voice with an almost swampy, sludgy character. Together they run in cascade, so the two voicings feed one another.
What does the Expand switch do?
Expand is a momentary switch that expands the decay and feedback of one of the two reverb engines: the Reflector engine when pressed up, or the Diffuser engine when pressed down. Held down, it can push the pedal into self-oscillating feedback, taking the sound from a reverberated wash to cavernous landscapes and beyond.
Can the Arquitecto self-oscillate?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that the Expand switch can be used to get into self-oscillating feedback, letting the reverbs build on themselves indefinitely. Because Expand is momentary, the oscillation is under your foot: it swells while you hold the switch and recedes when you let go.
What do the modulation toggles do on the Arquitecto?
Each of the two reverb engines has its own toggle switch for the modulation. In the Up position, you get a deeper, more present modulation sound on that engine. Each reverb also has its own time, voicing and two depth modulation settings, so the two engines can be shaped independently.
Who makes the Arquitecto Fictional Space Reverberator?
The Arquitecto Fictional Space Reverberator is made by Paradox Effects, a pedal builder whose lineup Pedal of the Day described as killer when reviewing the Arquitecto in October 2018. Paradox Effects has since continued in the reverb field with the Vitral microtonal shimmer reverb.
Sources (2)
- Paradox Effects Arquitecto Fictional Space Reverberator, Pedal of the Day, 2018-10-03
- Paradox Effects Unveils Its Newest Pedal, Vitral, premierguitar.com, 2023-01-19