Source Audio Encounter: New Delay and Reverb Pedal
- Noise Harmony
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Source Audio Encounter is the kind of pedal that makes you want to sit down, plug in, and just get lost in sound for hours. It’s not your average delay or reverb box. Instead, it’s built for creating wide, atmospheric textures, the kind of stuff that turns a simple chord or note into a huge, evolving soundscape.
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What makes the Encounter special is that it isn’t limited to one effect at a time. The pedal gives you twelve different effects in total: six delays and six reverbs, and you’re free to mix them however you want. You can stack two delays, run two reverbs, or go with one of each. On top of that, you decide how they’re wired up: one effect flowing into the other, both running side by side, or each one split left and right for a wide stereo spread. That flexibility already makes it feel like more than just a single pedal.
The algorithms themselves are a mix of fresh ideas and reimagined classics from Source Audio’s earlier pedals. On the delay side, you’ll find modes like Noise Tape (with a gritty, Space Echo vibe), Resonant (with filtering that almost sings), Drum Echo, Echoverb, Kaleidoscope (a cascading, harp-like delay), and Helix. The reverbs are equally creative: Hypersphere (an enormous, spacey wash), Shimmers (dual-pitched shimmer that adds angelic overtones), TremVerb, Reverse, Lo-Fi, and Swell. None of them feel like plain “studio” delays or reverbs, they’re more about exploration and layering.
Control-wise, it’s simple enough to use. There are six knobs on the front: delay, feedback, tone, mix, and two “control” knobs that change function depending on the algorithm you’ve chosen. Each effect has its own footswitch, so you can treat the pedal like two units in one. The left footswitch also doubles as a tap tempo for syncing delays.
Check out our custom-made presets for Line 6 Helix!
NH_LunarShine
NH_VALEFOR_R_GATE
NH_Dreamy_HELIX
One of the best parts of the Encounter is how it handles presets. The pedal itself can save up to eight, so you can easily switch between your go-to sounds. If you need more, just connect MIDI and suddenly you’ve got access to 128 slots. That’s super handy for live shows, where every song might call for a completely different atmosphere.
The connections are also well thought out. You get stereo inputs and outputs, full 5-pin MIDI in and thru, an expression pedal jack, a USB port for the Neuro software, and of course a standard 9V power input. The Neuro app is where the magic really opens up. It lets you dig deep into every parameter, organize your presets, and even grab patches other players have uploaded. There’s also a clever SoundCheck feature that plays back pre-recorded loops of guitar, bass, synth, or drums through the pedal, so you can explore its sounds without even plugging in an instrument.
From the first demos, the Encounter really does sound beautiful. The delays and reverbs aren’t just smooth and lush, they’ve got this slightly strange, experimental quality that makes them feel different from the usual stuff. Source Audio has always had a reputation for top-notch algorithms, and here it feels like they’ve gone all in on the more adventurous side of things.
Who’s it made for? Of course, guitarists who love ambient, shoegaze, or big cinematic sounds will get a lot out of it. But it’s just as interesting for synth players or sound designers looking for wide, spacious effects. Thanks to the stereo setup and flexible routing, it fits just as well on a regular pedalboard as it does next to a drum machine or synth. In the end, it’s really a pedal for anyone who enjoys exploring sound.
All in all, the Encounter feels like a logical step forward from the Collider, but much more adventurous. If you’re after simple slapback delays or a spring reverb, this probably isn’t the pedal. But if you want to explore, to create lush and otherworldly soundscapes, this one looks like it delivers in a big way.
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