NSLA ago, it was the Zvex Fuzz Factory that separated the narrow from the open minded. The Miku was more of an idea that should have remained a private joke among the Korg design team.Usually wish the same had happened with "Shimmer" mode Reverbs.
I was in hospital when I heard the Miku ! I got bad news (still alive) but first thing I did was to order and buy one of those ! As for this one : it is just another audio filter !
Here's an idea for you Rhett and Beetronics. How about running the pedal through an oscilloscope so we can see the waveshape character as you turn the knobs?
The intro sounded WILD! I can definetely see how a sound like that would be signature to a band, or a style on its own. I think it's super cool, though I don't think I would be able to use it.
My first thought was my data corrupter or my plasma pedals. I can control them though. I sometimes mix my micro synth into them. Maybe add reverse reverb here and there.. I got to go...I could go on and on,and I do. Cool pedal though.
Yes, I have been sucked into the realm of fuzz and everything is heavy, tactile and technicolor in here. Love me a nice overdrive, delay, reverb, phaser--- but the fuzz is where it's at.
Just received mine from Sweetwater yesterday. It's the only fuzz I need on my board. With Queen/Drone turned down it really is an amazing straight ahead fuzz, then when you start turning knobs things get delightfully out of control. Love it!
This pedal does sound great and this is a terrific video showcasing that. From reading the site, the way that the sting and swarm works is similar to some basic synth functionality such as vibrato, pitch modulation, and/or glide. The sting control handles the time it takes for the harmonized note to change to another and the fly control handles the amount of pitch modulation occurring on a note which causes phasing or frequency beating. Basically these controls cause the harmonizing note to travel from the source note in an expressive way like wiggling (modulating) a string or sliding (gliding) to a note rather then just jumping to another one. This thing is very cool and combines basic synthesis concepts with a guitar pedal technology and perspective.
It’s not advert folks! The video just looks and functions identically to an ad and the creator was given the product in exchange for showcasing it on their channel! Stop saying it’s an ad ! ! !
Love your videos Rhett, thank you. I think this is my fav so far. Your surprise on that tone the pedal created was obviously so genuine it made me chuckle.
That tone at 3:00 is amazing!!!!. I'm finally getting nice boutique gear and something like this will be perfect for a new era of my inspiration!. Cheer, Rhett!.
What a rad pedal. That swarming sustain sound that you got randomly is the inspiration point for me! and also the cool dived bomb sound when you release the note! Great video. Thank you!
Congratulations Rhett. When you connected a microphone you exactly duplicated the sound of my Rogers' cell phone service! BTW, love your channel and how you are sharing your experiences.
What that plasma pedal wishes it was. I hear way more usable tones in this. The flight and sting seem like an oscillator and filter (of some sort) in series maybe????
i´m not sure but to me it seems that it is a CMOS based pedal . the sounds it produces sound to me like a cmos octave up , and a cmos octave down , paired with a pll (the slow thing that comes afterwards) and maybe some filters , the fuzz itself might be a cmos fuzz but also could be a normal fuzz paired with everything above . you can do plenty of stuff with those things , the octave up can have many sounds just because of the pulse width modulation it uses to achieve the octave up effect , and the octave down can do some harmonie stuff if you pair some octaves together . i´m not exactly sure about that , but i am totally convinced that there is a PLL inside it just because it does that slow degrading sound after you stop playing
I built a fuzz for a friend with a presence control (Z.Vex SHO into an Octavia clone with AMZ presence control for those interested) and depending on the tone/presence settings (and the frequency profile resulting from that), I would get crazy oscillations. Now mind you, I literally just stuck those three circuits together w/o too much in-depth knowledge, but it those controls on the swarm remind me of that.
Reminds me of when I had the data corrupter. I found some super cool uses for it (especially in the studio where you can tuck it in the mix), but it’s something that can’t get used repeatedly. Swarm sounds badass, definitely a studio tool to me. Thanks bro. -Aaron
I just wanted say how much I enjoy your videos. Great content for sure. I play mandolin for 2 bands, one a straight ahead bluegrass band and the other an Americana/country/rock band. I am soon taking over the role of electric guitar in the Americana band after a band member decided to depart. You have inspired me to buy an Hx stomp and go direct! I have always been a guitar into amp kind of guy but I have realized the benefits of modeling and going direct, especially since we typically run our own sound. I have gone mandolin>preamp>pa forever so why not try guitar>hx stomp>pa. It just makes sense. Thanks for the great videos, keep them coming!
