EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) HalfLife™ Octave Distortion + Booster

Like the Life Pedal, HalfLife is designed to represent the core front end chain used by Sunn O))) during the sessions for the Life Metal album to drive the tubes of the band’s multiple vintage Sunn O))) Model T amplifiers into overload ecstasy.

Sunn O))) and EarthQuaker Devices are pleased to bring you the most compact, pedalboard-friendly version of the Life Pedal distortion circuit to date—the Sunn O))) HalfLife Octave Distortion + Booster. The HalfLife may be half the size of its ancestors, but it’s just as heavy.

HalfLife is a distortion with a blendable analog octave up and a booster combined in one compact package. The “Amplitude” side is faithfully modeled after the classic “White Face” distortion unit. The only modifications made to the original circuit are in the clipping section. The traditional circuit uses a single pair of silicon diodes for a tight, compressed crunch.

HalfLife introduces two additional clipping options to better adapt to different rigs. The first position is no diodes to allow for full, grinding Op Amp assault at maximum volume. The second position utilizes two silicon diodes and one LED in an asymmetrical clipping configuration. This delivers a slightly compressed and smooth crunch, similar to a valve amplifier. The last position is the stock double silicon diode configuration, which provides that classic tone you know and love.

The Octave in HalfLife is an all-discrete analog full-wave rectifier circuit. Located at the input of the circuit, the Octave control slowly blends in the octave effects as you turn it clockwise. This feature can also be used via expression control allowing for wild, hands-free octave swells mid-riff. Because this is an analog octave effect, it is monophonic and works best playing single notes above the twelfth fret while using the neck pickup.

Playing chords with the analog octave will sound clanging and chaotic. Using the bridge pickup and playing below the twelfth fret will produce a very subtle octave effect. Going full Octave transforms HalfLife from a simple distortion device into a swelling, raging fuzz similar to the classic Super Fuzz!

The signal path goes Octave>Distortion>Boost. The octave distortion and booster can be used independently with their own respective footswitches. The right footswitch is the octave distortion, and the left footswitch is the booster.

Chasms are cleared, mountains sheared, glaciers calved, novæ birthed. Vintage valve amplifiers recommended. We hope you transcend.

Designed and manufactured by EarthQuaker Devices in the dark corridors

Primary features of HalfLife include:

• Combines three distinct circuits into one compact chassis: a blendable analog octave up, a classic distortion, and a clean boost.
  
• Flexible Routing: Seamless integration into any rig.
  
• Physically, it’s about half the size of the Life Pedal V3. Sonically, its just as heavy