Subdecay Noise Box Mini-Review w/Samples

Controls:

Chaos: Attack Control/Sense Breakdown
Level: Volume
Voice: Filters upper freq/frequency output selector
Frequency: Resting point of freq generator
Sense: Controls how much of effect input is used to drive freq generator above the resting point

Notes:

Unique little box here, I have to hand it to Brian at Subdecay for thinking outside the box and providing something a little different. This is not a box for a traditionalist, rather someone who wants to explore a land of synthy, fuzzy, tone generated madness. The only thing close I've tried is the Prunes & Custard. I find this pedal to be signifcantly more musical and interesting (less quaky).

Construction is top notch and just screams quality. I'll throw a jab and say I hate when power is on the side, but I understand that layout issues in a small box can be restricting. Also the first pedal I've ordered in awhile that didn't come with a battery. Throw me a bone here!

The box seems to respond VERY differently depending on the bass, tone, and input level. To explore this, samples one and two feature the same settings with the same bass where the bass is set at different volume levels. Sample seven is a different riff recorded with the Dingwall, and sample eight is that same riff recorded on my active Fender Urge 1.

I didn't mess with the Chaos knob for the samples, I picked something pretty safe

Sample three shows what happens when you change the frequency, I found that I preferred it low(7) when playing on the bass. This is a pedal that isn't going to cough up all of its secrets in a day or two, and I'd be a liar to claim otherwise.

My feelings right now are that the Noise Box is a high quality, flexible, wild, and unique pedal. I'm a gear churn machine, so time will tell if it 'sticks'. But its not like another similar pedal is going to come along knock it out.

Link Removed
Link RemovedLink Removed
Link Removed

Numbers are: Chaos, Level, Voice, Frequency, Sense (in O'clocks)
[Link Removed] Dingwall 3/4 Vol. 12 10 7 7 12
[Link Removed] Dingwall Full Vol. 12 10 7 7 12
[Link Removed] 12 10 7 12 12
[Link Removed] 12 10 5 7 12
[Link Removed] 12 10 12 7 12
[Link Removed] 12 10 12 7 7
[Link Removed] 12 10 7 7 12
[Link Removed] Fender Urge Full Vol. 12 10 7 7 12
[Link Removed] Dingwall, Looper, Delay Ringmod Added. Main Bass Riff is just Noise Box

TaySte_2000 said:

Excellent, I am very surprised I didn't expect it to sound so well usable. I use to have the P&C and really liked it, didn't quite cut through in my heavy mix though but this sounds much better still thick but also with alot more bite and a hella lot of tones inbetween.

Click to expand...

The noise box has the blue led installed for extra tone.

SpankyPants said:

It's already there. Between Tayste and grygrx, the GAS list keeps growing.

Click to expand...

What's funny is that this is the second item I've purchased because of it being added to the Spanky GAS list. The first being the 3xfx Fatman. Some quality stuff

jetpackbassist said:

hey grygrx! what are your thoughts one month after?

Click to expand...

It's an intriguing little box. It's not on my band board, as it's a little too uniquely voiced for my current gig. That's my big concern with it actually.... while it is capable of some different sounds it would involve some serious knob twiddling (something I'm not willing to do except in the privacy of my office/music room).

I worry (and I had similar worries about the Woolly Mammoth) that when I turn it on, everyone goes 'Ahh there is that noise box again'.

While I like the sounds I can get out of it, it's not a sound I would want to be defined by, so it turns into a 'single song' effect, which is something I'm trying to avoid on my board.

That said, I'm not planning on turning it over at this time. We will see what the future brings