The intro is fantastic! Your impressions are insightful and appreciated. The Swarm is a gnarly beast that just isn't for me but Beetronics is a force to be reckoned with. Their approach and aesthetic is truly innovative and they seem to be building petals to survive the apocalypse. Thanks, Rhett!
What a beast!! I personally am not much into pedals (nothing against them, just prefer a rawer sound), but your demo makes me want to track one of these down and make an exception. You looked and sounded ready to go find the nearest stage and go to town with it. Great review and fascinating demo - thanks!
I agree with you that is not for everyone and not for every song, but I am intrigued by the possibilities although it looks like something you really have to play with a while to figure out all the possiblies . It is not a pedal that I would run out right away and get, but it is something I would put on a list and view additional videos to see how other people use it, and possibly by later to experiment with or buy at a later date on the use market if I found a good deal.
so what do I think about the swarm? I hate it, that's why I love it. well well, I planned to not buy any more gear this year, but now I'll have to, I guess...
This! This is awesome. Great video, Rhett! As usual, very informative and now I have to make room on the board for another pedal! I cannot wait to get my hands on this! It a sound I’ve been chasing! Have you ever played a ZVEX Mastotron? Different from this, but I wonder if you’d dig it. I think you would.
Nice, been waiting for this since the NAMM video I love that byoooooo, power-down kind of sound that it makes lol. And 09:43 is what it sounds like to my ears whenever someone speaks over an intercom anywhere. A store, an airport, doesn't matter. I have no idea what they're saying. And did you check out the inside? Their pedals have badass insides.
This is great for "re-amping" an already recorded guitar track, so you can better tweak it. I use this with my synths on a desktop so I have better access to tweaking the knobs. Just setting the knobs to one setting and not being able to reach down to tweak while you play must be frustrating.
Definitely some ring modulation going on with this pedal. Very cool!!! I really like the ripping sound at the beginning and end of notes. Atsa some spicy meatball!
Intro tune was awesome and the tones were amazing. I’ve heard the Overhive demos and it sounds epic on its own. I would love to hear the Rhett treatment with that one too. Any chance that could be on the horizon?
That effect around 9min seems to be pitch adjustment based on how hard you hit the strings. Hard to imagine how you could use it practically but very cool.
I love this thing. It fits my sound and my board and gives some odd-ish fuzz tones that are surprisingly musical. It gives a layer of sound that is quite unique. You want a weirder pedal? Try the EQD Arpanoid. Did some fun stuff but I could never make it act musical or useful with a band.
In a studio tour around the time of The Social Network soundtrack Trent Reznor seemed very enthusiastic (or at least as enthusiastic as mr. Reznor gets) around the Swarmtron a large physical synth that basically did this from a ribbon controller. It's great to see that functionality in a pedal.
My first video course, The Tone Course, is available now! Check it out here.
flatfiv.co/collections/rhett-shull/products/the-tone-course
I think Jack White just placed an order for 24 units
*3 units. Everything's gotta be in 3's for Jack White lol
Nope, only for 7. I know this exaclty
That's literally the sound in Sunday driver
That makes sense
@@anthonysclafani3963
Then he'll chain them together and
connect them to an
army surplus mine detector.
"Fuzz tones that make your amp sound like it's about to explode"
This dude gets it.
"this is not me telling you to go out and buy this pedal immediately..." Well Rhett, that's exactly what I did man. Exactly. What. I. Did.
How has it been?
@@MrKadidle51Hee twaidled twaice, thenne faurted
Everyone: ew the metal zone sounds like a swarm of wasps.
Also everyone: i want my guitar to sound like a swarm of wasps.
Ya.... But screw the Metalzone, right? Lol
It's funny that it's okay for fuzz to sound bad, but not distortion. Abrasive tones made me want to pick up a guitar in the first place.
Metal and "ew" should never be in the same sentence.
But it’s bees!
Come on, in the history of "pedals that aren't for everyone", there has only been one true queen.
Korg Miku.
NSLA ago, it was the Zvex Fuzz Factory that separated the narrow from the open minded.
The Miku was more of an idea that should have remained a private joke among the Korg design team.Usually wish the same had happened with "Shimmer" mode Reverbs.
I was in hospital when I heard the Miku ! I got bad news (still alive) but first thing I did was to order and buy one of those ! As for this one : it is just another audio filter !
This pedal has taken all the drugs so you don't need to!
yup
But what happens if I take drugs and play the drug bug pedal?
...
Probably something that would make Sleep and QotSA blush
@@davidhollowelljr949 Ha ha Probably.
