The Tremulus Maximus is an analog optical tremolo effects pedal from RPS Effects. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it powerful, dynamic and responsive, writing: "For a pedal this size, with these few options, this thing is POWERFUL. So much is packed into this effect, and it's so d"1. If you are new to the effect, tremolo varies the volume of your signal rhythmically, and our Tremolo Pedals page covers the wider field.
What it does
As an optical tremolo, the pedal shapes the volume of the guitar signal using light, entirely in the analog domain1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer came away impressed by how much the pedal does with its small control set:
"For a pedal this size, with these few options, this thing is POWERFUL. So much is packed into this effect, and it's so dynamic and responsive1."
Pedal of the Day, 17 October 20181
The controls: Depth, Rate, Auto and waveform
The pedal keeps its face simple: three knobs and a waveform toggle1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth | Sets how intense the effect is, from just barely there to, in the reviewer's words, a full-on modulated nightmare (in the best of ways)1 |
| Rate | Spans a large frequency range, 2Hz to 600Hz: a tremolo effect on the lower half of the knob and a sort of ring modulator on the upper section1 |
| Auto | Provides a natural and musical variation of the modulation rate, speeding up when the note is first hit and slowing down as the note fades out, following the playing1 |
| Waveform toggle | Selects from two different waveforms1 |
The Auto knob is the unusual one here. Most tremolos run at a fixed speed; this one lets the rate breathe with your picking, which the reviewer found natural and musical1.
The two waveforms
A toggle switch selects between Triangle and Square1:
- Triangle: a smoother sound1
- Square: more extreme, bringing out additional harmonics and, at its higher settings, allowing for a more chopped-up, glitchy kind of tremolo1
The Rate control's upper range takes the pedal beyond ordinary tremolo into ring modulator territory, so expect very different results depending on where that knob sits1.
Expression control and the LED
There is an expression jack for use with an external expression pedal, which may be used to set the Rate hands-free1. Players looking to add one can see our Expression Pedals page.
The LED is built into the entire bottom of the pedal: it pulses with the rate, and it changes color when you switch between the two waveform selections1.
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Pedal of the Day
Questions
Can the Tremulus Maximus do ring modulation?
Pedal of the Day's review says the Rate control spans a large frequency range, from 2Hz to 600Hz. On the lower half of the knob this gives a tremolo effect, while the upper section produces what the reviewer calls a sort of ring modulator. So the pedal can approach ring modulation territory by pushing the Rate control toward its top end.
Does the Tremulus Maximus have an expression pedal input?
Yes. The pedal has an expression jack for use with an external expression pedal, which can be used to set the Rate hands-free. That lets a player ride the tremolo speed during a performance without bending down to turn a knob.
What is the difference between the triangle and square waveforms on the Tremulus Maximus?
According to Pedal of the Day, the Triangle waveform offers a smoother sound, while the Square is more extreme, bringing out additional harmonics and, at its higher settings, allowing for a more chopped-up, glitchy kind of tremolo. A toggle switch selects between the two, and the LED on the bottom of the pedal changes color when you switch.
What does the LED on the bottom of the Tremulus Maximus do?
The LED is built into the entire bottom of the pedal. It pulses with the rate, so it gives a visual read of the tremolo speed, and it changes color when you switch between the two waveform selections.
How much does the RPS Effects Tremulus Maximus cost?
Guitar.com reported in August 2018, when the pedal was released alongside the Warp Drive analog delay, that the Tremulus Maximus lists for $220.
Sources (3)
- RPS Effects Tremulus Maximus Analog Optical Tremolo, Pedal of the Day, 2018-10-17
- RPS Effects Tremulus Maximus Analog Optical Tremolo, Pedal of the Day, 2018-10-09
- RPS Effects heads to the future and back with two new pedals, Guitar.com, 2018-08-07
