Death By Audio Space Bender

A Chorus Beyond the Norm: The Death By Audio Spirit

The Space Bender follows the tradition of modulation effects that do not just "beautify" the sound but transform it. While a classic chorus mainly aims for thickness and perceived stereo width, here the principle is based on modulated delay lines that naturally glide into flanger territory, then open up to a broader modulated delay. The result: a tool designed as much for color as for exploration, with a true personality and the ability to "bend" the signal organically.

For Which Guitarists (and Contexts)?

The Death By Audio Space Bender is aimed at musicians who enjoy sculpting their sonic identity: guitarists, bassists, but also keyboard players or more atypical sources (drum machines, synths, studio reamping). It suits fans of alternative rock, psychedelic, shoegaze, post-rock, ambient, and more noise/experimental terrains.

Live, it can serve as a textured chorus to thicken a clean tone, an expressive flanger for marked passages, or a texture machine for transitions. In the studio, it becomes an excellent movement generator: modulated doubles, unstable drones, "watery" pads, and "sci-fi cassette" effects that breathe with the playing.

Controls, Modes, and Modulation Possibilities

The Space Bender's interface remains straightforward, but each control affects multiple dimensions of the effect. The idea is to smoothly shift from one sonic universe to another without menus or programming, simply by adjusting speed, depth, delay time, and modulation type.

Speed controls the LFO rate, envelope sensitivity (ENV mode), and the delay time(s). Short times naturally yield chorus/flanger territories, while longer settings stretch the effect toward a broad, undulating, and unstable modulated delay.

Depth adjusts the modulation depth (LFO or envelope) and also influences the feedback of the delay(s). At low depth, textures remain fine and musical; increasing this control makes modulation wider, more dramatic, potentially leading to longer, denser tails.

Delay Time sets the overall delay time range (from x1 to x10) and also allows inversion of the envelope polarity. This is crucial for shifting from a "pulling" movement to a "pushing" one, producing very different tactile sensations.

Modulator selects the main modulation source for the delay line: LFO (sinusoidal oscillator) for regular modulation, or ENV for reactive modulation that follows attack and dynamics. The Speed and Depth knobs take on new roles depending on the chosen mode, multiplying sonic scenarios without complicating usability.

Intensity adjusts the overall intensity. In moderate zones, the effect remains broad and expressive; at high levels, the Space Bender can enter more extreme behaviors: oscillations, feedbacks, deviant textures, and deliberately "weird" sounds. This margin makes it especially interesting on a creativity-focused pedalboard.

Finally, an internal Gain (accessible by unscrewing the rear plate) allows output level adjustment, from unity volume to much higher levels. Handy for adapting the pedal to your chain (already hot amp, pedals before/after, effects loop) or for driving a following stage harder.

Sound Character

The Space Bender stands out with modulation that can remain subtle and vintage (light flutter, thickness, slow movement) while retaining the possibility to shift into much more pronounced textures. In LFO mode, you get steadier oscillations, ideal for deep choruses, "liquid" flangers, or slow sweeps reminiscent of retro sci-fi.

In ENV mode, the pedal becomes more tactile: modulation seems to follow the energy of your playing, delivering very "alive" sensations on attacks, palm mutes, or sustained notes. By combining delay time range (Delay Time), depth (Depth), and intensity (Intensity), you can achieve clear, glassy resonances, spectacular inverted movements, or unstable drones perfect for dark and hypnotic atmospheres.

Technical specifications

Effects	Delay, Chorus / Flanger / Phaser, Chorus	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Black
Type	sector

Modulation effect pedal	chorus / flanger / modulated delay	Modulator	LFO (sinusoidal) or ENV selection
Dimensions	12.7 x 6.7 x 6.22 cm (including hardware)	Intensity	overall intensity, oscillation and feedback capability
Weight	263 g	Internal Gain	output level adjustment (accessible via rear plate)
Speed	LFO speed, envelope sensitivity, delay time(s)	Power supply	9V DC (standard 2.1mm adapter, center negative)
Depth	modulation depth (LFO/ENV) and delay feedback	Current consumption	65 mA
Delay Time	overall time range (x1 to x10) and envelope polarity inversion