Martin Heath so, like, you can now do double the drugs
Does it still have the drugs
Does the pedal come with drugs
Super cool video Rhett! ❤️🐝🤘🐝 Great ideas and uses for it! Thank you! 🤘🤘🤘
Here's an idea for you Rhett and Beetronics. How about running the pedal through an oscilloscope so we can see the waveshape character as you turn the knobs?
@@rebldr67 this is something to consider!
Imagine what trouble you could get into with this pedal and a 6 string fretless bass!
Pretty sure this describes Brett Crow on tiktok...super awesome bassist!
The intro sounded WILD! I can definetely see how a sound like that would be signature to a band, or a style on its own.
I think it's super cool, though I don't think I would be able to use it.
Great production Rhett!!!! Red and blue lighting, moving camera. Nice! 👍🏻
Sounds great. Reminds me of the Data Corrupter by EQD. Would love to see a side-by-side comparison. Love a good PLL pedal.
Pedalboard of the Day - Exactly.
My first thought was my data corrupter or my plasma pedals. I can control them though. I sometimes mix my micro synth into them. Maybe add reverse reverb here and there.. I got to go...I could go on and on,and I do. Cool pedal though.
I feel like the Swarm is easier to tame than the Data Corrupter, but that's kinda the point of the Data Corrupter isn't it?
Yup.
Wow dude that piece at the beginning was absolutely amazing!!
I agree. I'm back for another listen.
Dude, you killed it on this crazy thing. Love what you did with it in the beginning of the vid. Awesome.
I’m digging the DK drumming in your opening piece, bro! Killer intro song. I’m not a guitarist but I’m glad to stumble upon this vid.
Oh, the endlessly deep seduction of fuzz pedals! These beetronics guys have it going on.
five watt world IDK if this fits your criteria to buy, but the SWARM's sounds have me thinking about writing songs again, and in different genres
Yes, I have been sucked into the realm of fuzz and everything is heavy, tactile and technicolor in here. Love me a nice overdrive, delay, reverb, phaser--- but the fuzz is where it's at.
Just received mine from Sweetwater yesterday. It's the only fuzz I need on my board. With Queen/Drone turned down it really is an amazing straight ahead fuzz, then when you start turning knobs things get delightfully out of control. Love it!
Only old people like me will understand this, but those sorts of fuzz tones just make me want to blow the fluff off the needle.
People will get the wrong idea about that statement ...
I understand because I love records and turntables, I don’t have one, but my grandpa does.
@@natesenft5376 That's great! You're in touch with all of our musical heritage EZW. Gotta love your grandpa!
There are tons and tons of young people that are into vinyl and regularly listen to it
@@lilacrain3283 That's good to know.
“Attention K Mart shoppers..” I’M DEAD 😂
This pedal does sound great and this is a terrific video showcasing that. From reading the site, the way that the sting and swarm works is similar to some basic synth functionality such as vibrato, pitch modulation, and/or glide. The sting control handles the time it takes for the harmonized note to change to another and the fly control handles the amount of pitch modulation occurring on a note which causes phasing or frequency beating. Basically these controls cause the harmonizing note to travel from the source note in an expressive way like wiggling (modulating) a string or sliding (gliding) to a note rather then just jumping to another one.
This thing is very cool and combines basic synthesis concepts with a guitar pedal technology and perspective.
Really enjoyed the stereo width in the opening track, balanced an on the verge to eargasmic. Great work Rhett!
It’s not advert folks! The video just looks and functions identically to an ad and the creator was given the product in exchange for showcasing it on their channel! Stop saying it’s an ad ! ! !
SICK vocal effect haha. I’m LOVING the intro lighting as well. Totally fits the vibe of the track.
Love your videos Rhett, thank you. I think this is my fav so far. Your surprise on that tone the pedal created was obviously so genuine it made me chuckle.
Thanks Rhett, I bought the pedal before the review video ended 😍. Amazing tones!
Great production on that opening track, really sets your videos apart from others. Amazing!
That tone at 3:00 is amazing!!!!. I'm finally getting nice boutique gear and something like this will be perfect for a new era of my inspiration!. Cheer, Rhett!.
What a rad pedal. That swarming sustain sound that you got randomly is the inspiration point for me! and also the cool dived bomb sound when you release the note! Great video. Thank you!
Love your vids. I think you need more background light and/or color. Keep ‘em coming!!
GOTTA have it! Thanks so much for this video, Rhett! Besides showing me a new pedal I gotta have, it was the most fun pedal demo I've ever seen.
Congratulations Rhett. When you connected a microphone you exactly duplicated the sound of my Rogers' cell phone service! BTW, love your channel and how you are sharing your experiences.
