The Anasounds Utopia Deluxe is designed as the Dystopia’s angelic twin, with the same traditional settings (MIX, FDB, TIME, TONE) but not the same sound…
Quite simply, it’s for the musician who doesn’t want to sacrifice great tone for lots of features, and vice versa. In other words, it’s a delay with a musical, flattering voicing, but with plenty of exciting features.
The three controls usually found on a delay are the MIX, FBK and TIME knobs.
The MIX knob adjusts the volume of the repeats. At 12 o’clock, the signal is equal between Dry and Wet, beyond which Wet is louder than Dry.
The FBK adjusts the number of repeats, from one repeat to auto-oscillation.
TIME adjusts the repetition time, from 80ms to 1s.
The small TONE potentiometer cuts the bass when turned to the right, and cuts the treble when turned to the left. Set in the middle, the pedal sounds just like the Utopia mkI.
The modulation presets
In addition to the traditional settings, the Utopia Dlx features modulation presets with its BLISS potentiometer.
The first section, TAPE, offers a tape-echo style modulation. At 0, the modulation is deactivated, and as you progress through the TAPE preset, between 0 and 1/3, the DEPTH increases and the RATE decreases.
The second part, CHORUS, is the modulation we’ve all been waiting for without knowing it. When you turn up the Bliss, the RATE will increase while the DEPTH will remain constant, thanks to our algorithm that compensates changes in depth due to the change in speed. To get a chorus effect, we recommend that you set the TIME and FBK controls to minimum, then adjust the Bliss knob between 1/3 and 2/3 to set the chorus rate.
The third part, VIBRATO, is a deeper modulation for a vibrato effect. We advise you to set the TIME and FBK settings to minimum for a vibe effect!
The preamp before the delay
We’ve integrated a preamplifier before the delay on the Utopia Dlx for more “standard” use. In fact, during the pre-production phase, many beta testers
asked for this change, so that the delay would be less intrusive and more of a great tool than an ambient effect that takes precedence over the sound. This placement also means that effect loop users can easily put the delay in the loop and use the preamp as a boost on solos.
The circuit is very close to our Tape Preamp, the difference being that there are no JFETs and only clipping diodes. Volume will be easier to manage thanks to the clipping diodes, which will “smooth” levels that were wilder on the Tape Preamp. Compared to the Dystopia, the clipping of the Utopia Dlx is much gentler, with a fairly high threshold voltage, so less gain. However, pushing the preamp pot can easily cranck the amp!
The preamp is divided into 2 parts: a switch and a potentiometer.
When the switch is set to the left, the preamp is switched off. When the switch is in the middle, the preamp is on, but turns off when the delay is deactivated. And finally, when the switch is on the right, the preamp remains on even when the pedal is deactivated.
Regarding the potentiometer, it simultaneously adjusts the gain and the volume of the preamp which is located before the delay. Just like the Tape Preamp, but with clipping diodes added, and therefore with a more reasonable volume. The potentiometer lights up when the preamp is activated, making it easier to understand.
The tap tempo
The tap tempo lets you set the delay tempo by tapping the foot on the right footswitch. Precision is such that no more than 1% of the difference between tapped and actual time can be detected. For greater precision, feel free to tap at least 3 or 4 times.
The final delay time will depend on the setting chosen on the Subdivisions switch: placed in the middle, the tempo is at quarter note, on the left at eighth note and on the right at dotted eighth note.
By holding down the tap tempo footswitch, you can set the delay to auto-oscillate.
Inside, you’ll find an OSC trimpot which functions as a 2nd FBK pot that will be activated in auto-oscillation mode.
The bypass footswitch
The footswitch on the left is used to switch the delay on and off. In True Bypass mode, the delay is cut off cleanly when deactivated.
In Tails mode, repeats are preserved when the delay is deactivated, for a more smooth cutoff. In this mode, bypass becomes buffered.
N.B.: The pedal is shipped in True Bypass mode. To switch from one mode to the other, simply disconnect the power supply, then press and hold the Bypass footswitch while reconnecting the power supply until the LED flashes 3 times. Then release the Bypass footswitch and test that the Tails mode works as expected.
Clear and precise repetition
By engineering the Dystopia, we found a way to significantly reduce the noise of the PT2399 by creating a kind of “noise gate” by messing with the operation of the chip.
The noise is audible when all the settings are turned up and the volume is turned very, very loud. It’s inherent to the chip’s properties, but in itself it’s not too disturbing,
It’s mainly because we wanted to understand how this chip works in the finest detail. This “noise gate” has a rather disconcerting effect on the repeats: they fade or even disappear, spontaneously, without warning! For the Dystopia, it’s fabulous, part of the charm of aging magnetic tape! For the Utopia Dlx, which is more vintage and playable in many contexts, this feature has been removed. Mind you, this doesn’t mean more noise on the Utopia Dlx in normal use, as this only appears at extreme settings. But it does mean a much more reliable, clear delay, with controllable repeats. This is an important point for us in a delay with all these features, such as Tap Tempo…
Hidden functions
True bypass / tails
In true bypass mode, the delay cuts off automatically when deactivated, whereas in Tails mode, repeats fade progressively.
