Overview
The Flamma FS05 Modulation, is a stereo modulation multi-type effect pedal, very economical and off course Chinese made. It is equally useful on guitars and keyboards, including synthesizers. Please note however, that I tested this guitar effect pedal on a keyboard. If you try this out with an electric guitar, your sound impressions and usability will most likely be different from mine. Before I bought this effect pedal during Black Friday sale, I had already owned its less feature rich, mono only, less expensive model FC05, and were very satisfied. I had actually planned to buy another one, to slightly detune for a nice stereo effect, when I discovered the FS05 model, which were not only the stereo version, but also had an additional control parameter knob.
Main Features
- 11 Modulation Effect Types (Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo, Phaser, Vibrato, Rotary, Liquid, Auto Wah, Stutter, Ring Modulation, and Low Bit)
- Rate, Depth, plus Ctrl 1 and Ctrl 2 adjustment knobs.
- Stereo input and output. Mono to stereo output.
- Preset Storage – Parameters can be stored and recalled using the footswitch in seven preset patches. A LED light depicts current preset in use.
- True bypass footswitch.
Knob Adjustment Details
As you can see in the picture, the pedal has five knobs and one push foot switches. Knobs are;
- Rate – This adjustment knob controls the rate, speed of the modulation.
- Type – This switch knob allows you to select any of the 11 modulation types.
- Depth – This adjustment knob controls the depth, range of the modulation.
- Ctrl 1 – Effect type dependent parameter adjustment knob.
- Ctrl 2 – Effect type dependent parameter adjustment knob.
Unfortunately, this effect pedal suffers from a rather an annoying design limitation! If bypass is off and you set effect type, and/or tweak the parameter knobs, and you now want to use the foot switch to bypass effect, hearing only dry sound, when you switch bypass off, this unit auto-loads currently select slot preset! In other words, it forgets the effect type and parameter knob settings you specified! To overcome this issue, you have to save type and parameters, before pressing the bypass foot switch!
Testing
Note even though I own more than 40 synthesizers, I tested the Flamma FS05 with a simple Yamaha PSR-36 keyboard that does not have any internal effect processing. Furthermore, I did not add any external effects or processing. For simplicity and to prevent the review video from being too long, I only tested the following sounds; Brass, Electric Piano, Strings, and Bells.
Effect type details
- Chorus – Creates a rich sound by mixing an original signal with delayed, pitch-shifted copies, where the pitch modulation of those copies follows a cyclical triangle wave, resulting in a classic, deep “angular” texture, often used in music to thicken sounds like guitars, keyboards, or vocals. Ctrl 1 adjust the dry/wet mix amount. Ctrl 2 is a simple tone control, left cutting high, and right cutting low frequencies.
- Flanger – Audio effect created by mixing two copies of the same signal, with one copy slightly delayed and its delay time continuously modulated to create a sweeping, “jet-like” sound. This process causes frequencies to be cancelled and reinforced, resulting in a characteristic “comb filter” effect with peaks and notches. Flangers are used to add depth and movement to music and have controls for speed, depth, and feedback to adjust the effect’s intensity. Ctrl 1 adjust the dry/wet mix amount. Ctrl 2 adjust the feedback.
- Tremolo – A rich, dynamic volume effect in vintage tube amps that works by modulating the power tube’s bias voltage, here with a triangle wave, unlike other tremolos that cut the signal. This creates a uniquely smooth, deep sound that responds to playing dynamics, letting louder notes “play over” the effect, with some designs also offering a harmonic or phaser-like quality, common in Fender “brownface” amps. Ctrl 1 adjust the “duty” amount, the shape or symmetry of the volume oscillation, similar to pulse width modulation.
- Phaser – Audio effect that creates a swirling or “whooshing” sound by splitting a signal, delaying one copy, and then feeding it back to sweep peaks and notches across the frequency spectrum. It is controlled by an LFO frequency, or rate, and can be adjusted with depth and feedback to alter the intensity and character of the effect, used commonly on guitars and other instruments to add movement, thickness, and character. Ctrl 1 adjust the dry/wet mix amount. Ctrl 2 is a simple tone control, left cutting high, and right cutting low frequencies.
- Vibrato – Creates a richer, shimmering sound by duplicating the original audio signal, slightly delaying the copies, and modulating their pitch before blending them with the original. This process simulates the sound of multiple voices or instruments playing in unison, adding depth, thickness, and width to sounds like guitars, vocals, and synthesizers. Ctrl 1 adjust the dry/wet mix amount. Ctrl 2 is a simple tone control, left cutting high, and right cutting low frequencies.