I purchased one of the limited edition Swarm pedals (silver so early buyer) and I'm still trying to wrap my head around the crazy sounds it makes.
Your reaction at the 9 minute mark really says it all.... "I dunno, guys... I'm just along for the ride like you".
What that plasma pedal wishes it was. I hear way more usable tones in this.
The flight and sting seem like an oscillator and filter (of some sort) in series maybe????
Flight seems like some form of portamento
i´m not sure but to me it seems that it is a CMOS based pedal . the sounds it produces sound to me like a cmos octave up , and a cmos octave down , paired with a pll (the slow thing that comes afterwards) and maybe some filters , the fuzz itself might be a cmos fuzz but also could be a normal fuzz paired with everything above . you can do plenty of stuff with those things , the octave up can have many sounds just because of the pulse width modulation it uses to achieve the octave up effect , and the octave down can do some harmonie stuff if you pair some octaves together . i´m not exactly sure about that , but i am totally convinced that there is a PLL inside it just because it does that slow degrading sound after you stop playing
I built a fuzz for a friend with a presence control (Z.Vex SHO into an Octavia clone with AMZ presence control for those interested) and depending on the tone/presence settings (and the frequency profile resulting from that), I would get crazy oscillations. Now mind you, I literally just stuck those three circuits together w/o too much in-depth knowledge, but it those controls on the swarm remind me of that.
It sounds like a bitcrushed octave fuzz, similar to the eqd data corrupter
I wanna run a drum machine through it!! O=
Try an Industrialectric Incinerator for ridiculous drum machine fuzz
Reminds me of when I had the data corrupter. I found some super cool uses for it (especially in the studio where you can tuck it in the mix), but it’s something that can’t get used repeatedly. Swarm sounds badass, definitely a studio tool to me. Thanks bro.
-Aaron
Very cool! Love the pedal, but I never tire of trying new weird gear. Always appreciate your perspective, & hope for more pedal/gear demos!
Hi Rhett, thanks for this demo I bought this pedal and the overhive simply great ! Cheers
The production on this video is as good if not better than any brands I have seen who have a proper video studio . Well done man !
I love your work, artistic and UA-cam. Keyboardist lawyer here in Johns Creek. Got my plek on at righteous. Thanks for all you are doing.
I just wanted say how much I enjoy your videos. Great content for sure. I play mandolin for 2 bands, one a straight ahead bluegrass band and the other an Americana/country/rock band. I am soon taking over the role of electric guitar in the Americana band after a band member decided to depart. You have inspired me to buy an Hx stomp and go direct! I have always been a guitar into amp kind of guy but I have realized the benefits of modeling and going direct, especially since we typically run our own sound. I have gone mandolin>preamp>pa forever so why not try guitar>hx stomp>pa. It just makes sense. Thanks for the great videos, keep them coming!
Great demo! Would love to see more stuff like this. All your content is top notch!
That is the only fuzz I've ever heard sounding awesome.
That opening was sweet!!
Could more people please appreciate the awesome quality of his videos? Dude, you're getting better every video!
Okay. I've been watching Rhett's videos for a few months but running a vocal mic through the swarm gets a subscription. Well done.
Cool, its like a ZVEX Fuzz Factory. A unique pedal that takes you over the edge and out of your comfort area. Great Video Rhett!
Thanks for the video. I think this pedal is marvelous. You made it sound great. Nice demo.
The intro is fantastic! Your impressions are insightful and appreciated. The Swarm is a gnarly beast that just isn't for me but Beetronics is a force to be reckoned with. Their approach and aesthetic is truly innovative and they seem to be building petals to survive the apocalypse.
Thanks, Rhett!
Great review man! That thing would be fun to mess around with and see what magically pops up in your playing. Cool stuff!
What a beast!! I personally am not much into pedals (nothing against them, just prefer a rawer sound), but your demo makes me want to track one of these down and make an exception. You looked and sounded ready to go find the nearest stage and go to town with it. Great review and fascinating demo - thanks!
BEST. INTRO. EVER. I’ve been wanting one of those things since I saw it in your NAMM vid
I love it! Reminds me of a ring modulator/fuzzz
I agree with you that is not for everyone and not for every song, but I am intrigued by the possibilities although it looks like something you really have to play with a while to figure out all the possiblies . It is not a pedal that I would run out right away and get, but it is something I would put on a list and view additional videos to see how other people use it, and possibly by later to experiment with or buy at a later date on the use market if I found a good deal.
awesome performance and film work Rhett loved the vid!
Love it!
I'd love to see you do more video's on weird pedals as well!
nice to hear something new, hendrix i believe would love this
He been dead bro sorry for your loss
so what do I think about the swarm?
