The Spaceman Effects Voyager 1 Optical Tremolo is a hand-soldered optical tremolo pedal, released in early 2015, that reacts to how hard you pick. Beyond the usual speed and depth controls, it has an envelope section that follows your playing dynamics, a toggle for Triangle or Square wave shapes, and a Gain knob that mixes analog overdrive into the tremolo. Pedal of the Day's reviewer called it "an incredibly unique tremolo pedal, one that is extremely versatile and full of endless sonic options"1.
An optical tremolo that reacts to how hard you pick
What sets the Voyager 1 apart from a standard tremolo pedal is the Envelope knob. Pedal of the Day described it as "a special feature on the Voyager 1, in that it reacts to your playing dynamics to control different para[meters]"1. In other words, the tremolo does not just run on its own: how hard or soft you play shapes what the effect does, with the overall sensitivity set by the knob.
The pedal was brand new when reviewed. "An optical tremolo that was just released" is how the reviewer put it in January 20151.
Knobs, switches and dynamic modes
The Voyager 1's controls, as described in the Pedal of the Day review1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Basic speed control, "moving from a slow, muddy pulse to a rapid-fire tremolo machine gun" |
| Strength | The Depth of the effect, "from a slight sonic presence to a full-on, almost menacing pulse" |
| Envelope | Reacts to your playing dynamics to control different parameters, with overall sensitivity adjustable |
| Gain | Mixes in a little or a lot of analog overdrive into the tremolo sound |
| Left toggle switch | Selects between the typical Triangle and Square wave shapes |
| Right toggle switch | Selects Freq or Fade dynamic mode |
The two dynamic modes work differently:
- Freq: allows you to control the speed of the LFO based on how hard or soft you play1.
- Fade: fades your effect out the harder you pick, and brings it back in when your playing becomes lighter1.
The Gain knob drew particular praise. The reviewer called it "a great feature that really makes the pedal stand out," adding: "It's like having a second pedal, pretty much, and you can create some super-rad, slightly crunchy drive sounds with a sm[all amount of gain]"1. That puts the Voyager 1 somewhere between a tremolo and a hybrid drive effect, closer in spirit to some overdrive pedals blended under modulation.
The indicator jewel, described as a Spaceman staple, has two lights: an orange one for the bypass, and a flashing white one for the tremolo speed1.
The Secret Mission III edition and later Voyager versions
Alongside the standard release, Spaceman ran a limited "Top Secret Mission" edition: an unlabeled version of the Voyager 1 limited to 20 units, with no labels and a blacked-out instruction manual. The reviewer noted buyers were "1 of only 20 people on the planet" to secure one1.
The Voyager line also includes limited editions. Spaceman Effects released a Secret Mission III version of the Voyager 1 Optical Tremolo, an unlabeled version limited to 20 units, with no labels on the pedal and a blacked-out instruction manual, offered through the maker's "Top Secret Mission" page1.
The Voyager 1 reviewed here dates from 2015. The later Voyager II reissue changes the control names and adds an Overdrive Bypass footswitch, so the two versions are not identical.
Videos
Knobs
Premier Guitar
Zachary Rizer
Questions
Is the Spaceman Voyager 1 true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review describes the Voyager 1 as completely hand-soldered with true-bypass switching, built with what the reviewer called the finest interior components available. The pedal also carries a Spaceman staple, an indicator jewel with two lights: an orange one for bypass and a flashing white one for the tremolo speed.
What does the Fade mode on the Voyager 1 do?
Fade is one of the two positions of the right toggle switch, alongside Freq. In Fade, the effect fades out the harder you pick and comes back in when your playing becomes lighter. In the Freq position, the switch instead lets your picking dynamics control the speed of the LFO, so playing harder or softer changes the tremolo rate.
Can the Voyager 1 add overdrive without the tremolo?
The Gain knob lets you mix in a little or a lot of analog overdrive into your tremolo sound. Pedal of the Day's reviewer called it like having a second pedal, and said you can create slightly crunchy drive sounds with it. The pedal is built around the tremolo circuit, so running the overdrive with the tremolo fully off is not something the review describes.
What is the difference between the Voyager 1 and Voyager II?
The Voyager II is Spaceman Effects' 2024 reissue of its Dynamic Optical Tremolo. It relabels Frequency as Speed and Freq / Fade as Fade / Freq, and adds a separate Overdrive Bypass footswitch. It was announced as a Through-Hole Components Release expected to return to the webstore for $399.
Sources (1)
- Spaceman Effects Secret Mission III (Voyager I Prototype), Pedal of the Day, 2015-01-16
