Source Audio Nemesis

123
june 2016 Guitarist
sOURCe AUDiO
eighth and triplets). There are also standard Feedback
and Mix knobs for the delay, the latter offering a fully
wet mix if desired. If you want to add some modulation
to the repeats, the Mod and Rate knobs will dial in its
depth and speed, while further tweaking of the sound’s
character is enabled by the Intensity knob, which has
a different function for each delay engine. For many of
the engines, it offers some form of EQ, but can do such
things as select different patterns for the Rhythmic
delay and set the pitchshift interval for the Shifter delay.
If you dial in a favourite sound and want to keep it, the
Nemesis has 128 presets that can be saved internally,
eight immediately available via a front-panel button and
the rest recalled using a MIDI controller. There is full
MIDI functionally via the five-pin MIDI input or the
USB port, including tempo sync to MIDI clock.
Sounds
Between them, the delay engines offer a range of sounds
that should cover most musical needs, from emulations
of vintage classics through standard digital delay to
more esoteric options that make creative use of modern
DSP, including pitch-shifted and filtered delays. There’s
a BBD analogue-delay emulation and two types of tape
delay: Noise Tape, focusing on the grittier sounds of
degraded tape, as opposed to the cleaner Tape engine.
Diffuse is a delay that blends nicely with guitar sound as
it smears and softens the attack of the repeated signal,
while Helix has similarities to the popular shimmer
reverb effect, in that it combines reverse delay with
an octaver for some ethereal pitch-shifted ambience
drifting like a mist above and around your playing.
Tech Spec
ORIGIN: China
TYPE: Delay pedal
FEATURES: Selectable
bypass (analogue-
buffered or relay-based
true bypass), 24 delay
engines, 128 presets,
tap tempo, editing via
app, trails mode
DELAY TYPES:
Slapback, Digital,
Diffuse, Analog, Tape,
Noise Tape, Degrade,
Shifter, Helix, Reverse,
Sweeper, Rhythmic.
(Resonant Analog,
Tremolo, Sequenced
Filters, Dub, Chorus,
Flanger, Double Helix,
Complex Rhythm, Lo-Fi
Retro, Warped Record,
Compound Shifter, Oil
Can – all via Neuro app)
CONTROLS: Time,
Mix, Feedback, Mod,
Rate, Intensity, effect
selection knob, preset
selector button, tap
tempo-division selector,
control input button,
2x footswitches
CONNECTIONS:
Standard inputs 1 and 2,
standard outputs 1 and
2, Expression-pedal
input, mini-jack control
input, MIDI IN, MIDI
THRU, USB
POWER: 9V 300mA
adaptor (supplied)
DIMENSIONS: 112 (w)
x 116 (d) x 56 mm (h)
First Line Distribution
01626 853019
www.sourceaudio.net
There’s plenty of real-time control available for
performance effects, too. An expression pedal can be
connected to control any combination of knobs, and
the depth and direction of each can be programmed.
There’s a standard expression pedal input (also
available for an external footswitch), plus a mini jack
for pedals such as Source Audio’s own Dual Expression
Pedal or Hot Hand wireless controller. Also, when not
being used for tap tempo, the footswitch can initiate a
hold/freeze effect for as long as it is held down, so you
can, for example, keep a rhythmic delay going on and
solo over it.
Verdict
The Nemesis is not aimed at guitarists who are happy
with just a simple delay on their ’boards; it’s one for the
delay aficionados who’ll be well aware of the market-
leading names out there. Source Audio may not be quite
as well known as, say, Eventide, Boss or Strymon, but it
has come up with a pedal here that can go head to head
with them at a very competitive price. There’s a lot to
like about the Nemesis: it’s intuitively easy to use, has
a pedalboard-friendly footprint and features a wide
range of very usable sounds – all with practical control
options. One to try.
9
PROS Wide range of sounds; small footprint for a pedal of this
genre; hands-on ease of use
CONS No instant switching of presets from the pedal’s
own footswitches
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
GIT407.peds_source.indd 123 14/04/2016 16:22