I hate it, that's why I love it.
well well, I planned to not buy any more gear this year, but now I'll have to, I guess...
Fantastic jam in the beginning. I really enjoyed that.
That vocal tone reminded me of that 5th channel at grandma's house that I could almost just barely tune into.
This! This is awesome. Great video, Rhett! As usual, very informative and now I have to make room on the board for another pedal! I cannot wait to get my hands on this! It a sound I’ve been chasing! Have you ever played a ZVEX Mastotron? Different from this, but I wonder if you’d dig it. I think you would.
Love it! Great playing in a great demo 👍
Got me thinking of using a volume in front of it,a looper,split signals,drum machines,heavy gating etc. The list goes on.
Yes on more pedal demos. I would love the Swarm, but wouldn't find a practical use for it as things stand right now
BADASS. TAKE MY MONEY!
Thank you Rhett, great demo.
Sounds like Mark Farner's guitar from Grand Funk's early live recordings. Also on Sin's A Good Man's Brother from Closer To Home.
Nice, been waiting for this since the NAMM video
I love that byoooooo, power-down kind of sound that it makes lol. And 09:43 is what it sounds like to my ears whenever someone speaks over an intercom anywhere. A store, an airport, doesn't matter. I have no idea what they're saying.
And did you check out the inside? Their pedals have badass insides.
This is great for "re-amping" an already recorded guitar track, so you can better tweak it. I use this with my synths on a desktop so I have better access to tweaking the knobs. Just setting the knobs to one setting and not being able to reach down to tweak while you play must be frustrating.
It reminds me of the EQD Data Corruptor. Kick ass pedal for sure! The kinda thing where the Pedal makes you play a certain way. Writes songs...
That intro was gnarllyyyyyyyy! Awesome
You sold me on it I finally ordered one this is right up my alley I love unconventional gear
WOAH. Mega cool demo Rhett!
Wow! I like it! It kind of sounds like a heavily modified/circuit bent to death MXR Blue Box.
I'm returning the EQD Data Corruptor, and getting this. It seems more controllable. Thanks!
Definitely some ring modulation going on with this pedal. Very cool!!! I really like the ripping sound at the beginning and end of notes. Atsa some spicy meatball!
You got new lights. It looks awesome!
That intro was so dope!
Lovely weirdness! It's right down my alley, think I'm gonna pick one up. Thanks for the review.
It's a simplified Schumann PLL, pretty cool.
Hi, Good demo Thank's
No problem for the speaker?
Dude!!! THAT opening song slaps!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Great,fun content. Thanks brother!
The novo looks awesome in that lighting
You put me in stitches when you tried to talk through it and it's nothing but screeching.
WHOOOO that intro song is a jam! That's so my vibe!
Intro tune was awesome and the tones were amazing. I’ve heard the Overhive demos and it sounds epic on its own. I would love to hear the Rhett treatment with that one too. Any chance that could be on the horizon?
It sounds like a fuzz, octave, and almost a talk box wrapped in one...
After I saw this I ordered one, arrived today, wow! I will have fun with this!
That effect around 9min seems to be pitch adjustment based on how hard you hit the strings. Hard to imagine how you could use it practically but very cool.
I'm with you Rhett, this pedal definitely *is* for me too. ^-^
Could be a bit more _out there_ though, lols.
Just orderd one. Can't wait to take flight!
I just got one a couple weeks ago I'm loving it and would love to hear one played through a keyboard synth.
ANYTHING new these days is worth getting excited and checking out! Pretty AWESOME!
Nice Job on the vid and tune, Rhett. Taking a page from the Pete Thorn book for a demo--and that's a good thing!! Definitely a weird pedal..
I love this thing. It fits my sound and my board and gives some odd-ish fuzz tones that are surprisingly musical. It gives a layer of sound that is quite unique. You want a weirder pedal? Try the EQD Arpanoid. Did some fun stuff but I could never make it act musical or useful with a band.
Off to order one right now!!!
That box reminds me a lot of Andrew Stockdales sound. Nice! I would like to have one myself.
This thing takes modulation like univibe and tremolo really well.
In a studio tour around the time of The Social Network soundtrack Trent Reznor seemed very enthusiastic (or at least as enthusiastic as mr. Reznor gets) around the Swarmtron a large physical synth that basically did this from a ribbon controller. It's great to see that functionality in a pedal.
ha ha ha ha!!!! the vocal part! He he he! Lovely review, man! Keep them coming!
Sounds like fuzz effect on the beginning of the song Sunday Driver by Raconteurs. Great design!