Red Panda Raster 2

The Red Panda Raster 2 is a stereo digital delay pedal with a pitch and frequency shifter integrated into the feedback loop, so each repeat comes back shifted in pitch rather than simply quieter¹. Red Panda describes it as delivering "a wide range of sounds including modulated and harmonized delays, reverse delays, chorus, arpeggios, infinite descents, chaotic self-oscillation, and continuously evolving soundscapes"². It was announced at Summer NAMM 2021 as the successor to the original Raster, and it is designed and assembled in the USA by Red Panda³².

Because the pitch and frequency shifter sits in the feedback path, each repeat can come back shifted in pitch rather than simply quieter, and delay times span from a 1/128th note up to a whole note¹. Short delay times with high feedback create cascading shifted trails, the effect Red Panda points to when describing the pedal's arpeggios, infinite descents and chaotic self-oscillation².

What it does: delay with a pitch shifter in the feedback path

The Raster 2's defining idea is where the pitch shifter sits: inside the delay's feedback loop¹³. On a conventional delay, repeats fade at the same pitch. Here, each repeat can be transposed, detuned, or phase and frequency shifted, so a single note can climb or fall in intervals, harmonize itself, or dissolve into alien textures¹⁵. Delay modulation changes the pitch, like an analog or tape delay, as the pedal reads and writes its delay memory faster or slower¹.

The shift control covers transpose, detune, and phase/frequency shift modes, selectable over MIDI as CC #104, with a range up to an octave in each direction¹⁶. The two delay channels can be arranged in series, parallel, or ping pong⁷.

A modulation mode offers seven waveforms plus envelope and inverse envelope settings, assignable to delay time, pitch shift, or the effect level⁸⁶. MusicRadar's Rob Laing described the possibilities: "There are two random waveforms for glitchy sliced delays or random pitch shift, wow and flutter, and broken tape deck effects; envelope and inverse envelope enable dynamic flanging and pitch bent delays; stereo controls adjust the modulation amount and phase between channels, for subtle shifts or swirling psychedelic washes"⁸.

Controls, delay ranges and reverse delay

The front panel keeps the fast, knob-driven feel of the original. The DELAY time knob sets delay time within the selected range, and the delay range switch chooses 400 ms, 800 ms, or 1600 ms maximum¹. Three delay ranges let you precisely dial in resonant feedback sounds and instantly change delay time with rhythmic shifts⁷. A 3200 ms forward delay, with 1600 ms reverse, is available using the editor or MIDI and can be saved in presets¹.

Reverse delay is on the feedback mode switch, and also reachable over MIDI as CC #106 with four modes: forward, forward / shift once, reverse, and reverse / shift once¹. With feedback and pitch shifting, short delays create cascading shifted trails and alien textures, including reverse delay with shifting⁵.

Knob responses are carefully tuned for exploration of self-oscillation and feedback on the verge of blowing up, as Pedal of the Day put it⁷.

Power

The Raster 2 draws 250 mA¹. The power connector is a 2.1mm inside diameter, 5.5mm outside diameter barrel¹.

MIDI, expression and the CTRL port

The CTRL port is a 1/4" TRS jack that accepts an expression pedal, tap tempo switch, remote switch, or MIDI¹. The port also supports control voltage, the Red Panda Remote 4 (or a DIY switch), a normally open tap tempo switch, and 1/4" MIDI using a third-party adapter⁹.

MIDI works two ways: USB MIDI in and out through the mini B receptacle, and 1/4" TRS MIDI input only¹. The pedal sends and receives on MIDI channel 1 by default, changeable via SysEx or the web editor and remembered when power is off¹. Because the TRS port is input only, the web editor can change parameters but will not show the pedal's current state¹.

MIDI clock sync is set by turning on Receive MIDI Clock in the web editor's Config tab, or by sending CC #110 with a value of 64 to 127; the setting survives power cycles¹. The pedal uses 24 timing clock messages every quarter note (24 PPQ), and it is common to have plus or minus 1 millisecond of jitter¹. Delay time and modulation rate can be set in note divisions, from 1/128th note to whole note for delay and 1/32nd triplet to 8 measures for modulation rate¹.

Selected MIDI continuous controllers¹:

Firmware updates and support

Firmware updates are drag and drop over USB Mass Storage using any Mac or PC, with no driver or special software required¹. The procedure:

1. Hold down the SHIFT (left) footswitch and connect power.
2. The right LED will blink blue.
3. Hold for two seconds until the LED is solid blue to enter USB Mass Storage mode.
4. Read the VERSION.TXT file to check the firmware version.
5. Download the firmware zip from redpandalab.com, which contains the .bin file, and copy it to the pedal over a mini USB cable.¹

The manual covers firmware 2.0 and later¹. For technical support, email support@redpandalab.com or use the contact form on the web site, including the pedal's serial number; replies may take a few days¹. Red Panda asks owners to register at redpandalab.com/register within 30 days of purchase, and the pedal carries a one year limited manufacturer's warranty covering manufacturing defects, with repair or replacement at Red Panda's sole discretion and proof of the original purchase date required¹.

What changed from the original Raster

The original Raster, launched in 2015, was a 750 ms digital delay with a pitch shifter in the feedback loop, covering delay, pitch shifting, and phase shifting¹⁰. The Raster 2 more than doubles the delay time, from 750 ms to 1600 ms, and moves to a smaller enclosure measuring 3 inches wide with all jacks on top³. Delicious Audio noted that "the original Raster was praised for its knob response and immediacy, and the Raster 2 maintains that simplicity" while adding flexible modulation and extensive stereo functionality³.

Designer Curt Malouin, who handled design and engineering, documentation, and the web editor, explained the goal: "While designing the Raster 2, I wanted to enable as many classic rack mount digital delay tricks as possible while keeping the fast and intuitive control of the original Raster"³.

What reviewers said

At launch, Premier Guitar reported a MAP price of $299⁶, and MusicRadar's Rob Laing wrote that it would ship in late summer or early autumn of 2021⁸. The current list price on Red Panda's product page is $329.00².

Premier Guitar's review highlighted the shift range, noting "the control ranges up to an octave in each direction," and that "the modulation function has seven waveforms plus envelope and reverse envelope settings"⁴. Pedal of the Day highlighted the three delay ranges for resonant feedback sounds and rhythmic shifts, the series, parallel, and ping pong channel arrangements, and the knob tuning for self-oscillation⁷.

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