The Red Witch Binary Star is a compact "celestial time modulator" pedal from the New Zealand maker Red Witch, released earlier in 20211. It combines delay and modulation in one box: Red Witch says it offers "a vast range of analog flavored sounds, from straightforward delays (Slap Back to long repeats) and modulation effects" including chorus, vibrato and pitch-shifted repeats2. Gearnews described it as "the latest analogue-style offering from the New Zealand based pedal company"1.
What sets it apart from a plain delay is that the modulation lives inside the repeats, and that it works in stereo: in stereo mode the wet and dry signals are split into two outputs that can run into separate amplifiers2. Pedal of the Day summed up its range: "Short delays, analog echoes, long repeats, oscillation and more, this one covers it all."3
Controls and how they interact
The pedal carries five dials, two toggle switches and one footswitch2. Three of the knobs and one toggle shape the core sound, and they work together rather than independently, which is worth understanding before you dial it in.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Universe | Sets the delay time. Turning it clockwise increases delay time, but in the last stages of its sweep delay time starts to reduce again. At longer settings you will hear background artifacts in the sound.3 |
| Depth | Sets modulation depth. Fully counterclockwise turns modulation off. It interacts with the Universe dial, and at longer delay settings increasing Depth reduces the overall delay time.3 |
| Replicate | Sets the number of repeats at longer delay settings, or the resonance at shorter delay settings.3 |
| Left Hand Toggle | Right increases overall delay time, left reduces it.3 |
The Universe control is the unusual one. Unlike a standard delay's time knob, its sweep is not a simple low-to-high run: delay time grows clockwise for most of the travel and then shrinks near the end2. The interaction between Depth and Universe also means the two controls are best set together, since pushing modulation depth at long delay times eats into the delay itself3.
Jacks, footswitch and stereo mode
The layout is straightforward once you know which socket is which2:
- Right Hand Jack Socket: input
- Far Left Jack Socket: mono output, for use with one amplifier
- 2.1mm socket: 9V regulated DC input
- Footswitch: true bypass, engage to bring the Binary Star into your signal path
For stereo, the pedal splits the wet and dry signals into two outputs, each of which can feed its own amp2. Guitar World confirmed the pedal "can also be used in mono or stereo mode"5. Pedal of the Day describes the payoff as "a sweeping delay in Stereo mode" when hooked up to two amps3.
The power input is center pin negative, sleeve positive, the same polarity as most standard 9V pedal supplies, and it needs regulated DC2. At 60mA the draw is low, so it fits comfortably on a typical multi-output board supply2.
Where it came from and what reviewers said
Red Witch launched the Binary Star early in 2021, and Guitar World reported it available at $249 at release5; the maker's list price remains $249 as of October 20264. Each pedal comes with a handwritten number and signature from Red Witch owner Ben Fulton1.
Early press coverage was positive about the sound. Gearnews wrote: "It sounds quite organic and I like the textural sounds in the short video."1 Pedal of the Day's later review emphasized the breadth of the pedal's territory, from short delays and analog echoes through long repeats to oscillation3.
Videos
Red Witch Pedals
Red Witch Pedals
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Red Witch Binary Star true bypass?
Yes. The single footswitch is true bypass, so when the effect is disengaged your signal passes through without the pedal's circuitry in the path. Pressing it brings the Binary Star into your signal chain.
What power supply does the Red Witch Binary Star need?
It runs on 9 volts regulated DC through a 2.1mm socket, with center pin negative and sleeve positive. That matches the standard boss-style supply most pedalboards already use. The 60mA draw is modest, so a typical multi-output supply can run it alongside other pedals.
Can the Binary Star run into two amps?
Yes. In stereo mode it splits the wet and dry signals into two outputs, each of which can feed its own amplifier. With one amp you simply use the mono output on the far left of the pedal.
Is the Red Witch Binary Star analog or digital?
Red Witch describes it as an analog-style, or analogue-flavored, time modulator. The company presents its sound palette as analog flavored, covering slapback and long delays, chorus, vibrato and pitch-shifted repeats, rather than as a digital multi-effect.
How much current does the Binary Star draw?
It draws 60mA. That is low enough for a standard isolated or daisy-chain power supply with plenty of headroom, though as always the supply needs to deliver 9 volts regulated DC at center-negative polarity.
Sources (5)
- The new Red Witch Binary Star pedal combines a celestial delay with modulation effects, gearnews.com, 2021-02-15
- New Pedal: Red Witch Binary Star Stereo Time Modulator, Delicious Audio, 2021-02-10
- Red Witch Pedals Binary Star Time Modulator, Pedal of the Day, 2021-07-02
- Fuzz God IV Pedal, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch releases Binary Star "celestial time modulator" pedal, Guitar World, 2021-02-12
