You're about to aquire pure ducking.

Limited batch of 200: The Pill
New Pill Now Available: 0 left*

*This batch was sold out, but due to a few cancellations, there are now very few pedals available! *Every single pedal is handmade, crucial parts are hand selected, measured, matched and finally the pedal is calibrated, all by my ears. This is the only way I can guarantee the most bouncy ducking and the best sound quality. My available time limits the number of pedals I can build. Pre-Order. Shipping October 2024.

THE PILL
THE PILL
THE PILL
THE PILL
THE PILL
THE PILL
Regular price 385.00 USD Pre-order. Shipping October 2024
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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, stereo and made in Switzerland. 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 intensity. From subtle to complete silence.
  • Trigger: Sets the sensibility (gain/threshold) of the trigger input. Quickly adjusted to fit the input source.
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

  • We added a Trigger thru output jack to route your bass drums (etc.) out of the pedal. No need for a Y-splitter or mixing desk.

Added discrete Footswtich/CV input to trigger the effect.

  • A seperate Footswitch/CV/Gate/Trigger input. Can be used simultaneously with the normal (audio)-trigger input.

Added capacitive touch sensors on potentiometers to manually fire triggers

  • When there's nothing plugged into the audio trigger input, the trigger sensitivity knob (which you then don't need) transforms into a touch sensor. Just tap on it with your fingertip to manually fire triggers.
  • When there's something plugged into the trigger input, just tap on both the middle and right potentiometer, to create the same effect

Find all features and specifications here

let me know
how and why?


How does it work?

There are instrument inputs(s) and trigger inputs. Every time the pedal detects a signal at the trigger input, the audio from the instrument inputs 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 made 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
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 (Instrument/Line)

  • 2x ¼ Jack (TS, unbalanced) Accepts any audio sources
    • Balanced signals are converted into unbalanced ones

Trigger Inputs

  • 1x ¼ jack for audio trigger (drum maschines, mics, piezo triggers...)
  • 1x â…› Jack for Footswitch/CV/Gate Trigger
  • Necessarily use TS cables for CV, TRS for footswitch
  • Can be used simultaniously

Outputs

  • 2x ¼ Jack instrument/line outputs
  • 1x ¼ Jack audio trigger output

Controls

  • Potentiometers: Release, Depth, Trigger
  • Capacitive touch sensitive Pots to manually fire triggers
  • Bypass footswitch

Dimensions / Weight

  • Enclosure: 117.2x90x39mm // 4.61x3.54x1.53inch

Power

  • Standard Boss type 9-12V DC (center negative). No batteries. 35mA@9V

...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 UV-Print
  • Designed in Berlin, handmade in Switzerland
  • Carbon neutral shipping with recycled boxing materials

please check my FAQ Page for more information.

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