The Eventide Riptide is a dual-effect pedal combining a balanced distortion (Drive) and a faithful emulation of the classic Uni-Vibe™ (Vibe) in a stereo format. It offers a wide range of tonal possibilities, from subtle modulation to rich, pulsing depths, and dynamic distortion.
Function Description:
The Riptide features two independent effects:
- Drive: A balanced distortion designed for superb dynamics and touch sensitivity. It offers two voicings: Green Drive for a dynamic, mid-range crunch, and Red Drive for a smooth and boosted overdrive.
- Vibe: A faithful stereo emulation of the classic Uni-Vibe™. It also has two voicings: Green Vibe for the traditional Uni-Vibe sound, and Red Vibe for a deeper, phasey Vibe.
The order of these effects can be swapped using the "Swap LED Button," allowing for versatile signal chain configurations (Vibe → Drive or Drive → Vibe).
Important Technical Specifications:
- Power: 9VDC center-negative, 4.5W.
- Input: Standard TS (Mono) or TRS (Stereo).
- Outputs: Two outputs (1 & 2). In Mono mode, both outputs carry the same dry signal. In Stereo mode, Tip is OUT1 and Ring is OUT2.
- I/O Level Switch: Configurable for Guitar (instrument) or Line/Effects Loop levels.
- Expression Pedal Jack (EXP): Connects Expression Pedal, Aux Switches, or TRS MIDI.
- Mini USB: For software updates and MIDI over USB.
- Presets: 5 onboard presets, 127 via MIDI.
- MIDI: Supports MIDI program change messages for loading and saving presets, and MIDI CC messages for controlling various parameters.
- Bypass Modes: Buffer, Relay, DSP+FX, Kill Dry. Factory Default is Buffer.
- MIDI Clock: Can be enabled or disabled. Factory Default is Off.
- Catch Up Knob Function: Can be enabled or disabled. Factory Default is Off.
Usage Features:
The Riptide's front panel features a series of knobs, LED buttons, and footswitches for intuitive control:
Knobs:
- Vibe Mix: Controls the blend of the Vibe effect. 50% is recommended for classic Uni-Vibe chorus, and 100% for vibrato.
- Vibe Speed: Adjusts the modulation rate of the Vibe effect.
- Vibe Intensity: Controls the modulation depth of the Vibe effect.
- Drive: Adjusts the amount of distortion, from 0% (cleanest) to 100% (dirtiest).
- Tone: Shapes the Drive effect's tone. Left is dark, Right is bright, with 50% being neutral.
- Level: Controls the output level of the Drive effect.
- Preset LED Ladder: A series of LEDs indicating the currently selected preset (1-5). It blinks once when a preset is modified.
- Drive LED Button:
- Green/Red indicates Drive On; Off indicates Drive Off.
- Press to toggle the Drive voicing (Green Drive / Red Drive).
- In Preset Mode, it toggles Latching/Momentary for Active/Bypass.
- Swap LED Button:
- Off: Vibe → Drive effect order.
- On: Drive → Vibe effect order.
- Vibe LED Button:
- Green/Red indicates Vibe On; Off indicates Vibe Off.
- Press to toggle the Vibe voicing (Green Vibe / Red Vibe).
- Press and hold to save a preset.
- Drive Footswitch:
- On/Off for the Drive effect in Perform Mode.
- Loads a preset and controls Active/Bypass in Preset Mode.
- Vibe Footswitch:
- On/Off for the Vibe effect in Perform Mode.
- Selects Preset 1-5 in Preset Mode.
- Press and hold to toggle between Perform and Preset Modes.
Modes of Operation:
- Perform Mode: Footswitches turn effects on/off, and LED buttons toggle voicings.
- Preset Mode: Vibe Footswitch selects presets, and Drive Footswitch controls pedal active/bypass.
Preset Management:
- Loading Presets: In Preset Mode, use the Vibe Footswitch to select a preset (1-5, indicated by the blinking Preset LED Ladder), then press the Drive Footswitch to load it. For presets 6-127 (via MIDI), the bottom two Ladder LEDs will be lit.
- Saving Presets: Press and hold the Vibe LED Button to enter Save Mode. Use the Vibe LED Button to select the preset slot (1-5), then press the Drive LED Button to save. MIDI program change messages can also save presets to slots 1-127.
Expression Pedal Functionality:
- The Expression Pedal can be used to morph between different parameter settings from heel to toe. Users can set "Heel" and "Toe" values for any combination of knob parameters.
- To program: Press EXP pedal heel down, adjust knobs. Press EXP pedal toe down, adjust knobs. Save via presets.
- To clear mappings: Press and hold Drive Footswitch, then press and hold Drive LED Button until Preset Ladder LEDs flash twice.
- The EXP jack can be configured for Expression Pedal, EXP + AUX (Expression Pedal + Tap Rate), Triple AUX (Increment/Decrement/Load Preset), MIDI Box, or MIDI TRS.
MIDI Control:
- The Riptide supports MIDI program change messages for loading and saving presets (1-127).
- Various parameters can be controlled via MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) messages, including:
- Expression Pedal (CC 4)
- Tap Rate (CC 9)
- Pedal Active/Bypass (CC 14)
- Drive On/Off (CC 52)
- Vibe On/Off (CC 53)
- Drive Voicing (CC 54)
- Vibe Voicing (CC 55)
- Swap Effect Order (CC 56)
- Vibe Parameter (CC 20)
- Speed Parameter (CC 21)
- Intensity Parameter (CC 22)
- Drive Parameter (CC 23)
- Tone Parameter (CC 24)
- Level Parameter (CC 25)
System Setup:
- Accessed by applying power while holding the Drive Footswitch and Swap LED Button. The top two Preset LEDs will be on.
- Allows configuration of:
- MIDI Channel: 1-16 or OMNI (Factory Default).
- Bypass Mode: Buffer (Factory Default), Relay, DSP+FX, Kill Dry.
- MIDI Clock: On/Off (Factory Default is Off). Disables Aux Tap switch and CC 9 when On.
- Catch Up ON/OFF: On/Off (Factory Default is Off). Prevents abrupt sound changes when loading presets by requiring knob movement to the current value.
- EXP Pedal Jack: EXP (Default), EXP + AUX, TRIPLE AUX, MIDI BOX, MIDI TRS.
Maintenance Features:
- Software Updates: Performed via the Mini USB port. Power on while pressing Vibe Footswitch and Vibe LED Button to enter update mode. Downloads for Mac and PC are available on eventideaudio.com/riptide.
- Restore Factory Settings: Power on while pressing Drive Footswitch and Drive LED Button.
- Global Settings: Changes made in System Setup are stored as they are made. Cycle power to exit System Setup.