Players looking to add cinematic swells and envelope filter textures to their sound have a new compact option with Electro-Harmonix's latest release.
Electro-Harmonix’s Pico Swello Attack Envelope pedal brings polyphonic attack filtering to the popular Pico-sized format. Drawing inspiration from the legendary POG2 ATTACK slider, this pedal’s core effect applies volume swells to each note individually – even within complex chords and sustained arpeggios. That polyphonic capability sets it apart from typical envelope filters that can struggle with multiple notes.
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Four knobs and one button handle all the essential functions in typical EHX fashion. VOL controls the overall output level, while ATTACK sets how long each volume swell takes to develop. Lower ATTACK settings soften the initial pick attack, but crank it up and you’ll get epic, slow-building note swells that sound will sound huge through an amp.
The built-in low-pass filter adds another dimension through the remaining controls. Hit the FILTER button to engage the LPF and choose between high or low resonance settings, then use FREQ to set where the filter cuts off those higher frequencies.
Here’s where things get interesting – the MOD knob controls both the depth and direction of the filter modulation, working like a traditional envelope filter. Turn it clockwise from noon, and the filter sweeps upward as you play, or go counter-clockwise for a downward sweep that gets darker as notes decay.
Combining the polyphonic volume swells with the adjustable filter creates textures that range from smooth, pad-like swells to funkier envelope filter effects. Since each note gets processed individually, chord work stays clean and articulate rather than turning into a mush of sound.
Its compact size means the Pico Swello won’t dominate your pedalboard, and the included 9-volt power supply will get you up and running straight away. Whether you’re after subtle attack smoothing or dramatic cinematic swells, the Swello covers a lot of ground for a small, compact pedal.
Find out more about Electro-Harmonix Pico Swello here. For local enquiries, head to Vibe Music.
