a limited edition extreme delay: meet the dystopia
The Anasounds Dystopia is not just another delay. It is a stompbox that you will not find elsewhere, an extreme version of this historic effects that is aimed at a very special brand of guitarists, musicians that are not afraid to explore.
Whether you’re into shoegaze, indie rock, alternative, avant-garde music, noise or simply rockabilly, you’ve probably already noticed that most delays on the market today don’t push their wild and experimental side too far. When it happens to be the case, either they’re too complex to set up, or they don’t sound too good when used as “regular” delays. The new Anasounds Dystopia has all those skills – and more.
But it’s not for everyone. Most musicians will find their favorite delay with the Utopia Deluxe, and that is why the Dystopia is a limited edition, available for pre-order at 349 euros for two weeks only, from December the 1st to the 17th. The first 250 pedals will be delivered on time for the holiday season (we are building them as you’re reading this!), and the following batch will be delivered early 2024.
they tried it and are talking about it
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a limited edition extreme delay: meet the dystopia
The Anasounds Dystopia is not just another delay. It is a stompbox that you will not find elsewhere, an extreme version of this historic effects that is aimed at a very special brand of guitarists, musicians that are not afraid to explore, whether you’re into shoegaze, indie rock, alternative, avant-garde music, noise or simply rockabilly. But it’s not for everyone. Most musicians will find their favorite delay with the Utopia Deluxe, and that is why the Dystopia is a limited edition, available for pre-order at 349 euros for two weeks only, from December the 1st to the 17th.
discover it in video
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a collection of inspiring modulations
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Some delay pedals include a modulation effect, and when it’s adjustable you will probably encounter a depth and a speed setting. That will result in two issues: firstly, it takes a lot of time and know-how to be able to set up those knobs in a musical way, and secondly, possibilities remain very limited if you don’t have control over the modulation type.
On the Anasounds Dystopia, we have created very usable presets for each of the four types of modulations included, but you won’t have to navigate through menus and screens to get to them. A simple knob is all you need to travel through inspiring sonic textures without ever having to reach for the manual.
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tape
vibrato
lofi
ring modulator
This first type of modulation emulates the lively sound of a tape echo. You will find throughout the first quarter of the knob’s course, and as you turn the depth up, the speed decreases. This allows you to easily go from a light wobble to a more striking effect.
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The second type of modulation is a vibrato, i.e. a chorus without the original sound, a pitch variation that fully affects the repeat. Between the quarter and the half part of the Pain knob, the depth remains the same but the speed increases, to the point of sounding very seasick.
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The lo-fi modulation is a random pitch-shifter that emulates the variations in pitch of a well-used tape echo that needs some serious maintenance. Between half and three quarters of the Pain knob, the speed increases but the depth remains preset.
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What happens when you set a vibrato or a tremolo to its maximum speed? You get into ring modulator territory, that crazy effect that makes your repeats sound like they’ve been mangled by a robot. The speed remains the same and the depth increases between three quarters and the maximum position of the Pain knob.
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the built-in sequencer
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The many options of the Anasounds Dystopia don’t stop with that wealth of modulations, since it also includes a full-blown sequencer worthy of a synth. This is something you won’t find on any other delay pedal.
The Pain knob allows you to set up two, three or four steps to your sequencer while adjusting the gliding effects between those steps. A different delay time for every repeat creates chaotic and very enjoyable pitch-shifting effects. You may even keep your three sequences memorized.
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two step
sequencer
four step
sequencer
The repetitiveness of the two step sequencer allows for an element of predictability that eventually becomes hypnotic as the loop keeps playing. Your guitar becomes a tool for transe just like a synth in the context of electronic music. For those who are only getting started in the world of sequencers, this is a great way of getting started.
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The four step sequencer takes full advantage of the impressive wealth of possibilities offered by the Dystopia and allows you to create a chaotic effect that feels like a glitchy machine. Creators of soundscapes can’t get enough of those elements that really add a lot to an ambiance.
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tap tempo
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Have you ever wondered why there are so few PT2399 delays that feature a tap tempo? The answer is very simple: it is a terrible pain in the neck to set up, but after a few years of intense research we did manage to find a way that gives us an unprecedented precision level of more than 99%.
Tap tempo has been assigned to the second footswitch, but you can also choose among three subdivisions – including the infamous dotted eighth – with a switch. Keep the tap tempo footswitch pressed, and the feedback will increase until the delay goes into self-oscillation, up to the point determined by an internal trimpot (set to the max by default of course).
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rude preamp
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Contrary to the nice preamp on the Utopia Deluxe, the built-in preamp from the Anasounds Dystopia is just like the rest of the pedal, and its clipping can go from a mild overdrive to some serious crunch, and the signal damage is made even more obvious by placing the preamp after the repeats. Its circuit is a mixture between the Electra distortion and a tape echo preamp for a musical but uncompromising result.
The Preamp knob adjusts both the gain and the volume of the preamp, and it lights up when the preamp is active. A three-way switch controls the way it works: it can be active all the time, always off or switched on when you turn the delay on to complete it perfectly.
