The Quiet Theory Prelude is a 2-in-1 delay and reverb pedal from the maker [Quiet Theory], designed by Bryan Laurenson. It puts a delay and a reverb in a single enclosure, each with its own footswitch and its own set of controls, so the two effects can be run separately or together in series. JHS Pedals' write-up called it "an ambient machine of the highest order: delay and reverb"12.
What it does
Delicious Audio's 2018 coverage described the original Prelude Reverb/Delay as "a dreamy delay & reverb unit capable of both subtle ambience and washed out atmosphere," pairing "a lush and dreamy reverb" with "a warm, PT2399 chip based 1000ms delay"3. The PT2399 is a common delay chip, and the 1000ms figure is the maximum delay time. Reviewing the later Prelude Delay Reverb in 2022, Pedal of the Day's reviewer concluded that "it's a real all-in-one ambient machine that sounds fantastic as soon as you activate it"23.
Controls and footswitches
Each side of the pedal carries its own controls, and the two sides share one Mix approach2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Decay | Sets the size and wash of the reverb effect2 |
| Time | Sets the length between the repeats of the delay effect2 |
| Feedback | Sets the number of echo repeats after the delay effect is produced2 |
| Mix | Adjusts the amount of wet signal added to the dry signal, working the same for both sides2 |
| Tone switch | A switch for each of the reverb and delay modes, with three positions: Bright, Dark and Warm or Darkest2 |
The pedal has independent footswitches for each side, so the delay and reverb can be run separately or in series2. The original Reverb/Delay version used a soft footswitch for each effect3.
Burst mode
Both versions offer a Burst mode. On the Delay Reverb, the footswitches can be set to Burst mode, where the effects are only active while the switch is being held down2. Delicious Audio described it as changing either or both footswitches to a momentary function, and noted it is best utilized on very wet settings3.
Bypass
A Trails/True bypass toggle switch lets you choose how the pedal behaves when switched off: True bypass, or Trails, which lets the effect continue to ring out after you disengage it23.
Versions
The Prelude appeared under two names in coverage: the original Prelude Reverb/Delay, covered by Delicious Audio in 20183, and the Prelude Delay Reverb, reviewed by Pedal of the Day in 20222. Both are delay and reverb combinations with per-effect footswitches, a Tone switch and Burst mode.
Who made it, and availability
The Prelude is the work of [Quiet Theory], and JHS Pedals credited the design to Bryan Laurenson: "A guy named Bryan Laurenson is the man behind all this." The same piece described the enclosure's artwork in glowing terms: "This case is basically fine art."1 Delicious Audio described the original as "the fruit of a collaboration between two musicians active in bands"3.
Availability is uncertain. Pedal of the Day's 2022 review stated: "Not sure if these will be made again, as Quiet Theory has sort of disappeared off the map"2.
JHS Pedals' buying guide also recommended the Prelude as a 2-in-1 option, noting "it has both settings," meaning both modulated reverb and delay settings42.
Videos
PedalNerds - Nathan Shafer
Reverb
AMULETS
Questions
Does the Quiet Theory Prelude have true bypass?
Yes, but it is a choice rather than a fixed arrangement. A toggle switch lets you set the bypass to two modes: True bypass, which removes the pedal from the chain entirely when off, or Trails, which lets the delay repeats and reverb decay continue to ring out after the effect is switched off. Players who want ambience to fade naturally usually pick Trails, while players who want a clean cut use True.
Can you run the delay and reverb at the same time on the Prelude?
Yes. The Prelude has independent footswitches for the delay and reverb sides, so you can run them separately or together in series. Each side has its own controls, and the Mix knob works the same way for both, setting how much wet effect is blended with your dry signal.
What is Burst mode on the Quiet Theory Prelude?
Burst mode changes either or both footswitches to a momentary function: the effect is only active while you hold the switch down. Delicious Audio notes it is best used on very wet settings, letting you dip into a big wash of sound for a phrase and then return to dry as soon as you let go.
Is the Quiet Theory Prelude still being made?
Availability is uncertain. A 2022 review noted that Quiet Theory had, in the reviewer's words, sort of disappeared off the map, and it was not clear whether the pedal would be made again. If you are looking for one, the secondhand market is the likely place to find it.
Who designed the Quiet Theory Prelude?
The Prelude was designed by Bryan Laurenson. Delicious Audio described the original Reverb/Delay version as the fruit of a collaboration between two musicians active in bands, and JHS Pedals' write-up credits Laurenson as the man behind the project.
Sources (4)
- MUST HAVE 2-IN-1 PEDALS, JHS Pedals
- Quiet Theory Prelude Delay Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2022-02-12
- Quiet Theory Prelude Reverb/Delay, Delicious Audio, 2018-04-27
- HOW TO STACK PEDALS, JHS Pedals