Earthquaker Devices Pyramids User Manual
OPERATION MANUAL
You hold in your hands the instruction manual for the EarthQuaker Devices® Pyramids™ Flanger.
Well, a reproduction, actually. The original dates to 138 BC and lives behind layers of bulletproof
glass in the Ark of the Covenant Jamie Stillman keeps in his basement. Pyramids is built upon
the same proprietary DSP architecture as the Avalanche Run, only this time it’s way angier.
Pyramids is a stereo anging Device with ve presets, eight anger modes, tap tempo, tap
subdivision via the Rate & Tap mini-toggle, a multifunction Modify control, positive and negative
Feedback, and a variable Mix control, which is something you don’t see on a anger every day.
Pyramids has six knobs, three switches, two footswitches, and ve jacks.
The knobs are Manual, Rate, Width, Mix, Feedback, and Modify. We’re going to tell you what
they do more than once, because while they generally affect similar parameters, they react
differently in each mode, so please pay attention. There will be a test.
<<< Controls >>>
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Manual: Controls the delay time of the
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modulated signal. Turn it clock wise for a
shorter delay time and a higher-pitched ange
sound. Turn it counter clockwise for longer
delay times and a lower- pi tc he d ange sou nd.
This parameter may be controlled by an
expression pedal. When using an expression
pedal, the Manual control is defeated.
Rate: Controls the speed of the LFO as well
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as the rise time in “Trigger Up” mode and fall
time in “Trigger Down” mode. Turn it up for
faster modulation or turn it down for slower
modulation. The Rate control has three
ranges of operation: Slow, Normal and Fast.
These modes are selected by the Rate & Tap
toggle switch.
Width: Controls the frequency range of the
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LFO sweep. You might also think of it as a
depth control for the LFO.
Mix: This is the volume control for the
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modulated signal. The modulated signal gets
louder when you turn it clockwise and quieter
when you turn it counterclockwise.
Activate Footswitch: The activate switch
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features our Flexi-Switch™ technology! This
relay-based true-bypass switch allows for
momentary or latching operation.
• For standard latching operation, tap the
footswitch once to activate the effect and
tap again to bypass.
• For momentary operation, hold down the
footswitch for as long as you’d like to use
the effect. Release to bypass.
Feedback: Regeneration control for the
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modulated signal. There is a center-detent for
zero feedback. Increasing this control from
noon introduces positive feedback for a lush
“whooshing” sound. Decreasing this control
from noon produces negative feedback,
which has a hollowed-out tubular sound.
Rate & Tap Toggle Switch: “Normal” (center
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position) is 1:1. The tempo you tap in is the
tempo Pyramids will spit out. When set to
“Slow” (left position), the tempo you tap is
divided for a slower sweep. When set to
“Fast” (right position), the tempo you tap is
multiplied and delivers a faster sweep.
Modify: The behavior of this control depends
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upon which mode you’re using.
• Classic: Tone control for the modulated
signal. Clockwise from center is a high pass
lter. That means it cuts the low end and
allows the high frequencies to pass through.
Counterclockwise from center is a low pass
lter. That means it cuts the high end and
allows bass frequencies to pass through.
• Through-Zero: Delay time for the
unmodulated dry signal. This controls
where in the LFO cycle the through-zero
point occurs, which is where you’ll hear
the most drastic cancellation. Clockwise
Modify settings lower the frequency
of the cancellation. Counterclockwise
Modify settings produce higher frequency
cancellation. This is probably backwards
from what you’d expect, but let’s roll with it.
• Barber Pole Up: Tone control for the
modulated signal. Clockwise from center
is a high pas s l ter. Counterclo ck wis e from
center is a low pass lter.
• Barber Pole Down: Tone control for the
modulated signal. Clockwise from center
is a high pas s l ter. Counterclo ck wis e from
center is a low pass lter.
• Trigger Up: Sensitivity control for
the sweep. This controls how quickly
the re-triggering reacts to your pick
attack. Clockwise is higher sensitivity,
counterclockwise is lower sensitivity.
• Trigger Down: Sensitivity control for
the sweep. This controls how quickly
the re-triggering reacts to your pick
attack. Clockwise is higher sensitivity,
counterclockwise is lower sensitivity.
• Step: Adjusts the glide between steps.
Low Modify settings produce sharp, stairstepped transitions between steps. Higher
Modify settings introduce a smoother
glissando effect.
• Random: Adjusts the glide between steps.
Low Modify settings produce sharp, stairstepped transitions between steps. Higher
Modify settings introduce a smoother
glissando effect.
Tap / Trigger Footswitch: In Classic,
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Through-Zero, Barber Pole Up, Barber
Pole Down, Step, and Random modes, this
footswitch is a tap tempo control. In Trigger
Up and Trigger Down modes, this footswitch
triggers the effect whenever it is pressed.
Presets Rotary Switch: Selects between
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Live mode and one of ve presets. Pyramids
comes with our favorites programmed in, but
you’re allowed to re-write them if you want.
We don’t mind. Setting this switch to Live will
give you the sound which corresponds to
Pyramids’ current setting.
Mode Rotary Switch: Selects between
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Pyramids’ eight anger modes (see the
following Modes section.)
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