The TWA GD-02 Great Divide is an analog synth octave pedal, announced by Godlyke on September 11, 2013 as the "Analog Synth Octaver"1. Its central idea is five independent voices that can be continuously blended, so a player can mix octave and synth-style tones against the dry guitar rather than switching between fixed settings1. It sits among octave and pitch pedals and, in character, among synth pedals.
The five voices and how you blend them
The headline feature is the voice architecture: five independent voices, each continuously blendable, announced with a dry voice that has its own Level Fader1. That means the dry signal is not simply left on or off; its level is a mix control in its own right, which is how players typically use octavers, keeping enough dry guitar under the generated voices for the part to stay intelligible.
The announced feature set, as Godlyke laid it out:
- Five independent voices, each continuously blendable1
- A dry voice with its own Level Fader1
- A +1 Octave Envelope Mode, an upper-octave voice that responds to playing dynamics1
- A TRS effects loop for patching external effects into the pedal's chain1
- S3 "Shortest Send Switching" bypass1
The +1 Octave Envelope Mode is an upper-octave voice that responds to playing dynamics1. The TRS effects loop lets you patch external effects into the Great Divide's chain1. A loop inside an octave pedal is unusual: it lets, for example, a filter or fuzz sit after the octave voices but before the pedal's output, without a separate loop switcher.
Bypass and power
Bypassing is handled by TWA's proprietary S3 "Shortest Send Switching," described in the announcement as "a form of relay-based True Bypass that provides the most transparent" signal path1.
"a form of relay-based True Bypass that provides the most transparent"
A practical detail worth knowing: the switching reverts to bypass if power is lost, so a failed supply takes the effect out of the chain rather than leaving it muted or stuck on1.
The Great Divide requires external 9 VDC power and has no battery option1. Budget a dedicated output on your pedalboard power supply.
Origins and status
The Great Divide was announced from Clifton, New Jersey, on September 11, 20131. Guitar Interactive Magazine covered the release the same month, describing it as an "Analog Synth Octaver"2. The pedal was made in the USA and runs on external 9 VDC power with no battery option1.
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Questions
Is the TWA Great Divide analog?
Yes. The Great Divide was announced as an Analog Synth Octaver, an analog effect pedal rather than a digital pitch unit. It builds its octave and synth-style voices in analog circuitry, and it offers five independent voices that can be continuously blended against each other and against the dry signal.
Can the TWA Great Divide run on a battery?
No. The Great Divide requires external 9 VDC power and has no battery option, according to the announcement. Plan a dedicated power supply output or a spare slot on your pedalboard power brick, since a one-spot daisy chain or a battery will not run it.
What kind of bypass does the TWA Great Divide use?
It uses TWA's proprietary S3, or Shortest Send Switching, described as a form of relay-based true bypass. A further benefit of the switching scheme is that the pedal reverts to bypass if power is lost, so a dead supply silences the effect rather than leaving it stuck on.
Where is the TWA Great Divide made?
The Great Divide is made in the USA. It was announced by Godlyke, the New Jersey company behind the TWA brand, and the press release from September 2013 carries a Clifton, New Jersey dateline.
How much does the TWA Great Divide cost?
At its September 2013 announcement, the Great Divide carried a direct price of $399. That figure dates from the original press release, so current street pricing may differ.
Sources (2)
- TWA GD-02 Great Divide Synth Octave Pedal Released, Premier Guitar, 2013-09-11
- Godlyke Unveils TWA GD-02 Great Divide Analog Synth Octave Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-09-16
