Exploring Two Standout Eventide Effect Pedals!

Eventide is a legendary name in multi-effects, with the H90 being a staple, alongside a lineup of high-quality compact pedals that have gained worldwide recognition. This time, I had the special opportunity to test out two of their latest pedals—I’ll be sharing my hands-on experience! If you’re considering new pedals, I hope this helps guide your decision.

The two pedals are Riptide and Knife Drop. For me, Eventide has always had a high-end, aspirational image. How about you? Just looking at these pedals’ design and build quality, you can already feel their premium craftsmanship!

Let’s start with the Knife Drop.

The packaging looks absolutely amazing! When I think of Eventide, I picture sleek, futuristic, and minimalistic designs, so this was a pleasant surprise in the best way possible. The bold, artistic approach to the box design is seriously cool, and honestly, it had me hooked from the moment I saw it (haha). Personally, I think the most exciting part of getting a new pedal is opening the box, so this was a real treat!

And here’s the pedal itself. What really shocked me was the concept-art-style plate embedded in the chassis (as seen in the left photo). What really shocked me was the concept-art-style plate embedded in the chassis (as seen in the photo above). It’s such a stylish touch, and it really shows how much attention was given to the visual design as well.

As for the sound, it feels like a mix of octave fuzz and analog synth tones. It effortlessly delivers a destructive, intense, and truly unique sound that only the Knife Drop can produce. This pedal is sure to spark all kinds of creative inspiration! Be sure to check out the demo video to hear it in action!
The chassis features three knobs, but pressing the button on the right side allows you to toggle between two sets of parameters (the yellow-labeled ones become active). This effectively gives you six adjustable parameters, making for endless sound design possibilities depending on your ideas and approach.
With its artistic design and one-of-a-kind tone, this pedal is guaranteed to be a truly unique companion for any musician.

Next up is the Riptide.

This pedal features both overdrive and Uni-Vibe-style modulation, packed into a dual-switch design. Each effect offers two different voicings, and you can also switch the order of the overdrive and modulation in the signal chain.

Personally, this pedal really hit the mark for me! First and foremost, it sounds amazing. As expected from Eventide, the quality is top-notch, and I doubt there’s anyone who wouldn’t be satisfied with this sound. The simple design features just three knobs for each effect, making it incredibly user-friendly—in a way, it feels like a thoughtful design choice that allows anyone to easily dial in a great tone. As someone who tends to get overwhelmed by intricate sound tweaking, I found this straightforward layout incredibly reassuring and enjoyable.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each effect!
Eventide is well known for its digital effects, and as expected, the modulation is simply outstanding! It delivers a clear yet warm movement, making it an absolute joy to use. Whether you crank it up for an intense effect or keep it subtle, it never fails to sound incredible.
What really surprised me, though, was how good the overdrive is! I never really associated Eventide with drive effects, but this pedal completely changed my mind. It can go from crunchy tones to a light distortion, and it actually gets quite aggressive when pushed. The overdrive has a bright and open character, which I found refreshing. No matter how you set it, it always delivers a great tone, reinforcing its simple yet highly effective design.
And the best part? You can freely combine these two effects, making it an absolute blast to experiment with. This pedal can stand on its own, but it also works great in a pedalboard setup, pairing well with other drive and modulation effects. Plus, you can switch between guitar-level and line-level input (just like the Knife Drop), making it a fantastic option for keyboards as well.

That wraps up my review of Eventide’s compact pedals, Riptide and Knife Drop! Both are incredibly unique and high-quality, and I highly recommend checking them out. Of course, while you’re at it, don’t forget to explore other Eventide pedals as well!