The TC Electronic CHOKA TREMOLO is a compact analog tremolo pedal, the effect that rhythmically rises and falls in volume the way an old amp's tremolo circuit does. It is built around three knobs, Depth, LFO shape and Speed, and MusicPlayers.com's press material describes its sound as "warm waves of tailor-made tremble"1.
Controls and how it works
The Choka keeps things deliberately simple. As Julian Schmauch put it in Gearnews's tremolo buying guide, its "three simple controls (Depth, LFO shape, and Speed) get you classic amp-style tremolo without menus, presets, or sync options"3. Depth sets how far the volume dips, Speed sets how fast the wave repeats, and the LFO shape control changes the shape of that wave. There is no preset storage or tap tempo to learn, which puts it in line with other straightforward amp-style tremolos rather than feature-rich units like the TC Electronic Pipeline Tap Tremolo.
Analog circuit and build
The Choka was announced in November 2017 as one of eight new analog pedals from TC Electronic. The press release describes the series as stompboxes with "strong steel enclosures and top mounted input/ouput jacks" that "provide analog warmth", and "true bypass circuitry so your tone stays totally unaffected when the effects are off"1. Top-mounted jacks help the pedal sit flat on a crowded pedalboard.
"Choka Tremolo's warm waves of tailor-made tremble breathes life and movement into your sea shanty"
Creatures of the Deep series
The Choka Tremolo belongs to TC Electronic's Creatures of the Deep series, the family name given to its 2017 wave of eight analog pedals, as reported by Delicious Audio5. The series theme carried nautical names, and the Choka's marketing leaned into it: the press copy suggests its tremble will "breathe life and movement into your sea shanty"1.
Price and where it sits
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Questions
Is the TC Electronic Choka Tremolo true bypass?
Yes. TC Electronic's 2017 press release for the eight analog pedals, the Choka among them, describes true bypass circuitry so your tone stays totally unaffected when the effects are off. The pedals also use strong steel enclosures with top mounted input and output jacks.
How much does the TC Electronic Choka Tremolo cost?
Gearnews's 2025 tremolo buying guide lists the Choka Tremolo at $26.00 USD, with the same listing giving £23.90 and 28.00 euros in other markets. It is the lowest-priced pedal in that guide's ranked list of nine tremolo pedals.
Is the Choka Tremolo part of the Creatures of the Deep series?
Yes. Delicious Audio's 2017 coverage of TC Electronic's eight new analog pedals lists the Choka Tremolo as part of the Creatures of the Deep series.
Is the Choka Tremolo analog or digital?
It is analog. The Choka was announced in November 2017 as one of eight new analog pedals from TC Electronic, in strong steel enclosures with top mounted jacks and analog warmth.
Sources (5)
- TC Electronic Announces 8 Analog Pedals, MusicPlayers.com, 2017-11-02
- CHOKA TREMOLO, TC Electronic
- The 9 Best Tremolo Pedals for Any Budget: Vintage Pulses and Modern Vibes, gearnews.com, 2025-12-22
- TC Electronic Launches 8 New Analog Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2017-11-02
- TC Electronic Unveils Eight New Analog Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2017-11-02
