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Alesis Ampliton
reviewer: Oliver Rudd (04/21/2005)
I picked up a Stage 73 Rhodes a few weeks back and knew I needed a stereo tremelo pedal to emulate the suitcase effect (a friend had gutted the pan from a derelict suitcase and rack-mounted it for gigging - sounds sweet!).
From the Digital Village web-site I saw some clearance Alesis ModFX boxes going for £19.99. After buying a Phlangr (pretty good), I also picked up an Ampliton for £14.99. This thing is BEAUTIFUL for Rhodes! It's a 2-stage stereo (in and out) tremelo / autopan, with seperate Depth and Rate controls for each effect, and variable waveform controls - ie. either effect can have a triangle waveform (like most valve amps), square (like the suitcase effect), triggered (like an envelope follower - when a peak hits the sensor it throws the rate up to a high value before gradually slowing it back down to the original setting - sounds kind of Leslie-ish), and for just the autopan, random or pattern (a 16-step repeating phrase with randomly produced stepped or gliding pan). All of the above can also be set to tempo-sync, and a button is located on top of the module to manually tap in a rhythm. Once set, the rate knobs then control different multiples of the tempo, so the trem could be set to 16ths, whilst the pan is set to 8ths or quarters - brilliant! If a straightforward rhythm is being played into the Ampliton, it can even "follow" variations in the tempo, to + or - 15%, allowing for those of us without metronomic timekeeping skills!
This all sounds quite advanced, but with only 4 knobs, 2 rocker switches (for waveform selecting) and 2 buttons (bypass and tap-tempo), it only takes minutes to adjust to, and you'll have fantastic creative swells and stereo movement to your sound.
The audio quality is great (24-bit/48kHz digital processing), and the range of the rate controls allows for some ring-modulated tones to be generated when you really push it. The bypass button WON'T stand up to being stepped on, but the unit has obviously been designed as a desktop unit (there is an analogue input trim pot on the back and a signal level LED on the front to monitor the signal entering the pedal), and they've even included an external pedal input socket (for a momentary switch like a sustain pedal), if you did need to foot-switch it.
All-in-all, I can't believe I paid so little for such an advanced pedal, but even at full price I'd recommend this to Rhodes users for its flexibility and quality.
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