The VS Audio Alchemy MkII is a mono-in/stereo-out analog chorus pedal built around a reissued version of the MN3207 bucket-brigade delay chip, the classic BBD design behind vintage modulation1. It became available at selected dealers worldwide on April 11, 20222. The MkII updates VS Audio's original Alchemy with what Delicious Audio called "minor but important changes," including tap tempo, a smoother LFO shape and a slightly longer delay1.
The key idea behind the pedal is that the knobs are turned by a small microprocessor while the guitar signal itself stays fully analog. As Delicious Audio puts it, "your guitar signal stays 100% analog and never gets digitally processed"1. That gives the MkII modern conveniences, presets and tap tempo, without putting the audio through a digital conversion.
What it does to your sound
The Alchemy MkII is a stereo BBD chorus: one input, two outputs, with Premier Guitar noting the jacks deliver "pseudo-stereo" action rather than wet/dry stereo2. Inside is what Premier Guitar's reviewer described as "a tidy circuit board with a reissue 3207 BBD delay chip"3. Delicious Audio says the chip produces "smooth warm modulation to nauseating detune sounds," so the range runs from subtle thickening to seasick detune1.
A delay control sets the center delay time that the LFO modulates around, which lets you push the effect toward flanger-like or vibrato-like territory rather than staying in one fixed chorus window1.
Controls and modes
The pedal has two footswitches and two operating modes1.
| Control or switch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bypass switch (leftmost) | On/off for the effect3 |
| Tap tempo (right footswitch) | Sets the rate of the LFO; in Live Mode, tap by stomping repeatedly12 |
| Delay control | Sets the center delay time the LFO modulates around1 |
| Preset footswitch (hold) | Enters Preset Mode after a few seconds1 |
- Live Mode: the pedal behaves like any analog pedal, with the knobs responding to whatever position you set, plus tap tempo on the right footswitch1.
- Preset Mode: entered by holding the Preset footswitch for a few seconds. You can store and recall six editable presets, each associated with a different LED color. In this mode the knobs are bypassed1. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted the lower LED changes color according to preset, with color-coded settings in blue, green, red, yellow and white3.
MkII versus the original Alchemy
The MkII is a revision of VS Audio's earlier Alchemy (MkI), not a whole new circuit. The changes are1:
- Tap tempo, which the MkI lacked
- A new, smoother LFO shape
- A slightly longer delay
- A red version of the MkI's blue illustration on the enclosure
Guitar Pedal X compared the two directly in June 2022 and found the MkII's output profile brighter and more pristine than the original. Reviewer Stefan Karlsson wrote that the MkI's comparative frequency profile "seems to be significantly down range," with a more midsy, lower-frequency output and "not the same overall degree of clarity," calling it "a touch off the brightness of classic chorusing sounds"4. Players who want that darker, more vintage-leaning character may still prefer the MkI; the MkII leans cleaner and clearer.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the pedal in September 2022 and was positive about its build: "the updated Alchemy pedal is handsome and sturdy," with solid input and stereo output jacks3. On price, the same reviewer wrote: "At 300 bucks the Alchemy Mk II is pricey"3. Guitar Pedal X listed it at €249 from VS Audio and leading dealers in June 20224.
Delicious Audio added the MkII to its guide to the best stereo chorus pedals in May 20221.
"Each knob is controlled by a small microprocessor while your guitar signal stays 100% analog and never gets digitally processed."
Videos
Vs Audio
Vs Audio
Buddy Blues
Questions
Is the VS Audio Alchemy MkII analog or digital?
The audio path is fully analog. Each knob is controlled by a small microprocessor, but the guitar signal stays 100% analog and is never digitally processed. The modulation comes from a reissued MN3207 bucket-brigade delay chip, the classic BBD design behind vintage chorus units.
Does the VS Audio Alchemy MkII have tap tempo?
Yes. In Live Mode you set the rate of the LFO by stomping repeatedly on the right footswitch, so the chorus speed follows your tempo rather than a knob position. Tap tempo was one of the main additions over the original MkI.
How many presets does the Alchemy MkII store?
Six. In Preset Mode, which you enter by holding down the Preset footswitch for a few seconds, you can store and recall six editable presets, each associated with a different LED color: blue, green, red, yellow or white. In this mode the knobs are bypassed.
Is the VS Audio Alchemy MkII true bypass?
Yes. It uses relay switching, which Premier Guitar describes as true bypass. The leftmost footswitch is the on/off bypass switch for the effect.
What BBD chip does the Alchemy MkII use?
A reissue of the MN3207 bucket-brigade delay chip, the same chip family used in classic analog chorus and flanger designs. Delicious Audio credits it with everything from smooth, warm modulation to nauseating detune sounds.
Sources (4)
- VS Audio Alchemy MkII Stereo Analog Chorus, Delicious Audio, 2022-05-19
- Vs Audio Effects Unveils the Alchemy MKII Chorus, Premier Guitar, 2022-04-11
- VS Audio Alchemy MkII Guitar Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2022-09-22
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-06-20