SPACEMAN
EFFECTS
VOYAGER I
REVIEW BY DAVID A. EVANS
STREET PRICE Silver $355.00
Black $399.00 | Chrome $449.00
Copper $469.00
Spaceman’s new Voyager
I optical analog tremolo
pedal is, like its namesake
space probe, a work of
love. The effect is spacious
and amenable to a variety
of sonic needs. It can go
from crisp and clean to dirty
thanks to its Level and Gain
controls. It also responds
to playing style: loud
strumming or quiet plucking
will intensify or lessen
the effect’s frequency or
strength. The craftsmanship
shows, but it’s really the
Voyager I’s sound that sets
the pedal in its own galactic
class.
The first thing that strikes
the eye when Spaceman’s
tremolo is hooked up—the
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GEAR REVIEW
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beautiful jewel indicator
light. But the indicator light
is more than decorative; it
also provides a sign for the
tremolo’s frequency rate.
The light pulses white when
the pedal is switched off.
When the pedal is switched
on, the indicator emits a
brilliant blue light while also
pulsing white.
Probably the most
interesting aspect of
the Voyager I is its
responsiveness to a
musician’s dynamics—that
is, how hard or soft the
instrument is played. To
achieve this effect, the
folks at Spaceman cleverly
included an adjustable filter
(labeled “Envelope”) that
Spaceman Effects Voyager I
sets a threshold for the
input voltage. When the
Envelope is turned down,
even hard and loud playing
won’t trigger any changes
in the effect. When the filter
is turned higher—up past
noon—the effect becomes
sensitive to small changes in
dynamics and input voltage.
The Voyager I features a
toggle switch for selecting
one of two responsive
modes: Frequency and
Fade. As would be
expected, the Frequency
setting tells the effect
to adjust its frequency
(speed), while the Fade
setting tells the effect to
alter tremolo’s strength
(depth). For example, in the