Cntl Knob

110
GUITARIST APRIL 2021
Cntl Knob
A ’board-friendly alternative to an expression pedal
MANUFACTURER
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
MODEL
CNTL KNOB
CONTACT
ELECTRO-HARMONIX WWW.EHX.COM
PRICE
£35
PEDALBOARD
PROS Compact size; affordable; instant
toggling between two preset expression
pedal values; TRS+/- polarity button for
maximum compatibility
CONS Requires power, which a passive
expression pedal wouldn’t
Words Trevor Curwen Photography Phil Barker
W
e’ve probably all got one or
more pedals that have an input
for expression pedal control…
and we’ve probably all got one or more
reasons why we don’t always use them.
Maybe we don’t own an expression pedal
or we think it’s too much of a faff to set up.
Or maybe it’s simply that an expression
pedal (or indeed multiple expression
pedals) can take up valuable real estate
on our pedalboards.
Now, there are instances when an
expression pedal’s treadle action is
essential: you’d definitely need one if you
wanted to have real physical control over
the wahs found in the Boss GT-1000Core
reviewed in this issue, for example, or
maybe to get some Whammy-style action
from a pitch shifter such as the recently
reviewed Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork+.
However, there are also instances where
that treadle action of incrementally
morphing through the full range of
expression values is not required, and
that’s where EHX has come up with an
elegant solution that will slot into your
pedalboard much more easily than a
treadle-based pedal.
The Cntl Knob is a micro-sized
stompbox that lets you instantly
switch between two different user-set
expression pedal values; effectively, you
get to toggle between two positions of
a traditional expression pedal with its
footswitch. The two values are set by a
pair of knobs (EXP 1 and EXP 2), each
with an associated LED to show which
is currently active. With both knobs, the
fully anti-clockwise start point represents
the heel-down position of an expression
pedal, while the fully right clockwise
position corresponds to the toe position,
so you can set them to cover the full
0 to 127 heel-to-toe range or to switch
between any two values in between.
The possibilities are many, including
effectively giving you switching between
two ‘presets’ in the case of pedals that
allow multiple parameters to be mapped
to expression values, toggling between
two gain values on a drive pedal or two
different pitches on a pitch shifter pedal.
And, as the Cntl Knob has switchable
polarity, it is compatible with many
manufacturer’s pedals, not just those from
Electro-Harmonix.
How about using a fader to change expression
values? This will easily slot into your ’board or
could perhaps be strapped to your mic stand.
A programmable multi-expression controller
that lets one expression pedal control up to three
expression-enabled effects.
Expressionator £199
If you need an expression pedal but don’t have the
space for a full-size one, this one is micro-sized at
128mm deep by 55mm wide and 48mm high.
Expline £74.99
ALSO TRY...
Expression Slider £49
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
MOOER OLD BLOOD NOISE ENDEAVORS MISSION ENGINEERING
OLD BLOOD NOISE ENDEAVORS
VERDICT
A clever utility item that will expand your
pedalboard possibilities and is inexpensive
and space-saving.
GIT470.peds_ehx.indd 110 18/02/2021 14:06