Singing Analog Synth Tones, Bewitching Filtering, and Captivating Chorus
A true anomaly in the world of guitar effects, the Red Witch Synthotron III sports an utterly idiosyncratic and a highly musical 3-part design comprising a 4-voice analog mono guitar synth, filter section, and lush analog chorus. You can use each of these effects in tandem or independently, thanks to the Synthotron III’s three footswitches and color-coded strips, resulting in an intuitive operation that defies this pedal’s immense power and creative complexity. Here’s the breakdown: The Synthotron III’s first five strips give you access to a 4-voice analog mono guitar synth with excellent tracking (for an analog guitar synth), supplying everything from infinite-sustain pads to funky staccato synth bass. Next, the blue strip unlocks a versatile envelope/sample-and-hold section perfect for adding texture and movement to your synth tones. Lastly, the Mix strip delivers a lush analog bucket brigade chorus based on the Red Witch Empress Deus. Alone, these effects are impressive; together, they form a veritable instrument unto itself, making the Synthtron III one of the most exciting, musical, and utterly distinctive pedals Sweetwater guitarists have added to their pedalboards.
Related Videos: Synthotron III Analog Guitar Synth, Filter, and Chorus Pedal
Intuitive color-coded strips
As a full-fledged 4-voice analog monosynth, the Synthotron III is packed to the brim with knobs, switches, and parameters to tinker with. If it all appears rather intimidating at first glance, have no fear — the Synthotron III is divided into easy-to-understand color-coded segments to ensure a surprisingly straightforward workflow.
Masterfully designed 4-voice analog monosynth
First up, the Synthotron III’s 4-voice analog monosynth section comprises the pedal’s first five colored strips, with the first green-colored strip providing global synthesizer functions like Gain, Flux (glissando), and Dry mix. Each of the four subsequent strips shapes one of the Synthotron III’s four analog voices, with each voice featuring a trio of pitch settings to choose from based on either your played note or a previous voice’s current pitch setting:
- Pitch 1 (Yellow): Unison, one octave up, or two octaves up from your played note.
- 8ve (Orange): One octave below, two octaves below, or three octaves below Pitch 1’s current note.
- Pitch 2 (Red): One octave below, a perfect fourth/perfect fifth below, or a major second/minor sixth below Pitch 1’s current note.
- 8ve (Dark Red): One octave below, two octaves below, or three octaves below Pitch 2’s current note.
These voices can be used independently or combined to create everything from fat staccato synth bass lines to complex chordal pads. Moreover, given each voice features dedicated Decay controls, you can easily fine-tune each voice for drastically different sonic functions. For example, you can set the higher-pitched voices for a short and pillowy decay, while dialing in the lowest note for infinite sustain to create ethereal and textured chord tones. With so many possibilities available, the Synthotron III is a prime example of a pedal that infinitely rewards experimentation.
Funky filtering and a superb sample/hold section
Looking to add a touch of movement and life to your synthesizer tones? The Synthotron III’s sixth strip unlocks a multipurpose Filter section. The Filter section is a 2-part tool encompassing funky envelope filtering and rhythmic sample-and-hold sounds depending on your chosen setting. Moreover, you can even connect an external expression pedal to dictate the sample/hold section’s frequency sweep or the Filter’s LFO speed, resulting in supercharged tones that sound like a wah-wah pedal catapulted into the deepest depths of sonic space.
Authentic bucket brigade analog chorus
The Synthotron III’s final section is simply a straight-ahead analog chorus based on Red Witch’s own Empress Deus chorus pedal. This chorus comes straight from the analog tradition, boasting an NOS MN3007 bucket brigade chip that delivers two distinct chorus voices to swap between. From a lush, warm, and watery chorus inspired by the world’s first mass-produced chorus pedal to a more modern chorus with a crisp, bright sparkle, the Synthotron III’s analog chorus section imparts incredible depth to both your synth tones and dry sounds.
Red Witch Synthotron III Analog Guitar Synth, Filter, and Chorus Pedal Features:
- Incredibly idiosyncratic 100% analog 3-part guitar synth, filter, and analog chorus pedal
- All 3 effects can be activated independently or in tandem using the 3 footswitches
- Effects arranged into intuitive color-coded strips for an intuitive workflow
- First 5 strips (Master and Channels 1–4) unlock a full-fledged 4-voice analog mono guitar synth with incredibly accurate tracking and unlimited sonic possibilities
- Each voice can be utilized on its own or combined with the other voices to cover everything from fat synth bass tones to rich infinite-sustaining pads
- Dual-purpose Filter section offers both a funky envelope filter and rhythmic sample-and-hold sounds
- Connect an expression pedal for manual control over the sample-and-hold function’s frequency sweep or the Filter function’s LFO speed
- Chorus section is inspired by the Red Witch Empress Deus chorus, sporting an all-analog bucket brigade design based on the MN3007 chip
- 2 voices available in the chorus section, including a rich, warm tone based on the first mass-produced chorus pedal and a brighter, more modern chorus sound
- Extensive I/O, including a Dry Out, external trigger in, external CV in, and plenty of expression pedal functions
- True bypass design keeps your tone uncolored when the pedal is turned off
