Dreadbox Treminator Tremolo

A Dreadbox Tremolo Inspired by Synthesis: The VCA as Starting Point

The TREMINATOR doesn't just reproduce an "old-school" tremolo: Dreadbox starts from the final stage of a synthesizer (the VCA) and adapts it into a pedal for guitar, bass, and line-level instruments. This approach delivers a more "modulable" and organic feel, with amplitude modulation that can become subtly breathing... or totally choppy, like signal gating. Within the Dreadbox range, this is typically the kind of pedal that bridges the gap between pedalboard and CV universe.

Who Is the TREMINATOR For? From Groove to Sound Design

The TREMINATOR suits both musicians seeking a characterful tremolo to enrich a clean tone (indie, surf, blues, rock) and guitarists or keyboardists who want to push modulation into more experimental territories (post-rock, ambient, noise, electro, film music). In live settings, Tap Tempo and divisions help stay rhythmically locked; in studio, the waveforms and speed range open up tremolo textures impossible to achieve with a standard model. And if you use CV, it can become a true creative module at the heart of a hybrid setup.

Controls, Modes, and Patch: A Pedal That Behaves Like a CV Tool

The control panel is designed for quick operation: Rate for LFO speed, Depth for tremolo intensity, Shape to select the waveform (5-position selector), and Fade to evolve the depth with fade-in or fade-out. The Tap Tempo lets you set the speed with your foot, while a division setting helps achieve musical pulses (from smooth tremolo to sharp chopping).

The TREMINATOR goes further with secondary functions accessible via a "SHIFT" logic on the footswitch, handy for unlocking advanced behaviors without cluttering the front panel. Most importantly, it features 3 patch points in 3.5mm Jack format: VCA (controls the pedal's level, even in bypass), CV IN (controls the LFO speed), and CV OUT (outputs the LFO externally). The result: you can use it as a classic tremolo, a signal chopper, a volume pedal via external CV, an LFO generator to drive other CV gear, or as an accelerator/decelerator of the LFO for very lively modulation movements.

The Sound

Its strength lies in the combination of an analog signal path with digital modulations : the attack remains crisp, the dynamics of playing come through well, and the tremolo retains an "amp-like" feel when using smooth waveforms (triangle). With square wave, you get a choppy tremolo ideal for metronomic riffs, while sawtooth and random shapes bring more unpredictable textures, perfect for sound design. At very high speeds, the TREMINATOR can reach extremely tight amplitude modulation effects, useful for experimental colors and unusual rhythmic placements.

The pedal is also well-known through demos by creators focused on guitar and unusual instruments, which perfectly illustrates its DNA: a pedal designed for those who love to sculpt movement as much as sound.

Technical specifications

Effects	Tremolo	Type	sector
Technology	Analog & Digital	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Black

Circuit	based on a VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) from a synthesizer	Bypass switching	silent
Signal path	analog with digital modulation	Bypass	buffered (CMOS buffer / buffer)
Envelope generators	2, to control the behavior of the LFO	Input	Unbalanced 6.35 mm jack
LFO speed range	20 seconds to 220 Hz	Output	Unbalanced 6.35 mm jack
Tap Tempo	with several division settings	Dimensions	140 x 100 x 56 mm
Selectable waveforms (5)	sawtooth, triangle wave, reverse sawtooth, square wave, random	Weight	0.53 kg
Secondary control functions	accessible by holding down the ON footswitch	Power supply	not included
Patch points for modular hardware and CV	3	Required power supply	9V DC (center-negative, 2.1 mm plug, " BOSS " type)
CV IN	controls the LFO speed	Power consumption	80 mA
CV OUT	sends the LFO externally