The tagline of Eventide's Space pedal is "Reverb and beyond." It's an apt description for this pedal, which is easily the most expansive reverb we've seen.
In our Space reverb review, we'll take a closer look at what this pedal has to offer. It's not for everyone, but if it's a pedal that suits you, it can take your sound to new heights.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Reverb Pedal
Whether you just want to add a touch of presence to your sound or you aspire to create distinctive ambient soundscapes, a reverb pedal is an essential thing to have on your pedalboard. However, there are plenty of reverb units out there, and it can feel next to impossible to choose the right one. Here are some of the things you might want to consider before making a purchase:
Make | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|
Eventide | Space |
Eventide Space Reverb Pedal
PRO's & CON's of Eventide Reverb
But before we get into our review, let's check out some pros and cons:
Pros
Cons
Features and Benefits
Now we'll take a closer look at the Space pedal and what it has to offer.
Initial Impression
At first glance, this is a pedal with quality sound and quality build to match. The metal construction can withstand rigorous use, and the metal footswitches are built to last. It's big -- it measures 4.8" x 7.5" -- and it consumes a fair bit of power. You need either 9V/500mA or 12V/400mA, center positive.
We also like that Space comes equipped with a HotSwitch. This footswitch instantly changes parameters within a preset. The exact changes depend on the preset you're using, but don't worry -- Eventide includes a detailed manual that tells you all you need to know.
One of the other things you'll notice about the Space is how many control knobs it has. We'll get to those in a minute. For now, check out this video overview of this remarkable reverb pedal.
Presets
The Space reverb is a pedal that comes with 100 highly-adjustable presets. We think these are a major bonus -- it's rare that you find so many unique sounds in one stompbox. And while it's called the Eventide Space reverb for a reason, the algorithms used include elements of pitch shifting, distortion, delay, modulation, and more. Here are a few of our favorite presets:
Of course, this is just a small sampling of what this Eventide reverb has to offer. Check out this video of one user's top 10 presets.
Controls And Ease Of Use
We mentioned earlier that Space has a whole lot of controls. Here's what you get:
You also have three metal footswitch controls -- active (turns pedal on/off), HotSwitch (changes parameters of a preset), and Tap (tap tempo). If you want to learn a little more about the Space, check out this video tutorial on the HotSwitch.
Inputs And Outputs
Compared to your typical mono in/mono out stompbox, Space gives you plenty of options. MIDI in and out controllers are a great bonus, although it's entirely possible to use this reverb pedal without MIDI.
This pedal has optional stereo inputs and outputs, although it's perfectly comfortable (and sounds great) running in mono, too. We like the fact that there's a switch to change a guitar level output (what you'd use to connect to an amp) to a line-level output (what you'd use to connect to a mixer).
You also get an optional expression pedal input. Depending on the preset, an expression pedal can add a new dimension to the sound -- pitch shifting, modulation, swells, and more. If you want to get more of a sense of what the Space reverb is capable of, check out this thorough video run-through.
Pricing And Utility
Eventide is known for their studio-quality rackmount effects, but in more recent years, they've worked to distill this sound into road-ready stompboxes like Space. For this reason, the Eventide Space reverb is more expensive than your typical effects pedal.
However, given the remarkable spatial effects you get with this reverb pedal, it's important to remember that you're essentially getting several pedals in one. That said, though, players who are looking primarily for classic reverbs like room, hall, spring, plate, and even reverse reverb can find quality algorithms on less costly pedals. If you want to see some of what this reverb pedal can do, check out this cool video of one player's favorite Space sounds.
Social Proof of the Pedal
Before you decide whether the Space is right for you, it may be helpful to see what other guitarists think of this pedal. We went ahead and sought out some informative reviews. Here are some that we found:
Like many reviewers we found, this person was impressed with Space's sound and easy-to-use controls. This reviewer also brought up the high price, but he ultimately concluded that it was worth it.
This helpful review is especially useful if you're trying to decide whether the Eventide Space is for you. We agree with this buyer -- if you're looking for traditional reverb options like room, plate, spring, and hall, you can find other pedals that offer similar-quality reverbs for a lot less. But if your music is more on the experimental side or if you enjoy creating lush and complex soundscapes, Space might just be right.
Just about every review we found was a positive one, but this one wasn't as glowing. For this reviewer, less-expensive units ended up sounding better when it came to vocal processing. The Space reverb is intended as a guitar pedal, but you can use it for vocals and other instruments.
In Conclusion
In closing, while Space may be a little pricey, we think that it's a fantastic pedal for the player who really likes to experiment with sound. And it isn't limited to guitar -- it's a versatile stompbox that you can use on stage or in the studio with synths, vocals, and more. Check it out today!
