Encountering the Stereo WET

[crawz]

I had a chance to try out the Stereo WET and wanted to relay that experience to those that might be interested. I've been using the WET Black this past year and really appreciating how great a pedal it is. Many have experienced it and know it to be a finely streamlined wonderful sounding achievement. -One arguably worthy of a design award.

The stereo pedal has the same form factor as the other versions of WET. The additions are these:
- obviously stereo ins and outs
- an ever so valuable tone control
- micro input jacks for external controller potential of the Mix and Depth knobs
- a USB port for updating

Impressions:
In stereo obviously you really experience more in the air depth and dimensionality. You also sense a bit more of the modulation that Brian had designed into the algorithm when the depth is up higher.

I so love and appreciate the inclusion of the tone knob. I was a strong proponent of this addition as I've always loved darker, warmer verbs. There's wonderful latitude possible with this control. I ran it the full range and lots of in between settings. I felt that the range adopted should easily cover most anyone's needs and preferences. Fully dark (my own preference) was still balanced, yet very warm and by no means murky in any way where I sensed that there had been a sacrifice.

I really enjoyed this pedal and how things were lifted overall. There's zero question that I prefer it and found it well above the mono. The way the depth knob is set up seems identical to the mono WET in that I felt very familiar with it's travel and it's effect on things. I tend to favor the sweet spot on the depth and have it set at roughly 1:30. It is here where you just begin to sense the novel delay element of the algorithm emerging with the verb. Something that I feel no other pedal really manages as well. So this control really felt just the same as the mono one's.

The mix knob seems to have different values with the stereo pedal. Whereas on the mono I'd tend to be set at around 8:30... with the stereo I was round about noon. I did try the stereo pedal in a mono application using only input and output 1. Here again, I definitely prefer the stereo pedal and it's overall vibe. Admittedly, a good measure of this must be the tone control though as my understanding is that the algorithm is the same yet optimized for stereo.

Using the external controller options was not possible for me as I don't own a controller. I should think this would be very cool for swelling in more effect at will and then lightening up either the mix or depth. I assume that micro jacks were Brian's only option for this so as to remain in the same sized enclosure.

The inclusion of the USB port is a very welcome and a much valued addition to things. It literally took about two minutes to download an update. This was another take on the algorithm he'd done and made available as I'd played it originally. I was also able to change the pedal over to being the stereo Chroma and experience that as well. Since this review is of the Stereo WET I'll stay on topic with that but add that I really enjoyed it and want to experiment with it further. How very cool that Brian's made this an open-ended platform where he's allowing end users to try different takes on things, experience his Chroma as well... while continuing to make it the best processor he can.

I found the Stereo WET to be a distinct improvement over the mono WET. Even if someone is just a one amp only player, I'd still advise them to go ahead and get the stereo version. The tone control alone makes it worth the price of admission. Then there's updating with the USB, the external controller potential and the stereo option in addition. Hope this was helpful.

[jhumber]

Great post, very useful. Thanks!

[tdarian]

Thanks man. I'm a huge fan of the Wet...had the v1 Black and now have the v2 with the selectable buffering. Interesting that you also preferred the stereo version over the mono even when running mono.

Shucks, if I were to get this pedal it would be mandatory to get another amp. I love problems like this!

[elevenstrings]

Loving my Stereo WET. And the Pedal Customizer is super easy to install/use (was able to test run the Stereo ChromaChorus).

Actually feel the Stereo WET compliments the TimeLine better than the blueSky! (I own both)

[crawz]

The Timeline into the Stereo WET is indeed a wonderful combination. I got the TL expressly because I wanted to utilize it's subtle ambient qualities. Once I'd tried the Stereo WET and cascaded a Carbon Copy and a Delay 80's into it... knowing this, I couldn't convince myself that the TL was absolutely a vital ingredient to things. There are many moods and flavors possible with the WET's simple controls. Add in the tone control and it becomes yet more expansive than the mono manages to be. It is it's lightly ethereal and ambient qualities that I find most compelling. At a distance many would take it to be merely a verb and leave it at that. It can start to walk the line between 'what is verb' and 'what is delay' in a very valuable way (the delay part being barely suggested with no repeats --> atmosphere.) But the latitude aspect of the WET is impressive. > It can be much more than just an ambient type of verb. For as limited as it's controls may appear before messing with them, it can display a surprising cross section of unique flavors. I see it as a pedal that could address most player's verb needs. But unlike others, it can suggest some very lightly modulated delay as well, if that's your inclination at all and you feel like exploring. That can extend to even being an infinite verb and pedal point type of thing. To me Brian's success here is in creating a pedal you can't really go wrong with.... no matter how you set it. I may favor a certain sound with it most of the time. But sometimes I'll start from scratch so I don't take it for granted and get too set with what it really has as potential to offer me.

[AXXA]

Sounds nice! I have only had one pedal that had stereo ins and outs (which happened to be a reverb, EHX Cathedral), and I was able to use one input and both outputs, and it still sounded great. Is that an option with the stereo WET? Or does it really need to use both inputs to work its best in stereo? Thanks for the review.

[crawz]

Mono in or stereo in. Take a you peek.

[AXXA]

Cool. I really like the addition of the tone control. How are the outputs set up? A wet output and a dry output, or just slightly different on each output?

[crawz]

It's not a wet and a dry output. My understanding here > each output would have the same amount of mix and depth that you'd set. But there's always a slight delay set up between these to enhance imaging/ depth of field. This, otherwise it would just be dual mono. If say a Timeline was cascaded into the inputs... nothing is lost as to how the TL has spread out your signal. You'd just be adding verb with a little more imaging than the TL had given you. Brian's got the detail and specifics with this.

[Mr. Limbic]

yep cant wait for it to be released...I had a mono wet and sent it back 2 weeks after I got it because I heard about the new features and got a refund so that I could get the new one instead...expression jacks ftw...also I too am wanting to move to a stereo rig and this is a good excuse to make it happen

[pfapin]

When will this be released and how much will it cost... stupid that Im considering yet another reverb. I already own Lexicon MPX-2, Damage Control Glass Nexus, Blue Sky, and Eventide Space... maybe I will get this one and do a comparison with clips.

[NeilYoungFan]

http://www.neunabertechnology.com/ge...-stereo-reverb

http://www.neunabertechnology.com/status

[pfapin]

Thank you I had no idea what this pedal was!

[pfapin]

I like the simplicity, and I might just go for this with a grab and go live rig!!!

[Seegs]

Tone knob...I'm in...

Chow,
Seegs