Since the mid-noughties, Canadian company Empress Effects have forged a stellar reputation through stompbox innovation with the likes of their Nebulus – a chorus, vibrato, and flanger all in one – and their impressive Tape Delay. Now with the Zoia they’ve shattered the mould, creating a modular product with a matrix style interface, giving users the ability to infinite sonic connections.
The Zoia by Empress Effects is a pedal like no other. Still stompbox size, the device offers up a dizzying array of sound-sculpting options.
In a demo video released earlier today, the Zoia is put through its paces with tasks like triggering oscillators and routing them through LFOs – which seems to slant the device toward synth-land.
Then it demonstrates its ability customise effects chains – meaning it could also be interpreted a pedalboard in a single box. With MIDI I/O and CV clock in, it could easily slot into a modular synth setup, with all presets that can be saved and shared via SD card.
It’s too early to say what this game-changing machine can’t do yet, but we suspect that list will be very short. The Zoia is tentatively slated for release in Autumn with US$450 price tag.
Head to the Empress Effects website for more information.