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no preamp
tape echo style
dystopia
Turning off the built-in preamp of the Anasounds Dystopia allows you to enjoy the nice analog-voiced sound of the PT2399 circuit. This is a sound that gets very close to vintage tape echoes, without the slight boost from the preamps that were built into those machines.
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Modern versions of some tape echoes have inspired us while working on the Dystopia, which sent us on a hunt for the light crunch that their preamp produces when it’s not fully turned up. It makes the delay even more lively and reactive.
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This setting takes full advantage of the noisy abilities of the Dystopia by cranking up the built-in preamp. This produces a clipping not unlike the Earthquaker Devices Speaker Cranker, and this is the kind of setting that will produce the weirdest and most extreme sounds when combined with the sequencer.
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low end dystopia
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Just like any great delay, the Anasounds Dystopia can also work wonders on the bass if you should want to get into the more progressive aspect of that instrument. The sequencer used with a bass with a hint of Dystopia preamp overdrive sounds absolutely glorious on a 15-inch speaker.
Of course, it will also work perfectly with any other instrument that needs amplifying though a versatile quality delay, from mandolin to modular synth. If the repeats get too dark or too bright for your taste, the Tone knob is here for you.
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modulations
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Some delay pedals include a modulation effect, and when it’s adjustable you will probably encounter a depth and a speed setting. That will result in two issues: firstly, it takes a lot of time and know-how to be able to set up those knobs in a musical way, and secondly, possibilities remain very limited if you don’t have control over the modulation type. On the Anasounds Dystopia, we have created very usable presets for each of the four types of modulations included, but you won’t have to navigate through menus and screens to get to them. A simple knob is all you need to travel through inspiring sonic textures without ever having to reach for the manual.
EnregistrerEnregistrer
the built-in sequencer
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The many options of the Anasounds Dystopia don’t stop with that wealth of modulations, since it also includes a full-blown sequencer worthy of a synth. This is something you won’t find on any other delay pedal. The Pain knob allows you to set up two, three or four steps to your sequencer while adjusting the gliding effects between those steps. A different delay time for every repeat creates chaotic and very enjoyable pitch-shifting effects. You may even keep your three sequences memorized.
EnregistrerEnregistrer
tap tempo
EnregistrerEnregistrer
Have you ever wondered why there are so few PT2399 delays that feature a tap tempo? The answer is very simple: it is a terrible pain in the neck to set up, but after a few years of intense research we did manage to find a way that gives us an unprecedented precision level of more than 99%. Tap tempo has been assigned to the second footswitch, but you can also choose among three subdivisions – including the infamous dotted eighth – with a switch. Keep the tap tempo footswitch pressed, and the feedback will increase until the delay goes into self-oscillation, up to the point determined by an internal trimpot (set to the max by default of course).
EnregistrerEnregistrer
rude preamp
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Contrary to the nice preamp on the Utopia Deluxe, the built-in preamp from the Anasounds Dystopia is just like the rest of the pedal, and its clipping can go from a mild overdrive to some serious crunch, and the signal damage is made even more obvious by placing the preamp after the repeats. Its circuit is a mixture between the Electra distortion and a tape echo preamp for a musical but uncompromising result. The Preamp knob adjusts both the gain and the volume of the preamp, and it lights up when the preamp is active. A three-way switch controls the way it works: it can be active all the time, always off or switched on when you turn the delay on to complete it perfectly.
EnregistrerEnregistrer
low end dystopia
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Just like any great delay, the Anasounds Dystopia can also work wonders on the bass if you should want to get into the more progressive aspect of that instrument. The sequencer used with a bass with a hint of Dystopia preamp overdrive sounds absolutely glorious on a 15-inch speaker. Of course, it will also work perfectly with any other instrument that needs amplifying though a versatile quality delay, from mandolin to modular synth. If the repeats get too dark or too bright for your taste, the Tone knob is here for you.
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delay à la française
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Like all Anasounds pedals, the Dystopia is built in France by enthusiastic musicians looking for the absolute best quality, down to the bamboo faceplate on the enclosure which is laser-etched in our workshop.
Components have been very carefully selected to fully comply with our demand for great sound and reliability, with the constant goal of offering you the best possible delay.
Disclaimer: The Anasounds and Sandman brands are not associated with or endorsed by the creators or brands of the above mentioned pedals.
Nor are the products used in the design and/or creation of this effect pedal.
delay à la française
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Like all Anasounds pedals, the Dystopia is built in France by enthusiastic musicians looking for the absolute best quality, down to the bamboo faceplate on the enclosure which is laser-etched in our workshop. Components have been very carefully selected to fully comply with our demand for great sound and reliability, with the constant goal of offering you the best possible delay.
EnregistrerEnregistrer
Disclaimer: The Anasounds and Sandman brands are not associated with or endorsed by the creators or brands of the above mentioned pedals.
Nor are the products used in the design and/or creation of this effect pedal.
