
If you're a Uni-Vibe fan you've probably noticed you have a few basic options when it comes to vibe pedals: True Uni-Vibe clones, phaser-based vibes, and digital modelers. Modelers are dependent on the sophistication of their algorithms, which varies and is a matter of debate. Phaser-based vibes, while generally cheap and convenient, don't produce the deep, pulsing throb that is the hallmark of a true Uni-Vibe and, in reality, still sound more like phasers than vibes. And true clones which, while many capture the classic throb of a real Uni-Vibe, they all depend on a famously unreliable lamp and driver circuit, they can't run on a 9V battery and often require special power adapters, and typically give you control over only a few standard parameters - speed, intensity and volume.
The AXiom Omega-Vibe OV-1 was designed to address all of that. The Omega-Vibe can nail the asymmetric heart-beat like throb of a vintage Shin-ei/Univox Uni-Vibe, it's 100% analog, and it runs on a 9V battery or any standard effects pedal 9V adapter. It features a powerful oscillator section that not only precisely reproduces the asymmetric skewed sine wave lamp response of the classic Uni-Vibes but also gives you control over lamp BIAS (which is set at the factory in Uni-Vibe clones and controls how intense the effect is) and lamp AGE (lamps slowly dim and change from a fast to slower thermal response as they age). The standard INTENSITY, VOLUME and SPEED controls function exactly as one would expect for a Uni-Vibe type pedal but with enhanced operating ranges as compared to Uni-Vibe clones. Furthermore, there's a MIX control that allows you to adjust the level of dry to effected signal - all the way from completely dry through chorus to full vibrato. And, perhaps the best feature of all, is the CHARACTER control that allows you to set the Omega-Vibe to the smooth even low-end sweep of the late 1960s Uni-Vibes or the more intense heartbeat-like pulse of the 1970s units.
So how did we do it? Let's just say we started with the original Uni-Vibe circuit, added a hefty dose of mathematical analysis, modeling and bench testing of the filters, oscillator and lamp behavior, and in the process discovered some very little known facts about what makes a true Uni-Vibe make its magic. The Omega-Vibe can authentically produce practically any Uni-Vibe sound you can imagine, from vintage to modern, mild to intense, new lamp to old, smooth 1960s sweep to '70s double throb, hot biased lamp to cold-biased... and it runs on 9Vdc and consumes less power than some overdrive pedals.
- 100% analog circuitry
- Authentically produces the frequency sweep and asymmetric throb of the legendary Shin-ei/Univox Uni-Vibe (with adjustable parameters that can capture the different varieties of original Uni-Vibes and beyond)
- A CHARACTER switch that lets you go from 1960s spec Uni-Vibes with a smooth low-end sweep to the thumpiness of the 1970s units.
- A MIX control that lets you blend the dry signal with the effected signal for subtle to maximum chorus or vibrato effect.
- A lamp BIAS control that mimics the effect of a cold to hot biased lamp.
- A lamp AGE control that mimics the response of a new lamp with a fast thermal response to an old lamp with a slower response.
- Enhanced ranges of SPEED, VOLUME and INTENSITY compared to traditional Uni-Vibe clones.
- 14-18 mA current draw @ 9Vdc
- Matching color LED indicator so you can see which pedal is on even on a dark stage
- Individually handmade
- True bypass
SAMPLE 1 - Clean E7 Chord
Dry:
Omega-Vibe OV-1: MIX=CHORUS, AGE=5, BIAS=7, SPEED=6, INTENSITY=2.5, CHARACTER='70s
Omega-Vibe OV-1: MIX=3, AGE=NEW, BIAS=6, SPEED=6, INTENSITY=3, CHARACTER='60s
Omega-Vibe OV-1: MIX=CHORUS, AGE=NEW, BIAS=5, SPEED=6, INTENSITY=10, CHARACTER='60s
SAMPLE 2 - Clean Strumming Arpeggio
Dry:
Omega-Vibe OV-1: MIX=3, AGE=NEW, BIAS=6, SPEED=7.5, INTENSITY=3, CHARACTER='70s
Omega-Vibe OV-1: MIX=3, AGE=NEW, BIAS=6.5, SPEED=3, INTENSITY=6, CHARACTER='60s