To switch from one mode to the other: disconnect the power supply from the pedal, then hold down the Bypass footswitch while reconnecting the power supply, until the left LED flashes 3 times. Then release the Bypass footswitch and test that the Tails mode works as expected.
The Kill Dry
Kill Dry mode allows you to deactivate Dry when the delay is activated, ideal for some modulations or sequences, or when you have a dry/wet amp configuration.
To activate Kill Dry mode, disconnect the power supply, then press and hold the right footswitch (tap tempo) while reconnecting the power supply, until the right LED flashes 3 times. Then release the tap tempo footswitch and test that Kill Dry mode works as expected.
Manufacturer’s reset
To reset the pedal, disconnect the power supply, leave the mono jacks connected, then press and hold down both the footswitches while reconnecting the power supply. Wait 5 seconds, then release the footswitches while leaving the power supply connected.
The pedal resets the Tails/True Bypass and Kill Dry modes to factory settings, then recalibrates the delay. The LED on the left starts to flash for about 5-10min, while the calibration is performed. The reset also deletes the 3 sequences created to restore the original sequences. During this process, forget about the pedal and leave it alone to do its job.
Once calibration is complete, you’ll see a fixed LED. Simply disconnect and reconnect the pedal’s power supply. It’ll be functional again, as good as new.
Q&A
Pedal has no sound / doesn’t light up
The Utopia Dlx should only be used with mono jacks, to allow the circuit to be powered. You must also use a negative-centered 9V DC power supply with +150mA, otherwise a protection circuit will cut the power supply to protect the pedal. The quality of the power supply is essential, and we provide more information here.
Switches and trimpots have very little effect on sound
The purpose of switches and trimpots is to fine-tune sound, right down to the smallest detail. The difference can sometimes be subtle and hard to hear by ear. They are adjusted by our team to guarantee the sound of the pedal. We advise you to adjust them only when you’ve studied the pedal thoroughly, so you know what you’re doing.
Enjoy your Utopia Dlx!
Now that you know all about your Utopia Dlx, we hope you’ll put it to good use, and that it’ll fit in perfectly with your pedalboard. Feel free to share your experience of your Utopia Dlx on social networks!
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Utopia Dlx – User manual
The Utopia Dlx, the Dystopia’s evil twin
The Anasounds Utopia Deluxe is designed as the Dystopia’s angelic twin, with the same traditional settings (MIX, FDB, TIME, TONE) but not the same sound… Quite simply, it’s for the musician who doesn’t want to sacrifice great tone for lots of features, and vice versa. In other words, it’s a delay with a musical, flattering voicing, but with plenty of exciting features.
How to power your Utopia Dlx
To power your Utopia Dlx, you need to be careful to use mono jacks to connect the pedal. You must also use a negative-center 9VDC power supply rated at +150mA. This power supply must be of high quality, isolated and filtered for optimum performance. Read this article for more information.Référez-vous à cet article pour plus d’informations à ce sujet.
The external controls
The standard settings of a delay pedal
The three controls usually found on a delay are the MIX, FBK and TIME knobs. The MIX knob adjusts the volume of the repeats. At 12 o’clock, the signal is equal between Dry and Wet, beyond which Wet is louder than Dry. The FBK adjusts the number of repeats, from one repeat to auto-oscillation. TIME adjusts the repetition time, from 80ms to 1s.
The small TONE potentiometer cuts the bass when turned to the right, and cuts the treble when turned to the left. Set in the middle, the pedal sounds just like the Utopia mkI.
The modulation presets
In addition to the traditional settings, the Utopia Dlx features modulation presets with its BLISS potentiometer. The first section, TAPE, offers a tape-echo style modulation. At 0, the modulation is deactivated, and as you progress through the TAPE preset, between 0 and 1/3, the DEPTH increases and the RATE decreases. The second part, CHORUS, is the modulation we’ve all been waiting for without knowing it. When you turn up the Bliss, the RATE will increase while the DEPTH will remain constant, thanks to our algorithm that compensates changes in depth due to the change in speed. To get a chorus effect, we recommend that you set the TIME and FBK controls to minimum, then adjust the Bliss knob between 1/3 and 2/3 to set the chorus rate. The third part, VIBRATO, is a deeper modulation for a vibrato effect. We advise you to set the TIME and FBK settings to minimum for a vibe effect!
The preamp before the delay
We’ve integrated a preamplifier before the delay on the Utopia Dlx for more “standard” use. In fact, during the pre-production phase, many beta testers asked for this change, so that the delay would be less intrusive and more of a great tool than an ambient effect that takes precedence over the sound. This placement also means that effect loop users can easily put the delay in the loop and use the preamp as a boost on solos.
The circuit is very close to our Tape Preamp, the difference being that there are no JFETs and only clipping diodes. Volume will be easier to manage thanks to the clipping diodes, which will “smooth” levels that were wilder on the Tape Preamp. Compared to the Dystopia, the clipping of the Utopia Dlx is much gentler, with a fairly high threshold voltage, so less gain. However, pushing the preamp pot can easily cranck the amp!
