The Red Witch Pedals Synthotron CV is a limited edition version of the company's analog guitar synth pedal, fitted with CV and PLL inputs for external control1. Only ten units were made, and each was hand assembled by Ben Fulton with its own individual name1. The pedal is sold out1.
The limited modified run
The Synthotron CV is not a standard catalog pedal. Red Witch described it as a limited edition analog guitar synth with CV and PLL inputs, and the run was capped at ten units1. Each pedal was hand assembled by Ben Fulton and carries its own individual name, which makes every unit in the run distinct1. The list price was 300 USD1.
Red Witch listed the Synthotron CV as sold out, so the ten-unit run is complete and no further units are being offered1.
The two extra inputs
What separates the Synthotron CV from the standard Synthotron is a pair of additional inputs on the modified units1:
- VCA Trigger input: accepts an external VCA trigger
- Phase Locked Loop CV input: accepts an external CV for one of the pedal's Phase Lock Loops
In practical terms, those jacks let an outside source trigger the pedal's VCA and drive one of its PLLs with a control voltage, opening the synth engine to external control rather than leaving it driven only by the guitar input1. Players working with modular or other CV-equipped gear get a way to patch into the circuit that the standard Synthotron does not offer1.
Power, bypass and specifications
Red Witch supplies a 9 volt DC wall wart adapter with the pedal, and lists the current draw at 115 mA, specified for the supplied wall wart1. That figure is high enough that a shared daisy chain supply is not the way to run it; a dedicated outlet on a pedalboard power supply is the sensible choice1. Switching is true bypass, so the dry signal is untouched when the pedal is off1.
The pedal measures 118mm x 38mm x 94mm and weighs 369 grams1.
For context on where the Synthotron CV sits, Red Witch has since released the expanded Red Witch Synthotron III, and the earlier Red Witch Synthotron II is also covered separately. Other analog-leaning synth pedals players compare in this space include the Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer, the Subdecay PixelWave and the Way Huge Atreides Analog Weirding Module. See the full range on the Synth Pedals page.
Questions
Is the Red Witch Synthotron CV true bypass?
Yes. Red Witch specifies true bypass switching on the Synthotron CV, so when the pedal is off your guitar signal passes through without going through the synth circuitry. That matters on a pedalboard because it keeps the dry tone untouched when the effect is not in use.
Does the Synthotron CV come with a power supply?
Yes. Red Witch supplies a 9 volt DC wall wart power adapter with the Synthotron CV. The pedal draws 115 mA, which the maker notes applies when running on the supplied wall wart, so plan your board power accordingly rather than relying on a shared supply.
How much current does the Synthotron CV draw?
Red Witch lists the current draw at 115 mA, specified for use with the supplied wall wart adapter. That is well above what many daisy chain supplies give per output, so a dedicated outlet on a pedalboard power supply is the safer way to run it.
What do the two extra inputs on the Synthotron CV do?
The modified Synthotron CV pedals add two inputs beyond the standard version: one accepts an external VCA trigger, and the other accepts an external control voltage for one of the pedal's Phase Locked Loops. That lets you drive parts of the synth engine from outside sources.
Is the Synthotron CV still available?
No. Red Witch listed the Synthotron CV as sold out on its product page. Only ten units were made, each hand assembled by Ben Fulton with its own individual name, so the run is complete.
Sources (1)
- Limited Edition Synthotron CV- Analog Guitar Synth with CV and PLL inp, Red Witch Pedals
