POLY EFFECTS Trails Multi-effects pedal

Productdetails

Trails is a multi-effect pedal designed to create unconventional textures and evolving soundscapes through seven unique modes. Each mode is built as its own ecosystem, offering distinct processing approaches that range from sympathetic string resonance and resonator modeling to vinyl-inspired delays, vocal formant shaping, wavefolding distortion, and granular micro-looping. All effects run in true stereo, with individual parameters for each mode and an onboard 8-step sequencer capable of animating every control.

The pedal provides eight presets per mode, which also function as sequencer steps. These can be managed directly or arranged into custom set lists using a USB flash drive. Trails integrates MIDI for program changes, pitch control via note input, and parameter mapping through control change messages. The design also incorporates sustain and bypass footswitches with secondary functions for preset and mode navigation. Its tactile LED sliders allow precise parameter adjustment, with a fine mode available for detailed control.

Each mode in Trails offers a distinct sound environment. Meadows introduces sympathetic strings that respond to the player’s input, evoking sarod- or sitar-like textures. Haven is a resonator model that creates bell-like tones based on guitar excitation. Prairie functions as a vinyl-style delay with controls for record speed, aging, and surface noise. Outback simulates a human vocal tract for talkbox-like and formant-modulated effects. Tundra delivers pitch-shifted delays with MIDI note quantization and chromatic feedback looping. Badlands applies aggressive wavefolding and Chebyshev distortion for extreme tonal shaping. Coast captures and granulates snippets of sound for stuttering or atmospheric layering.

Controls

• LED sliders: 4096-step resolution for parameter control, with fine mode for precision

• Sustain footswitch: varies by mode (freeze, sustain increase, stop, etc.)

• Left footswitch: tap for sustain, hold for mode navigation

• Right footswitch: tap for bypass, hold for preset navigation

• Mode-specific controls include:

  • Blend: wet/dry mix

  • Pitch: tuning of sympathetic strings, bells, or pitch shifting range

  • Structure: material/tension modeling for resonators and strings

  • Density: grain playback density for granular and frozen signals

  • Length/Speed: vinyl delay playback speed and direction

  • Aging: tonal degradation simulating worn records

  • Noise: amount of surface crackle in vinyl mode

  • Speed: rate of mouth opening/closing in Outback

  • Shape: envelope curve for formant or grain shapes

  • Tongue position: alters formant filtering in Outback

  • Feedback: pitch-shifted delay regeneration

  • Delay level: output level of delay repeats

  • Number of folds: intensity of wavefolding distortion

  • Bias amount: modifies wavefolding dynamics

  • Size: grain/snippet length for granular playback

  • Wave shape: amplitude envelope for grains

Connections

• Input jack (mono or stereo TRS)

• Output jack (mono or stereo TRS)

• Power input: 9V DC, negative center, 500 mA (maximum 9V only)

• USB-C port: compatible with small USB flash drives for presets and set lists

• MIDI input and output: TRS Type A (pink = input, green = output)

Technical Specifications

• Power requirement: 9V DC, center-negative, 500 mA

• Dimensions: 102 mm (W) x 112 mm (D) x 60 mm (H)

• USB compatibility: flash drives only (no hard drives)

• Stereo operation requires TRS cables

• Default behavior: passes input signal unchanged, with options for summing or muting

Highlights

• Seven distinct stereo modes: sympathetic resonance, resonator bells, vinyl-style delay, vocal tract modeling, pitch-shifted delay, wavefolding distortion, and granular micro-looping

• 8-step sequencer with per-mode preset stepping and tempo control

• MIDI integration for program changes, parameter control, and pitch input

• True stereo processing with flexible input/output configurations

• High-resolution LED sliders with fine-tuning mode for parameter control

• Sustain and bypass footswitches with additional functions for mode and preset navigation

• Custom set list support via USB flash drive