need for a pesky special
cable for the stereo in.
Also, the unaffected signal
is analog dry-through for
those that are concerned.
While we’re on about
hardware, it is also worth
mentioning dual clickless
footswitches, AUX in and
out, MIDI input, effects
loop in and out for routing
the effected signal through
other stompers and a
USB out for connecting
with the accompanying
SpecLab software. While
SpecLab offers more finite
sound sculpting, it is also
worth mentioning that the
staggering 32 algorithms
are accessible straight from
the pedal itself and one can
hand-tune them using the
beautiful blue screen on
the face of the unit.
While I could write a novel
or two about the sounds on
board the Specular Tempus,
I’ll primarily stick with what
is new and different from
GFI’s previous offerings.
The reverb algorithms
are categorized by
Classic, Atmospheric and
Hybrid, while the delays
are similarly arranged
in Classic, Esoteric and
Hybrid subsets. The Hybrid
algos combine delay and
reverb together for some
expansive digital, analog
and diffused offerings that
sound impossibly lush and
wide, particularly in stereo.
I couldn’t help cracking
open SpecLab and creating
custom patches straight
away. I started with an
always-on approach by
calling up the “+Echos”
patch, which is a delicious
reverb with modulated
echo tails to garnish. I set
the mod depth, speed
and reverb time modestly
(around 118 milliseconds)
for a chorus-like slapback
with a bit of roomy air
to it, called it “Slap
Space” and saved it to
the pedal. Getting more
experimental, I created
another patch I named
“Swamp Trip” that utilised
amplitude-modulation to
add rhythmic movement
to Henry’s gorgeous
Spatium mother reverb.
Taking things further into
atmospheric territory, I
created one called “Spirits
Sigh” that used the new
Anti-Shimmer as a jumping-
off point for a foreboding
spectral dive. It is like the
last note of a passage gets
damned to drop down to
demonic realms below—a
great alternative to more
traditional octave-down
effects. As one can see,
this is a deep pedal that
rewards the explorer.
WHAT WE LIKE
Top-notch build quality,
completely unique,
true-stereo hand-
crafted algorithms and a
comprehensive feature-set
make the Specular Tempus
stand out from the do-it-all
ambient pack. The sounds
are truly immersive and
special. I must mention
that I received the new GFI
Triple Switch, which opens
the pedal up even further
with three extra switches
that can easily be assigned
to many different functions
using SpecLab.
For a pedal with this much
power, we also get standard
nine-volt DC power input
with an impossibly-low
current consumption of
100 milliamps. Included is
a high-q