Lichtlaerm Audio As Above So Below Guitar Effect

Octave-Shifting Reverb Pedal with Three Selectable Modes

Lichtlaerm Audio As Above So Below is a compact octave-shifting reverb pedal designed for ambient, cinematic, and experimental guitar work. At its core sits a cavernous hall-style reverb engine that ranges from moderate textures to long-decay, evolving soundscapes. The pedal's defining feature is its three-position Mode Selector, which routes the reverb through an octave-up shimmer (Above), a sub-octave drone (Below), or both simultaneously, producing haunting harmonic collisions that no single-mode shimmer pedal can replicate. This instrument is the right choice for guitarists and producers who need a single stompbox capable of covering subtle pad work, full-blown cinematic washes, and freeze-style ambient drones.

Octave Architecture, Freeze Function, and Effects Loop

What sets this pedal apart from typical shimmer reverbs is the dual-octave architecture combined with a true Freeze footswitch. Holding Freeze suspends the reverb tail in time, turning the pedal into a sustained pad instrument that can be played over indefinitely. A dedicated Send & Return loop on the side of the enclosure lets players insert external modulation, distortion, or filtering into only the wet signal, leaving the dry guitar untouched. Independent X and Y knobs change function depending on the selected mode, acting as pre-delay and shimmer depth in single-octave modes and becoming independent sub-octave and octave-up mixes when Both is engaged.

Reverb Engine and Mode Selector — Shaping the Core Sound

The reverb architecture itself is built for depth and movement, with a wide Decay range that pushes from moderate hall textures past self-oscillation into infinite ambient tails. Players who want to keep the high end smooth will appreciate the Dampen control, which rolls off the brightest reflections for a vintage bloom or a glassy shimmer depending on setting. The Mode Selector is a three-way toggle switching between Above, Below, and Both, and it is the single most important control on the pedal for defining the harmonic character of the wash.

• Mode Selector offers Above / Below / Both settings to route the reverb through octave-up shimmer, sub-octave drone, or both at once.
• Decay: Wide range — sweeps from moderate hall textures to self-oscillating infinite tails
• Dampen: High-frequency roll-off — tames bright reflections for vintage bloom or glassy shimmer voicings

Octave-Shaping Controls — X, Y, Mix, and Level

The X and Y controls are the player's primary tools for sculpting the octave behavior. In Above or Below mode, X adjusts pre-delay on the shifted octave and Y controls the depth of the shimmer within the decay. In Both mode, X becomes the sub-octave mix and Y becomes the octave-up mix, giving two independent level controls for the dual-octave wash. Mix sets the wet/dry balance from subtle ambiance to 100% wet, while Level offers up to +6 dB of clean boost so the reverb can sit above or plunge below the dry guitar in a mix.

• X Control: Pre-delay (single modes) / Sub-octave mix (Both mode) — sets octave timing or sub-octave level
• Y Control: Shimmer depth (single modes) / Octave-up mix (Both mode) — sets octave intensity or octave-up level
• Mix control allows for a wet/dry blend that moves fluidly from subtle ambiance to fully wet atmospheres.
• Level: Up to +6 dB boost — lets the reverb rise above the dry signal or sink beneath it

I/O, Power, and Physical Specs — Pedalboard Integration

Connectivity is built for serious pedalboard integration. Top-mounted 6.3 mm TS jacks handle standard mono in/out, while the side panel hosts the Send and Return loop, an Expression pedal input for real-time parameter morphing, and a Ramp input for hands-free transitions. Buffered smart relay bypass preserves signal integrity when the pedal is off, and a Trails toggle enables Spillover so reverb tails decay naturally across preset changes. Power is supplied via a standard 9V DC center-negative adapter drawing 150 mA minimum, with no battery option.

• Inputs: Ramp, Return, 6.3 mm TS, Expression Pedal — full side-panel I/O for external control and effects routing
• Outputs: Send, 6.3 mm TS — top-mounted mono out plus dedicated Send for the effects loop
• Bypass is handled by a smart relay system that preserves tone when disengaged, with selectable Trails/Spillover.
• Power: 9V DC center negative, 150 mA minimum — standard adapter-powered operation, no battery
• Dimensions: 121.9 × 66 × 39.6 mm — compact enclosure that fits standard pedalboard layouts