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EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) HalfLife Pedal Distortion and Octave
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The new EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Half-Life takes the deliciously heavy, RAT-influenced tones of the original Sunn O))) Life and packs them into a far more pedalboard-friendly standard enclosure. The biggest change is the move from a dedicated octave footswitch to an octave blend control, with fully counterclockwise turning the octave off. We’re totally fine with that trade-off: the monophonic upper-octave effect is likely an occasional weapon for most players, and the original Life pedal’s larger footprint may have been a deal breaker for some.
The Half-Life keeps all the crunch and grind of the original, along with the Magnitude boost switch and excellent filter control. Its three-position clipping switch offers a no-clipping op-amp setting, an asymmetrical clipping mode for a more detailed sparkly grind, and a traditional clipping mode that’s smoother and more compressed.
Despite the somewhat cryptic graphics and its association with doom-metal legends Sunn O))), the EarthQuaker Half-Life is at its core, a fully featured and excellent-sounding distortion pedal with tricks that push it well beyond the typical RAT-style clone. With its more compact footprint, the Half-Life is bound to win over a whole new legion of fans.
In the words of Earthquaker:
Sunn O))) and EarthQuaker Devices are pleased to bring you the most compact, pedalboard-friendly version of the Life Pedal distortion circuit to date—the Sunn O))) HalfLife Octave Distortion + Booster. The HalfLife may be half the size of its ancestors, but it’s just as heavy.
HalfLife is a distortion with a blendable analog octave up and a booster combined in one compact package. The “Amplitude” side is faithfully modeled after the classic “White Face” distortion unit. The only modifications made to the original circuit are in the clipping section. The traditional circuit uses a single pair of silicon diodes for a tight, compressed crunch.
HalfLife introduces two additional clipping options to better adapt to different rigs. The first position is no diodes to allow for full, grinding Op Amp assault at maximum volume. The second position utilizes two silicon diodes and one LED in an asymmetrical clipping configuration. This delivers a slightly compressed and smooth crunch, similar to a valve amplifier. The last position is the stock double silicon diode configuration which provides that classic tone you know and love.
The Octave in HalfLife is an all-discrete analog full-wave rectifier circuit. Located at the input of the circuit, the Octave control slowly blends in the octave effects as you turn it clockwise. This feature can also be used via expression control allowing for wild, hands-free octave swells mid-riff. Because this is an analog octave effect, it is monophonic and works best playing single notes above the twelfth fret while using the neck pickup.
Playing chords with the analog octave will sound clanging and chaotic. Using the bridge pickup and playing below the twelfth fret will produce a very subtle octave effect. Going full Octave transforms HalfLife from a simple distortion device into a swelling, raging fuzz similar to the classic Super Fuzz!
The signal path goes Octave>Distortion>Boost. The octave distortion and booster can be used independently with their own respective footswitches. The right footswitch is the octave distortion, and the left footswitch is the booster.
Chasms are cleared, mountains sheared, glaciers calved, novæ birthed. Vintage valve amplifiers recommended. We hope you transcend.
Designed and manufactured by EarthQuaker Devices in the dark corridors of Akron, Ohio.
Controls:
- Octave: This blends in the analog octave as you turn it clockwise.
- Distortion: Turn clockwise for more distortion, counterclockwise for less. This provides about +60dB of gain.
- Filter: This is a low pass filter with a frequency response from around 500 Hz to 30 kHz. Turn counterclockwise for more high end, clockwise for less.
- Amplitude: Output volume for the octave distortion side. Clockwise for more hearing loss, counterclockwise for a healthy life in old age.
- Clipping Switch:
- OpAmp- No diodes to allow for full, grinding Op Amp assault at maximum volume.
- Asymm- Utilizes two silicon diodes and one LED in an asymmetrical clipping configuration. This delivers a slightly compressed and smooth crunch, similar to a valve amplifier.
- Symm- This is the stock double silicon diode configuration which provides that classic tone you know and love.
- Magnitude: This is the output volume for the booster. Clockwise to blow up your amp, counterclockwise if you’re a baby. Unity is somewhere right around noon on the dial.
- Right Footswitch: Octave Distortion Activator
- Left Footswitch: Boost Activator
- Octave EXP: Connect any expression pedal to this input to control the analog octave blend. Before inserting the expression pedal, make sure the pedal is powered off.
- This device features Flexi-Switch® Technology! This relay-based, true bypass switching style allows you to simultaneously use momentary and latching-style switching.
- For standard latching operation: tap the footswitch once to activate the effect and then tap again to bypass.
- For momentary operation: hold the footswitch down for as long as you’d like to use the effect. Once you release the switch, the effect will be bypassed.
- Since the switching is relay-based, it requires power to pass signal
- 9VDC tip negative power only