EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids – Stereo Flanging Device

The EarthQuaker Pyramids is a fully loaded stereo flanging device. It has eight distinct modes, five user-programmable presets, tap tempo with subdivisions, and a variable Mix control. It is built on the same DSP platform as EarthQuaker’s Avalanche Run.

Key Features

• Eight flanger modes, including Classic, Through-Zero, Barber Pole Up/Down, Step, and Random
• Five user-programmable presets, plus a Live mode
• Tap tempo with subdivisions, and Trigger Up/Down modes that re-trigger the effect on footswitch press
• Multifunction Modify control, behaviour depends on the selected mode
• Positive and negative Feedback, plus a variable Mix control
• True stereo I/O, including side-chain flanging via an external trigger source

Eight Modes, Built for Depth Not Just Width

• Classic mode delivers the jet-plane sound most players expect from a flanger.
• Through-Zero mode recreates the tape-style phase cancellation loved by studio engineers, and here the Modify control determines exactly where in the LFO cycle that cancellation lands.
• Barber Pole Up and Down deliver an endlessly rising or falling sweep, Step and Random push into more rhythmic and unpredictable territory
• Trigger Up/Down modes let you re-trigger the LFO cycle with the footswitch instead of running on a continuous cycle. This is useful for syncing the sweep to your playing rather than the clock.
• Step mode moves the sweep up and down in fixed increments rather than a smooth glide . A bit like a synthesizer’s sequencer stepping through notes rather than a traditional flanger.
• Random mode works the same way as Step, but instead of a predictable up-and-down pattern, each increment is chosen at random.

Controls

• Manual: Sets length of delay on the modulated signal. Can also be assigned to an expression pedal for real-time control.
• Rate: Sets how fast the LFO cycles. In Trigger Up or Trigger Down modes, this is what determines how quickly the effect rises or falls after each footswitch press.
• Width: Sets how wide a frequency range the LFO sweeps across.
• Mix: Select the balance between the modulated (wet) and original signal.
• Activate footswitch: This uses EarthQuaker’s Flexi-Switch relay-based true bypass, so you can choose between standard or momentary latching operation.
• Feedback: Adds regeneration to the modulated signal, intensifying the sweep.
• Rate & Tap toggle switch: Centred at Normal, your tapped tempo plays back exactly as tapped. Flip it to Slow and that tempo gets divided down for a more relaxed sweep; flip it to Fast and it’s multiplied up for something quicker.
• Modify: Does something different depending on which of the eight modes you’re in!
• Tap/Trigger footswitch: in six of the eight modes (Classic, Through-Zero, Barber Pole Up, Barber Pole Down, Step, Random) this sets your tap tempo. In Trigger Up and Trigger Down modes specifically, it works differently — each press directly triggers the effect rather than setting a tempo.
• Presets rotary: switches between Live mode and five onboard presets. The factory presets are EarthQuaker’s own picks, but nothing stops you overwriting them with your own settings.
• Mode rotary: selects which of the eight flanger modes is active.

Power

Runs on a standard 9V DC centre-negative supply. 460mA current draw.

Who Is This For

Worth a serious look if you want genuine depth from a flanger rather than a single fixed voice. The eight modes, presets, and true stereo I/O make this suited to players who want to programme and recall specific sweeps rather than dial in one sound and leave it there.

Watch The EarthQuaker Pyramids In Action

FAQs