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Welcome to your new EarthQuaker Devices
Contrary to what's written on the faceplate of certain famous deluxe amplifiers, Vibrato is a
form of frequency (or wavelength) modulation which we hear as a variation in pitch. It is often
confused with Tremolo, which among other things, is a type of amplitude modulation our ears
hear as a change in volume.
Aqueduct uses a short delay line with eight different modulation modes to deliver gentle rolling
pitch-wobbles, steady kosmiche pulsations, rapid trills, slimy sonic squiggles, whammy bar
wiggles, and anything else your pitch-warped brain can picture in your murky mind's eye.
The controls are simple. Rate (1) adjusts the LFO speed which controls how quickly the pitch
rises and falls. Depth (2) controls the LFO amplitude, adjusting the intensity of the vibrato effect.
The rotary switch labeled Mode (3) selects between one of eight LFO waveshape and envelope
combinations which drastically alter the character of the modulation and make Aqueduct
adaptable to nearly any musical situation.
This is the portion of the manual where we list Aqueduct's eight modes in order from "not that
weird" to "wow, that's weird." Here we go:
• Sine: The smoothest and most subtle of all waveforms, sine waves are most commonly
associated with classic amp-like vibrato. Plug in, turn on, and commence the Chooglin'.
• Triangle: Triangle waves have a sharper rise and fall than sine waves with a more pronounced
pitch bend at the peak of each LFO cycle.
• Ramp: Like a triangle wave with a twist. The Ramp waveform has a sharp sonar pulse
followed by a rapid downward slope with a synthesizer-like sustain and release. This is where
things start to get a little weird.
• Square: Square waves are the most rigid and abrupt of the waveforms. Rather than gliding
smoothly between pitches, square waves produce an instant on-or-off transition between
notes. Use this mode for trills when you get tired of doing hammer-ons and pull-offs.
• Random: This waveform isn't a waveform at all as much as it's a drunken master of
modulation who slurs your notes into an unpredictable assortment of greasy pitch-bends
before disappearing at last call and leaving you stuck with the tab. It has a "warped record"
effect at low Depth settings and becomes sloppier and more randomized as you increase the
Depth control.
• Env D: This is Envelope-Controlled Depth mode. The waveshape is set to a sine wave, the
speed of which may be adjusted using the Rate control. The Depth control sets the sensitivity
of the envelope - the point at which the effect kicks in as you play. In this mode, your pick
attack sets the intensity of the modulation. The harder you dig in, the more pronounced the
effect. Try it during your next motorik jam.
• Env R: This is Envelope-Controlled Rate mode. In this mode, the input level (i.e. pick attack)
controls the LFO rate. The LFO uses a sine waveshape. Play harder for faster modulation or
lay low for slower modulation speeds. The Rate control adjusts the sensitivity of the envelope.
Depth selects the LFO intensity.
• Env P: This is Envelope-Controlled Pitch mode, which we've lovingly nicknamed "The My Bloody
Valentine setting." If your instrument doesn't have a tremolo bar, it does now. In this mode, the
LFO is set to a sine waveshape, and frequency modulation is controlled by the dynamics of your
pick attack and not the LFO. Do yourself a favor and try this one with Flexi-Switching
• Depth sets the wet/dry mix. This is the only mode that contains a wet/dry mix and may be
set to taste to create touch-sensitive dynamic vibrato, chorus, flanger, or tactile pitch drops.
Full counterclockwise is all dry, full clockwise is all wet. With this control set to noon you will
get a 50/50 mix with a small amount of phase cancellation.
• Rate sets the sensitivity and overall range of the pitch bend.
Aqueduct
Vibrato!
®
™
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™
"Haunting Ramp" at a High Rate
<<< Controls >>>
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3
2
<<< Suggested Settings >>>
Smooth Sine Wave Modulation
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