The preamp is divided into 2 parts: a switch and a potentiometer. When the switch is set to the left, the preamp is switched off. When the switch is in the middle, the preamp is on, but turns off when the delay is deactivated. And finally, when the switch is on the right, the preamp remains on even when the pedal is deactivated.
Regarding the potentiometer, it simultaneously adjusts the gain and the volume of the preamp which is located before the delay. Just like the Tape Preamp, but with clipping diodes added, and therefore with a more reasonable volume. The potentiometer lights up when the preamp is activated, making it easier to understand.
The tap tempo
The tap tempo lets you set the delay tempo by tapping the foot on the right footswitch. Precision is such that no more than 1% of the difference between tapped and actual time can be detected. For greater precision, feel free to tap at least 3 or 4 times. The final delay time will depend on the setting chosen on the Subdivisions switch: placed in the middle, the tempo is at quarter note, on the left at eighth note and on the right at dotted eighth note.
By holding down the tap tempo footswitch, you can set the delay to auto-oscillate. Inside, you’ll find an OSC trimpot which functions as a 2nd FBK pot that will be activated in auto-oscillation mode.
The bypass footswitch
The footswitch on the left is used to switch the delay on and off. In True Bypass mode, the delay is cut off cleanly when deactivated. In Tails mode, repeats are preserved when the delay is deactivated, for a more smooth cutoff. In this mode, bypass becomes buffered.
N.B.: The pedal is shipped in True Bypass mode. To switch from one mode to the other, simply disconnect the power supply, then press and hold the Bypass footswitch while reconnecting the power supply until the LED flashes 3 times. Then release the Bypass footswitch and test that the Tails mode works as expected.
Clear and precise repetition
By engineering the Dystopia, we found a way to significantly reduce the noise of the PT2399 by creating a kind of “noise gate” by messing with the operation of the chip.
The noise is audible when all the settings are turned up and the volume is turned very, very loud. It’s inherent to the chip’s properties, but in itself it’s not too disturbing, It’s mainly because we wanted to understand how this chip works in the finest detail. This “noise gate” has a rather disconcerting effect on the repeats: they fade or even disappear, spontaneously, without warning! For the Dystopia, it’s fabulous, part of the charm of aging magnetic tape! For the Utopia Dlx, which is more vintage and playable in many contexts, this feature has been removed. Mind you, this doesn’t mean more noise on the Utopia Dlx in normal use, as this only appears at extreme settings. But it does mean a much more reliable, clear delay, with controllable repeats. This is an important point for us in a delay with all these features, such as Tap Tempo…
Hidden functions
True bypass / tails
In true bypass mode, the delay cuts off automatically when deactivated, whereas in Tails mode, repeats fade progressively. To switch from one mode to the other: disconnect the power supply from the pedal, then hold down the Bypass footswitch while reconnecting the power supply, until the left LED flashes 3 times. Then release the Bypass footswitch and test that the Tails mode works as expected.
The Kill Dry
Kill Dry mode allows you to deactivate Dry when the delay is activated, ideal for some modulations or sequences, or when you have a dry/wet amp configuration. To activate Kill Dry mode, disconnect the power supply, then press and hold the right footswitch (tap tempo) while reconnecting the power supply, until the right LED flashes 3 times. Then release the tap tempo footswitch and test that Kill Dry mode works as expected.
Manufacturer’s reset
To reset the pedal, disconnect the power supply, leave the mono jacks connected, then press and hold down both the footswitches while reconnecting the power supply. Wait 5 seconds, then release the footswitches while leaving the power supply connected. The pedal resets the Tails/True Bypass and Kill Dry modes to factory settings, then recalibrates the delay. The LED on the left starts to flash for about 5-10min, while the calibration is performed. The reset also deletes the 3 sequences created to restore the original sequences. During this process, forget about the pedal and leave it alone to do its job. Once calibration is complete, you’ll see a fixed LED. Simply disconnect and reconnect the pedal’s power supply. It’ll be functional again, as good as new.
Q&A
Pedal has no sound / doesn’t light up
The Utopia Dlx should only be used with mono jacks, to allow the circuit to be powered. You must also use a negative-centered 9V DC power supply with +150mA, otherwise a protection circuit will cut the power supply to protect the pedal. The quality of the power supply is essential, and we provide more information here.
Switches and trimpots have very little effect on sound
The purpose of switches and trimpots is to fine-tune sound, right down to the smallest detail. The difference can sometimes be subtle and hard to hear by ear. They are adjusted by our team to guarantee the sound of the pedal. We advise you to adjust them only when you’ve studied the pedal thoroughly, so you know what you’re doing.
Enjoy your Utopia Dlx!
Now that you know all about your Utopia Dlx, we hope you’ll put it to good use, and that it’ll fit in perfectly with your pedalboard. Feel free to share your experience of your Utopia Dlx on social networks!