In testing, a couple of really
cool effects came about
through some modifications
of the recommended
“Plastik Bass” settings.
Ordinarily, the Plastik
Bass adds a bit of synthlike low-end to the signal.
Depending on the level of
the Blend knob, the bass
effect’s volume relative
to the main signal can
be altered. By switching
the toggle from Detune
to Transpose, the Raster
starts to produce a funny,
shimmering, pitched-up trail
that followed each note.
At times, this shimmering
trail reminded this writer
of a video game. Switching
the toggle to Phase Shifter
lends the signal a comical
burble that rested just
beneath the main signal.
It sounds familiar, because
it turns out to be roughly
the same burbling sound
that accompanies the main
chord-playing instrument in
Animal Collective’s “Bluish,”
from Merriweather Post
Pavilion.
The Raster’s merits
outweigh its one slight
drawback: a lack of
precision control for the
pitch shift. A good set of
ears will help the user get
the pedal to transpose or
detune the repeated tones
to just the right pitch: down
a major second, or a minor
third, for example. This
writer hopes that the future
might hold a more precise,
in-pedal means of getting
just the right transposition
or detuning.
WHAT WE LIKE
Really cool, unusual pitch
shifting of the delayed
signal. Various feedback
and pitch shifting options
CONCERNS
The Raster would be even
better if it featured a way
to select specific pitch
transpositions.
The Raster might, like the
Red Panda itself, not be
as well-known as it could
and should be. Red Panda
(the company) has, in the
Raster, a truly fun and
intriguing delay pedal. Its
pitch-shift and feedback
options enliven what might
otherwise be just another
delay pedal. It’s to Red
Panda’s credit that
its design team
opted for a
more inspiring
and unusual
set of control
options than other
companies might
have chosen.
ToneReport.com
53