The Red Witch Violetta Delay is a compact analog delay pedal with modulation, made by New Zealand company Red Witch Pedals. It was the first pedal in the company's Chrome series, a line of small, chrome finished pedals, and it delivers up to 1,000 milliseconds of delay time in an enclosure measuring just 90mm x 30mm x 45mm12. Red Witch voices it after the great tape echoes: the repeats roll the top end off as they decay, giving what the maker calls an "Echoplexian tonal flavour"1.
The pedal is currently listed as Sold Out on Red Witch's product page1.
What it does to your sound
The Violetta covers the full range a player expects from an analog delay. MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found it delivers "everything from slapback up to a full one-second delay"3, and Pedal of the Day's Mike B described it as doing "everything from slap back rockabilly to crazy, self-oscillation pulses"2. Push the repeats far enough and the pedal runs away into self oscillation, the classic analog delay trick where the repeats build on themselves into their own feedback loops.
The modulation section is where the Violetta gets its tape echo character. It ranges from a slight shimmer on the repeats to an all-out classic tape echo flutter2, and MusicRadar's launch coverage described the extremes as running "from the shimmering beauty of a gentle lilting mod through to the pitch shifting echoplexian wow and flutter of an old tape echo"4.
Controls and expression pedal
Three small knobs handle the standard delay parameters: wet/dry mix, delay time, and number of repeats3. A modulation control shapes the character of the repeats themselves2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix | Wet/dry balance3 |
| Delay time | Repeat length, up to 1,000ms2 |
| Repeats | From a single repeat to infinite repeats and self oscillation4 |
| Modulation | From a slight shimmer to classic tape echo flutter2 |
There is also an expression pedal jack on the side, used to control the repeats with your foot12. The jack accepts a 1/8 inch plug, and Red Witch includes a right angle adapter so a normal 1/4 inch expression pedal plug fits2. The maker currently recommends the Moog EP-3 expression pedal1; an earlier 2014 announcement recommended the EP-24.
Power: 9V supply or internal rechargeable battery
The Violetta's standout practical feature is its power system. It can run from a 9V wall wart supply like any other DC powered pedal, or from an internal lithium ion battery1. The battery charges whenever the pedal is connected to a standard wall wart supply1, so a player who keeps it plugged in between gigs keeps it topped up without thinking about it.
MusicRadar's reviewer reported 300 hours of use from a single charge, though the lithium battery requires replacing after two years3.
The internal lithium battery is a wearing part: MusicRadar reports it needs replacing after two years3. The maker's listed current draw is 110mA1, which is worth accounting for on a shared power supply.
The first pedal in the Chrome series
The Violetta was the first pedal in Red Witch's Chrome series, a line of compact, chrome finished pedals, with more similarly themed and sized pedals expected to follow23. Pedal of the Day noted that despite its small size, "this little shiny beauty has a lot of options"2. The input and output jacks sit on the top of the pedal rather than the sides, which the reviewer found makes it easy to fit into the tightest spot on a pedalboard2.
Red Witch also makes larger delay pedals, including the Cynosium Modulated Delay, the Magesteria Handmade Delay, the Titan Triple Delay, and the compact Seven Sisters Violet Delay.
What reviewers said
Both published reviews were positive. Pedal of the Day's Mike B highlighted the space saving design2:
"If you're looking for space-saving pedals, the Violetta is the way to go"2
Mike B, Pedal of the Day2
MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen summed it up as "a very nice-sounding and versatile delay pedal, with the added advantage of its compact size," listing "plenty of retro delay range" and the "expression pedal link" among the reasons to buy3.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Red Witch Pedals
Red Witch Pedals
Questions
How long does the Red Witch Violetta battery last?
MusicRadar's reviewer reports the internal lithium battery gives around 300 hours of playing from a charge. The battery charges whenever the pedal is connected to a standard 9V wall wart supply, and Red Witch notes it needs replacing after about two years.
What expression pedal works with the Violetta Delay?
Red Witch currently recommends the Moog EP-3 expression pedal. The expression jack controls the repeats and accepts a 1/8 inch plug, with a right angle adapter included so a normal 1/4 inch plug fits. An earlier 2014 announcement recommended the Moog EP-2.
How much delay time does the Violetta have?
The maker lists 1,000 milliseconds of delay time, which reviewers describe as covering everything from slapback up to a full one second delay. That range handles rockabilly slapback through to longer, ambient style repeats.
Can the Violetta Delay self-oscillate?
Yes. Reviewers describe being able to dial in a single repeat or push the repeats into runaway self oscillation, with MusicRadar's launch coverage promising infinite repeats and a wonderland of self oscillation runaway.
Is the Red Witch Violetta Delay discontinued?
The Violetta is listed as Sold Out on Red Witch's product page as of October 2026, so new units are not currently available from the maker. It was the first pedal in the Chrome series, with more similarly themed pedals expected to follow.
Sources (4)
- Violetta Delay, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch Pedals Violetta Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2015-03-08
- Red Witch Violetta Delay review, MusicRadar, 2014-05-12
- Red Witch Violetta Delay, MusicRadar, 2014-05-15