- Rotary – A speaker effect that creates a swirling, modulated sound by physically spinning the sound source, and is also used to describe both the underlying physics and digital emulations of this sound. The effect is achieved in the original Leslie speaker cabinet by having one speaker point into a spinning horn for high frequencies and another pointed into a spinning drum for low frequencies. The physical rotation causes a Doppler effect, which alters the sound’s pitch and intensity as it moves towards and away from the listener. Ctrl 1 adjust the dry/wet mix amount. Ctrl 2 is a simple tone control, left cutting high, and right cutting low frequencies.
- Liquid – A Liquid-like square wave modulation effect, making a kind bubbly underwater sound. It seems to be a combination with bit of chorus, tremolo, vibrato, and phaser. Ctrl 1 adjust the dry/wet mix amount. Ctrl 2 is a simple tone control, left cutting high, and right cutting low frequencies.
- Auto Filter – A dynamic audio effect, common in music production (like Ableton, Logic Pro), that automatically sweeps a filter’s cutoff frequency, creating movement and tonal shifts, unlike static EQs. It uses a Low-Frequency Oscillator (LFO) or envelope follower to rhythmically modulate frequencies, adding effects like swooshing, pulsing, or classic synth “wah” sounds to instruments, drums, or vocals, often synced to the beat. Ctrl 1 adjust the dry/wet mix amount. Ctrl 2 is a simple tone control, left cutting high, and right cutting low frequencies.
- Stutter – Very similar to the above Tremolo effect, expect it uses a square wave as its modulation source. Also called a “Gate” effect. Ctrl 1 adjust the “duty” amount, the shape or symmetry of the volume oscillation.
- Ring Modulation – A unique, often dissonant audio effect known for creating metallic sounds, robotic textures, and bell-like tones. It works by multiplying two audio signals (a carrier and a modulator), which removes the original frequencies and outputs only their sum and difference frequencies. Ctrl 1 adjust the pitch. Ctrl 2 is a simple tone control, left cutting high, and right cutting low frequencies.
- Low Bit – A sound effects, often associated with retro video games and a lo-fi aesthetic, are typically created by reducing the sample rate and bit depth of an audio signal, a process known as bit crushing. Ctrl 1 is a “smoothness” adjustment. Ctrl 2 adjusts the bitrate.
Connectors
- Power: There’s only option to power this effect pedal, and that is with a standard negative center pole 9V female socket. Power requirements are 300mA.
- Input: Two ¼” (6.5mm) unbalanced female mono TS jack socket
- Output: Two ¼” (6.5mm) unbalanced female mono TS socket
Build Quality: Case, Knobs, and Switches
The metal case and knobs are solid and sturdy. The top knobs row however do not have quite enough space between them to be easy to adjust! The foot switch seems of solid and good quality. The pedal has four small large rubber grips glued to underside of each corner, preventing it from sliding much, if any.
Accessories
- None
Documentation
- Included in the box is one tiny 4.5” x 3” four-page half in English “quickguide”.
- Provides decent enough information, had it not been for page containing information on the two effects type dependent control knobs are microscopic, totally unreadable! Sure, left and right side of the pedal contains larger text information, however and especially as a guitarist how can they expect the musician to read the sides from a standing or even a sitting position!
- Fortunately, quick guide does include a QR code, for you to scan with your phone, or do a web search, and download a decent 10-page manual!
Size
- Dimensions: 65mm wide x 115mm deep x 35mm tall
- Weight: 298 grams
Pros:
- Extremely affordable with 11 different effect types!
- Good sets of adjustment possibilities.
- Stereo Input and Output.
- Mono to Stereo Processing – Most of the effect types, all but Tremolo, Stutter, and Lo-Fi, produces a stereo signal, slightly different from each other, from either a single mono input, or two identical mono inputs!
- True wet signal tone control.
- Storing and recalling of the knob parameters into seven presets.
- Solid metal case.
- Sturdy knobs.
- Comprehensive 10-page manual available for download.
Cons:
- Annoying design that auto-loads a preset every time one switches the bypass switch off!
- Noise level on several of the effect types can become a problem, unless the level, or gain input knob on your preamp or mixer, is kept quite low.
- Top row of knobs is somewhat difficult to adjust due to small space between knobs.
- Included manual is more or less a joke! Microscopic control knob information is unreadable!
Conclusion
For about $60 you get eleven different modulation effects that are mostly very useful. Featuring stereo in and outputs, and signals being processed for eight of the effects in true, slightly different stereo, even with only one mono signal connected, is great! Still, I would have liked if the remaining three effects, Tremolo, Stutter, and Lo-Fi, would also have been truly stereo processed. The fact that this unit auto-loads currently selected preset, whenever one switches bypass off, and you have to remember to save parameters as a preset first is very annoying! Anyways, build is solid, and the signal quality is generally noise-free if you keep you level low on your mixer/preamp.