The Chase Bliss Audio CXM 1978 pedal combines the innovative Automatone technology from the American effects forge with a vintage-oriented reverb algorithm from the specialists at Meris to create a particularly versatile reverb pedal with the charm of the first digital reverb effects from the late 1970s. In addition to three basic reverb types, the stereo effect pedal offers extensive options for adjusting the effect, with practical motorised faders and digital control allowing up to 30 presets to be stored. Last but not least, the Chase Bliss Audio CXM 1978 offers extensive MIDI functions and the possibility to connect an optionally available expression pedal.
The reverb algorithm developed by Meris for the Chase Bliss Audio CXM 1978 is based on the sound of the first digital reverb effects from the end of the 1970s and offers three basic tones: room, plate and reverb. The clock setting determines the fidelity and pre-delay time. Whilst the standard mode with 24 kHz sample rate and 16 bit resolution evokes the charm of the seventies, Hi-Fi with 48 kHz and 32 bit raises the sound to a modern level without denying the vintage characteristics. The Lo-Fi setting, on the other hand, convinces with "broken" tones in the best sense for creative sound experiments. Furthermore, the Tank Mod and Diffusion settings influence the modulation and decay of the reverb tail.
To adjust pre-delay, effect mix, bass, mid, treble and the crossover frequency between bass and treble, the Chase Bliss Audio Automatone CXM 1978 offers six motorised faders that can be operated very precisely. In addition, the motorised faders allow their settings to be saved, so that once found, reverb settings can be called up. The Chase Bliss CXM 1978 offers 30 memory locations distributed over three banks. In addition to intuitive operation via the preset and bypass footswitches, the pedal can also be controlled via MIDI.
The sounds are superb. Very intuitive to use and so much fun to experiment with. Lo-fi settings are noisy, but that's 1978. Expensive but I doubt I'll ever need another reverb. Build quality superb.