With its latest release, Old Blood Noise Endeavors refines years of reverse-delay experimentation into a new pedal called the Setback.
Setback builds on a lineage that includes Rever, Minim, BL-44, and Parting, but this time the goal was to create the ideal reverse delay. That means giving players the ability to go completely off-grid – or lock tightly into tempo.
At the heart of the pedal is a stereo signal path with analog dry-through, ensuring your core tone remains intact even as the reversed signal twists around it. The Mix control handles the wet/dry blend, while Speed adjusts reverse playback rate – opening the door to pitch-shifted swells, warped textures, and tape-like slowdowns.
The Div knob introduces rhythmic subdivisions, letting you sync repeats to your playing or an external clock, while the Clock control manipulates sample rate, shaping everything from pristine clarity to degraded, lo-fi grit.
Expression control is available over every knob, meaning you can morph parameters in real time, from subtle modulation to full-on sonic mutation. Add full MIDI implementation including MIDI clock sync, and Setback instantly becomes a pretty beefy addition to any rig.
The Aux switch pulls double duty, offering tap tempo, held feedback, or preset switching depending on how you configure it. Meanwhile, Alt controls unlock deeper functionality like volume shaping and direct manipulation of delay time, rewarding players who like to dig beneath the surface.
Despite its depth, Setback keeps things intuitive where it counts. A soft-touch On/Off footswitch with relay switching ensures minimal noise, and players can choose between buffered trails or true bypass depending on their setup. Visually, the pedal is brought to life by artwork from John Salame, giving it a surreal, unpredictable look.
Get the Old Blood Noise Endeavors Setback here for $259 and keep up with all our Old Blood Noise Endeavors coverage right here!
