The latest addition to Eventide’s hardware effects line-up merges aggressive-sounding octave fuzz with a range of synth-inspired tones. Created in collaboration with Third Man Hardware and guitarist Jack White, the Knife Drop promises to deliver “bone-rattling distortion and generous heaps of sonic chaos”.
Despite sporting a relatively simple top-panel layout, Knife Drop manages to pack in a comprehensive set of features, and achieves its core sound by blending the incoming signal with a monophonic analogue-style synth layer. A trio of dual-function pots offer control over the signal blending, drive and and output level, along with an attack control for the synth layer and cutoff/resonance controls for an onboard filter — the filter can be placed either before or after the distortion circuitry. There’s also the option of introducing upper and sub-octave layers, which can be controlled via a top-panel button, and engaged/bypassed using a secondary footswitch.
The pedal is equipped with a pair of rear-panel switches that make it possible to switch between mono or stereo operation, as well as selecting between instrument- or line-level operation. There’s also an expression pedal input that can be configured to function in one of three ways. As well as allowing standard expression pedals to be assigned to any group of parameters, it can also be used to add auxiliary switches for changing presets, or will accept MIDI signals for remote parameter and preset control.
It’s also compatible with Eventide’s H90 Control software, which allows users to perform software updates and provides access to system settings and preset management.
"The Third Man crew have amazing product design instincts and we learned so much throughout our collaboration. It didn't feel like work, it felt like Rock 'n Roll.” - Russell Wedelich, CTO, Eventide Audio
Check out the video below to hear the pedal in action.
"Collaborating with Eventide on the Knife Drop has been an inspiring and exciting experience that expanded into some amazing sonic possibilities. We're so excited to get the Knife Drop into people's hands, to make their own sounds and feel the same excitement we had." - Dan Mancini, Third Man Hardware
Pricing & Availability
The Knife Drop is available now, priced at $299. There's also a limited-edition yellow model which is available exclusively from Third Man Records, priced at $333.
