You're about to aquire pure ducking.




Limited batch: The Pill
left*

*Every single pedal is handmade, crucial parts are handselected, measured, matched and finally the pedal is calibrated, all by my ears. Only like that I can guarantee the most bouncy ducking and best sound quality. My time available is simply limiting the number of pedals I can build. Pre-order. Shipped in July 2023.

THE PILL
Regular price 375.00 USD Pre-order. Shipped on June 28th 2023. Shipping: $15
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The Pill Stereo is sold out.
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Move your music
Discover The Pill
The Pill is the first of its kind Ducking Effect Pedal. It brings a music production effect to the live stage.

All it does is ducking. It's its core purpose. Analog, true bypass and handmade in Europe. It's made by a musician, for musicians.


Release. Depth. Trigger. No need for more.

  • Release: Sets the duration of the ducking. From short to long.
  • Depth: Sets the ducking volume level. From subtle to complete silence.
  • Trigger: Sets the sensibility (gain) of the trigger input. Quickly adjusted to fit the input source.

How does it work?

There are instrument inputs(s) and a trigger input. Every time the pedal detects a signal at the trigger input, the audio from the instrument input gets ducked. It's that simple.

The trigger signal is not routed to the audio outputs.

Find all features and specifications here


Why The Pill

This pedal brings a music production effect to the live stage. It's a unique design and piece of music equipment. Instantly ready on stage. No troublesome calibration. No need for other accessories.

It’s handmade in Europe. Developed by a musician, who understands what musicians wish for and need. No needless functions. Pure Ducking in a robust aluminium enclosure, which just looks dazzling.

100% focused on functionality, musicality and sound quality. No compromises.

The pedal has been tested in real life environments - on stage, in the studio, on tour.



Each pedal is calibrated by ear. Crucial parts are hand-selected, measured and matched.
The Pill Pedal - handmade
The Pill Pedal - handmade
The Pill Pedal - handmade in Switzerland
The Pill Pedal - handmade in Switzerland
You asked for it
New features. To inspire you even more


To hear how musicians all over the planet get inspired by this pedal is one of the most beautiful things I may experience in the journey of making this product. You wished for some additional features - and here they are!

Added Trigger thru output jack (The Pill only)

  • The Pill: Added Trigger thru output jack.
  • The Pill Mini: Just use a Y-splitter cable, if the Trigger signal needs to be passively splitted. This works perfectly due to The Pill Pedal's Trigger input architecture.

Added discrete CV/Gate/Trigger input to trigger the effect.

  • The Pill: Seperate CV/Gate/Trigger input. Can be used simultaneously with the normal (audio)-trigger input.
  • The Pill Mini: Shared trigger input for both normal (audio)-trigger or CV/Gate/Trigger. Selectable by an internal switch.

Added buffered-bypass option

  • Selectable with internal switch.
  • For those who love to engage The Pill completely noiseless.
  • As a bonus, buffered bypass mode also switches to true-bypass when power is disconnected!

Find all features and specifications here

Please note: Since I was developing and not photographing, the pictures of The Pill (stereo version) are not updated yet. So you won't find the trigger thru output jack on the photos.

Quotes
«That is rad as fun. Fuck!»
Tim Lefebvre - The Pill - Analog Ducking Effect - Sidechain Compression Pedal
Len Sander - The Pill - Analog Ducking Effect - Sidechain Compression Pedal

«That is rad as fun. Fuck!» Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie, Sting, Knower...)

«I've used the Berlinbounce ducking effect for two years now and it's one of the best devices I've ever owned, no cap. I wish there was a software plugin emulation of this. It reacts so much better than any compressor with sidechain input.» Alessandro Hug (Producer and Keyboarder of Len Sander)

«I was lucky enough to get in on the first batch of this pedal and I have used it a bunch since. Having hardware dedicated to sidechain compression is a game changer for me. In the live environment it gets rid of all the hassle of using plugins and gives me tactile and direct access to the parameters of the compressor. It's portable, super sturdy, fun to use and most importantly it sounds amazing» Paul Evans (Sound Engineer, Sweden)

«When you try out new recording equipment, you quickly feel if it's something for you or not. This pedal just nailed everything. Super easy to use, great sound and extreme flexible with input levels and sources.» Manuel Egger (Recording Engineer, Suburban Sound Studio, Switzerland)

The Pill Pedal - handmade in Switzerland
the story + about me

When you think about it

...The Pill connects the energy of two musicians together. It can make a flat sound more vibrant. Rhythmically always linked to another instrument.

It's moving music, making it more lively, leting it breathe along with other instruments. It creates an organic sound with more depth. It’s all about groove. It’s bouncing.

handmade
Features & Specs


Audio Inputs

  • 2x Mono ¼ Jack
  • 1x Mono ¼ Jack

Trigger Inputs

  • 1x Mono ¼ jack for audio trigger
  • 1x Mono â…› Jack for CV/Gate Trigger
  • Can be used simultaniously
  • 1x Mono ¼ Jack for both Audio and CV/Gate Trigger.
  • Selectable with internal switch

Audio Outputs

  • 2x Mono ¼ Jack
  • 1x Mono ¼ Jack

Trigger thru

  • true thru Mono ¼ output Jack
  • None. But you can just split the trigger signal with a Y-splitter cable before plug in to The Pill Pedal.

Dimensions

  • 119.5 x 94 x 38 mm (Hammond 1590BB)
  • 112.5 x 60.5 x 31 mm (Hammond 1590B)

Bypass

  • True bypass with silent softtouch footswitch (operated by a relay)
    -or-
  • Buffered bypass (completely silent switching)
  • Selectable with internal switch

Power

  • Standard Boss type 9-12V DC (center negative). No batteries.

...but most importantly

  • Analog. No digits in here!
  • Flexible input levels (from guitars/mics to studio line-levels) due to a unique, minimalistic audio path
  • Musical and best sounding audio compression due to passive, optical signal ducking
  • Crucial parts are hand-selected, measured and matched by audition by a musician
  • High quality components, selected over years by A/B tests
  • Each pedal is calibrated by ear
  • Die-Cast Aluminium Enclosure, made by Hammond
  • Durable powder coating and lasting UV-Print
  • Designed in Berlin, handmade in Switzerland
  • Carbon neutral shipping with recycled boxing materials

Find the Get-Started-Manual here!

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