Electro-Harmonix (EHX) has officially announced the release of the PICO Swello, a new compact pedal that isolates the popular polyphonic attack filter from the highly-regarded POG2 pedal. This new device packs a powerful punch, offering guitarists the ability to create expressive swells, flowing ambient textures, and unique synth-like sounds.
New EHX Pedal Offers Dynamic Swells and Filter Sweeps in a Small Footprint
The core of the PICO Swello is its polyphonic attack envelope. Unlike traditional swell effects, this pedal applies a separate attack envelope to each individual note, even within complex chords. This advanced feature ensures that every note in your playing, whether a single line or a full chord, gets a smooth, musical swell.
This makes it an incredibly versatile tool for various musical styles, from creating gentle, ambient soundscapes to adding a subtle, elegant touch to fast arpeggios.
Key Features and Controls
The PICO Swello comes in a compact Pico chassis, making it a perfect fit for any pedalboard. Its simple four-knob layout makes it easy to dial in a wide range of tones.
- ATTACK: This is the main control for the swell effect. Adjusting this knob changes the attack time from a quick, subtle fade-in to a long, dramatic swell.
- VOL: Controls the overall output volume. This is particularly useful for compensating for the perceived volume loss that can occur with longer attack times.
- FILTER: This button engages the built-in low-pass filter (LPF) and allows you to select between high and low resonance settings, adding another layer of sonic sculpting.
- FREQ: This knob sets the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter, defining the tonal range of the filter effect.
- MOD: This knob controls the depth and direction of the LPF envelope, creating expressive filter sweeps that can move upward or downward.
The filter’s modulation is intelligently tied to the ATTACK knob, allowing for a seamless integration of swells and filter sweeps. Combining these two effects opens up a new world of musicality and expressive possibilities.
The PICO Swello features a digital circuit with buffered bypass and is powered by the included 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter.
Price & Availability
The PICO Swello is available now at authorized EHX retailers. Priced $149.50/£151.99/€135
Available at Andertons
Available at Sweetwater
Available at Thomann
More Information
#EHX #Electro-Harmonix
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