Earthquaker SPATIAL DELIVERY V2

A Modern Envelope Filter, Beyond Funk

The envelope filter is one of the classics from the '70s: an "automatic" wah sensation controlled by your dynamics, iconic in funk, rock, and anything flirting with electronics. With the Spatial Delivery, EarthQuaker Devices takes this principle and extends it into more adventurous territory thanks to a Sample and Hold mode that introduces random modulation, perfect for hypnotic lines and textured effects. In the lineup, it's typically the kind of pedal that transforms a simple riff into a sonic signature while remaining easy to integrate on a pedalboard.

Who Is It For, and In Which Styles?

The Spatial Delivery is aimed equally at guitarists and bassists seeking a lively and musical auto-wah, as well as curious players wanting to break away from expected sounds. In blues and funk, it adds bounce and articulation that make a rhythmic pattern groove. In rock, stoner, or metal, it becomes formidable before or after distortion to thicken a line and make it more "vocal." In ambient and experimental music, the Sample and Hold mode opens the door to unpredictable sequences, especially when combined with delay and reverb.

In the studio, it helps to "place" a guitar in a precise frequency range with a very organic character. Live, the Flexi-Switch is a real plus: you can trigger a filter accent on a note or a measure, like a momentary effect, without changing your playing style.

Controls, Modes, and Highlights

The pedal offers three controls and a mode selector, designed to quickly achieve results. The Range knob adjusts the envelope sensitivity in Up and Down modes: the higher you set it (and the sharper your attack), the faster and wider the sweep becomes. In Sample and Hold mode, this same Range controls the speed of the random variation. The Resonance potentiometer manages the filter feedback: from round and subtle to very present, up to the limits of self-oscillation for radical sounds. Finally, Filter is the heart of the sound shaping: it allows continuous transition from a high-pass to low-pass character, with a central band-pass zone, to precisely refine the filter's "vowel."

The Flexi-Switch (relay true bypass) offers two behaviors in the same pedal: a brief press for classic on/off operation, or a held press for a momentary effect. Note: since the switching is relay-based, the pedal must be powered to pass the signal.

The Sound

The Spatial Delivery can be both snappy and percussive as well as thick and resonant. In Up Sweep, you get attacks that "speak" and open the spectrum with a very expressive sense of movement. In Down Sweep, the effect becomes rounder and can give a pumping impression, ideal for heavy rhythms or standout leads. The Sample and Hold mode adds a more "machine-like" touch: random frequency jumps, sequencer-style, perfect for psychedelic passages, strange intros, or textured layers.

Placed before distortion, it enhances dynamics and the vocal quality. Placed after an overdrive or fuzz, it can create a resonant lead, aggressive and very present. To go even further, pair it with an octaver: you'll get almost synth-like colors and patterns that immediately catch the ear. Among musicians known for this type of sound approach are Lee Ranaldo, Matt Pike, and Michael League.

Technical specifications

Effects	Envelope / Auto-wah	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	White

Modes	Up Sweep, Down Sweep, Sample and Hold	Output impedance	less than 1 kOhm
Controls	Range, Resonance, Filter	Instrument input	6.35mm Jack
Selector	Mode Toggle	Output	6.35mm Jack
Switching	Flexi-Switch (relay true bypass, latching and momentary)	Required voltage	9V DC, center negative, 2.1 mm connector
Dimensions	121 x 64 x 57 mm (including knobs)	Consumption	68 mA
Input impedance	500 kOhms	Important	do not use higher voltage