The Red Witch Pedals Binary Star Time Modulator is a stereo delay and modulation pedal from the New Zealand based company. Red Witch describes it as providing "a huge range of analog-flavored sounds, from classic slap back to vibrato-infused modulation to insane pitch-shifting and more"1. For a player, it sits in the delay camp but reaches into chorus, vibrato and octave and pitch territory through its modulation controls, with a Mix knob that allows you to choose any blend of Dry, Wet and Dry and 100% Wet1.
What it does
Pedal of the Day describes the Binary Star as a modulated delay that "provides a huge range of analog-flavored sounds, from classic slap back to vibrato-infused modulation to insane pitch-shifting"1. The same review sums up its range this way:
"Short delays, analog echoes, long repeats, oscillation and more, this one covers it all."
Guitar World's release coverage adds that analog-flavored sounds appear as straightforward delays, from slapback to long repeats, alongside the modulation effects4.
The controls
The pedal's five dials and toggles cover delay time, repeats, blend and modulation rate12.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Universe | Controls the delay time. Turning it clockwise increases delay time, but in the last stages of its sweep it begins to reduce delay time again. As delay time increases, background artifacts appear in the sound1 |
| Replicate | Determines the number of repeats in longer delay settings, or the resonance in shorter delay settings1 |
| Mix | Allows any blend of Dry, Wet and Dry, and 100% Wet1 |
| Velocity | Determines the rate of the modulation12 |
| Left Hand Toggle | Set to the right to increase overall delay time, to the left to reduce1 |
The Universe knob's behavior is worth knowing before you dial in: the control does not simply sweep longer as it turns, since it folds back in its final stretch, and the background artifacts that appear at longer settings are part of the pedal's design rather than a fault1.
Mono and stereo use
The Binary Star can be used in mono or stereo mode4. In stereo, it is designed to run into two amps: the middle jack socket is the stereo output, and attaching a second amplifier to that socket automatically engages stereo mode2. Stereo mode splits the wet and dry signals into two outputs which can be run into separate amplifiers, which Pedal of the Day describes as producing a sweeping delay effect12.
The right hand jack socket is the input and the middle jack socket is the stereo output. Plugging a second amp into the middle socket is what switches the pedal into stereo mode2.
Availability and collector detail
Each Binary Star pedal comes with a handwritten number and signature from Red Witch owner Ben Fulton3.
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Questions
What does the Universe knob do on the Red Witch Binary Star?
Universe controls the delay time. Turning it clockwise increases the delay time, but in the last stages of its sweep it begins to reduce the delay time again. As you increase the delay time, you will hear background artifacts in the sound, which is part of the pedal's character.
Can the Binary Star be used in stereo?
Yes. The pedal runs in mono, or in stereo using two amps. The middle jack socket is the stereo output, and attaching a second amplifier to it automatically engages stereo mode. In stereo, the wet and dry signals are split into two outputs that can be run into separate amplifiers for a sweeping delay effect.
What does the Replicate knob control?
Replicate determines the number of repeats when you are using longer delay settings. In shorter delay settings, the same knob works as a resonance control instead, shaping how the repeats build.
Is the Binary Star an analog delay?
Red Witch describes the Binary Star as an analogue-style pedal, and reviewers describe its sounds as analog-flavored, from classic slapback to vibrato-infused modulation to pitch-shifting. It is a delay and modulation pedal rather than a straightforward analog bucket-brigade delay.
Sources (4)
- Red Witch Pedals Binary Star Time Modulator, Pedal of the Day, 2021-07-02
- New Pedal: Red Witch Binary Star Stereo Time Modulator, Delicious Audio, 2021-02-10
- The new Red Witch Binary Star pedal combines a celestial delay with modulation effects, gearnews.com, 2021-02-15
- Red Witch releases Binary Star "celestial time modulator" pedal, Guitar World, 2021-02-12
