Polyend Mess in detail
With Mess, Polyend presents a sequencing multi-effect in pedal format. The compact device has four effect slots, each of which can be assigned one of over 120 algorithms. The order of the assigned effects in the slots can literally be changed in the blink of an eye; because it often makes a big difference whether, for example, the bitcrusher is used before or after the filter and the dense Reverb is still distributed in the panorama. The algorithms come from the categories Granular Burst, Particle Sampler, Micro Looper, Pitch Shifter, Spectralizer, Reverb, Delay, Modulation, Shaper, Panning and Filter. They are all available in stereo and have a studio-quality sound. If we were to leave it at that, we would be dealing with a state-of-the-art quad effects unit, but Mess is able to leave the path of static effects thanks to the integrated step sequencer.
The sequencer also offers four tracks, one for each effect slot, and makes it possible to automate the effect parameters. Yes! Fully modulated, perfectly animated effects in a quartet. The pattern length of each track is 16 steps or less, which is ideal for polyrhythms. Furthermore, individual timing divider/multiplier settings can be made for each track. For example, the delay mix could repeat every four bars while the granulator's Feedback is turned up every half bar. Tap Tempo respectively BPM Sync is available for all time-relevant effects such as eg. Delay, Looper, Slice or Tremolo. Practical functions such as programmable probability and a step randomizer give the complex effect layers a little more arbitrariness. Mess comes with over 200 presets ex works; up to 1000 can be saved.