The Paradox Effects Futura Envelope Chorus is an analog chorus pedal with a twist: an embedded envelope follower circuit that reads the strength of your picking and uses it to drive the modulation. Paradox Effects announced it in February 2019 as an analog BBD chorus, meaning it uses a bucket brigade device chip, the same kind of circuit found in many classic chorus and vibrato pedals1. Pedal of the Day's later review described it as a full analog effect covering a world of Chorus/Vibrato tones2.
What the envelope follower does
The Futura's headline feature is the envelope follower, a circuit that tracks how hard you play and feeds that information into the chorus. Pedal of the Day treated it as more than an add-on, calling it "more than a feature, it's a specialized engine that behaves in a multi-parametric fashion, with combinational options in" connection with the LFO's parameters, reacting to your picking2.
The pedal offers three envelope interaction modes, selecting what the envelope actually controls2:
- R (Rate): the envelope drives the modulation rate
- D (Depth): the envelope drives the modulation depth
- R+D: the envelope drives rate and depth simultaneously2
Sound and controls
Paradox Effects' own announcement promised a wide range of textures: "shimmering classic chorus, nauseous vibrato bar bendings, slimy warbles or synthy pulses resembling the scratching of a" vinyl record1. Pedal of the Day heard the same breadth, writing that the pedal "summons textures far beyond conventional, shimmery classic chorus, vibrato bar bendings, slimy warbles, and even tones r"esembling record scratching2.
The Blend control runs from 100 percent dry to 100 percent wet, and Pedal of the Day noted that "moving this parameter will give you modern and classic chorus tones to distant age vibrato feelings"12.
Where it comes from
Paradox Effects builds the Futura by hand in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, a detail the company announced with the line "Handmade by non-replicant individuals in the border town of Tijuana"1. The pedal also uses an in-house built optocoupler, a light-dependent component the company makes itself rather than sourcing1.
Price and availability
The Futura was announced with pre-orders starting February 2019, available at selected dealers. Premier Guitar's report of the announcement gave a street price of $219.991; Guitar.com's report the next day gave $210, with shipping from March3. The two reports disagree on the launch price, so both figures are given here as published.
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Questions
Is the Paradox Effects Futura analog?
Yes. Paradox Effects described the Futura at its 2019 announcement as an analog BBD chorus with a full analog signal path, and Pedal of the Day's 2021 review likewise called it a full analog effect. BBD stands for bucket brigade device, the chip design used in many classic chorus and vibrato pedals.
Where is the Paradox Effects Futura made?
Paradox Effects builds the Futura by hand in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The company's announcement described it as handmade by non-replicant individuals in the border town of Tijuana, and it also builds the pedal's optocoupler in house.
What does the Blend control do on the Futura?
The Blend control sets the mix between the dry signal and the chorused signal, running from 100 percent dry to 100 percent wet. Pedal of the Day noted that moving this parameter takes you from modern and classic chorus tones to distant age vibrato feelings.
What is an optocoupler in a chorus pedal?
An optocoupler is a component that pairs a light source with a light-sensitive element, letting one part of a circuit control another without a direct electrical connection. Paradox Effects builds its own optocoupler in house for the Futura, according to the company's 2019 announcement.
Sources (3)
- Paradox Effects Launches Futura Envelope Chorus Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2019-02-27
- Paradox Effects Futura Envelope Chorus, Pedal of the Day, 2021-03-17
- Paradox Effects debuts Futura Multiparametric Envelope Chorus, Guitar.com, 2019-02-28
