FAQs

Are your pedals all true bypass?

They sure are!

Will this DBA pedal work on bass?

Everything (except the Echo Master, which is for vocals) will work on bass. Some will sound more like your desired sound than others. Our personal favorites for bass are the Evil Filter, Fuzz War, Apocalypse, Interstellar Overdriver Deluxe, and Deep Animation.

What power supplies work with your pedals?

All pedals we currently produce work with a standard Boss / 1 Spot style 2.1mm barrel, 9V negative tip, positive ring, DC power adapter.

The Overload slider doesn't seem to do anything past a certain point. Is that normal?

Depending on how maxed out your input signal is and what the impedance of your source instrument is, yes, normal! However, you should get more room with the Overload slider as you turn down your input.

Channel 4 seems quieter than the others. Is my pedal broken?

Not broken! Channel 4 is a little quieter than the others because it sounded best that way, and the octave is generated by splitting the sound wave in two which intrinsically makes it a big quieter than the blasted-out sounds of the other settings. If you turn the volume up, it's just as dirty and extra gnarly though!

What's this trimpot inside my pedal do?

That's an overall volume limit–you can turn it down to even out the volumes between the different channels a little. Or crank it and let your Apocalypse rip!

What does this trimpot inside do?

This controls the gain of the filter effect. It gets nice and loud!

The flanger settings seem to have a slight clicking sound, is that normal?

The Disturbance's flanger does have some noise associated with the modulation which creates the flanger effect. This typically isn't very prominent unless it's being recorded DI, however feel free to reach out if you think something is the matter with it!

What's the deal with the LFO out?

The Disturbance can send the LFO voltage which controls its modulation out through the side jack. This control voltage can be adjusted up to ~0V-7V this can make it suitable to use to control many Eurorack modules and some other guitar pedals, though not all guitar pedals will be compatible with direct voltage control in this way. We recommend trying it out with other expression-in or CV-controlled synths you may have though to see what crazy sounds you can get!

What's with the funky noise when the delay time is turned up?

The Micro Dream, Echo Dream, and Echo Master all use the delay chip out of its originally-intended specs to make extra-long delay times with crazy noisy results. This is the intended sound of the pedal and we hope you enjoy blowing past these limits!

My Echo Dream 2 makes a "pop!" when I turn it on sometimes, is this normal?

Some of our earlier units had this property and it's since been changed. The pedal should still work as normal, however if this is an issue for you, you can submit a repair form and we can get it modified.

My pedal started behaving very strangely, making strange oscillation sounds. Is it broken?

Are you using battery power? If so, it's highly likely that your battery is low on voltage and should be replaced. Try plugging it into an adapter and see if that solves it. If not, let us know.

What's with the funky noise when the delay time is turned up?

The Micro Dream, Echo Dream, and Echo Master all use the delay chip out of its originally-intended specs to make extra-long delay times with crazy noisy results. This is the intended sound of the pedal and we hope you enjoy blowing past these limits!

How does the FX Loop work?

The FX loop on the Echo Master allows you to put guitar pedals or other effects on your voice before it reaches the echo. This lets the Echo Master open the door to a whole vocal effects chain, just throw any guitar pedals you've been dying to hear on vocals and experiment!

I used my pedal in a country that wasn't America and the pedal was making more noise than normal. What's going on?

Sometimes in other countries, power supplies can have more interference than normal and the Echo Master can be sensitive to this. You can reduce the noise trying different power supplies and avoiding daisy-chaining the power with any other pedals.

Can I use phantom power (+48v) with the Echo Master?

The Echo Master won't pass 48v through its XLR connections, so phantom power coming from a mixer or interface after the Echo Master won't get to your microphone. "In-line" phantom power supplies do exist though, and you can place these between the Echo Master and your microphone.

Does the Echo Master bring the microphone to line-level?

The Echo Master outputs closer to mic level to make it more convenient to swap out in performance settings, avoiding the need to drastically change settings on a mixer's preamp. It should work after a pre-amp as well if you want to use it this way, and this can generally improve noise performance.

Do the fuzz and filter sections work separately or are they always on together?

They work separately, as if they are two different pedals in your chain with the fuzz coming first. You can turn on just one or both. Filterer's choice.

When I turn on the fuzz, the sound ducks down for a bit before coming back. Is this normal?

Yep! It's a blooming, compressed distortion that we felt worked wonderfully with the filter, especially when the resonance is turned up.

My pedal makes a thumping/clicking sound when I turn up the Blood knob. Is this normal?

Yes, this is by design. It's the circuit aggressively pushing the shape of the tremolo.

What does the expression jack do?

An expression pedal plugged in would control the rate/distortion (Fantasy knob).

My Exit Index seems to make my signal quieter. Is this normal?

Depending on what you're playing through it, yes. This is by design. The Exit Index cuts bass a bit and boosts treble a smidge. If you're playing trebly guitar or synth leads, it won't affect the signal volume.

What is the difference between the two-knob version and the three-knob version?

The three-knob version simply takes the fuzz control that used to be an internal trimpot and puts it on the outside for easier control.

My tone knob seems to be a bit scratchy, is that normal?

Some of our earlier units had this property and it's since been changed. The pedal should still work as normal, however if this is an issue for you, you can submit a repair form and we can get it modified.

My Interstellar Overdriver Deluxe is making crazy noises even when I'm not playing!?

Heck yeah it is! Some of the modes and settings on the Deluxe can introduce oscillations along with your guitar signal. Fuzz it out and make some crazy noises!

What's with the funky noise when the delay time is turned up?

The Micro Dream, Echo Dream, and Echo Master all use the delay chip out of its originally-intended specs to make extra-long delay times with crazy noisy results. This is the intended sound of the pedal and we hope you enjoy blowing past these limits!

My Micro Dream makes a "pop!" when I turn it on sometimes, is this normal?

Some of our earlier units had this property and it's since been changed. The pedal should still work as normal, however if this is an issue for you, you can submit a repair form and we can get it modified.

Is this pedal the same as the original Harmonic Trasnformer?

It is the same speaker-shaking circuit of the Harmonic Transformer in a tiny package!

My pedal is making high pitched squealing noises.

Are you using battery power? If so, it's highly likely that your battery is low on voltage and should be replaced. Try plugging it into an adapter and see if that solves it. If not, let us know.

My Robot isn't working when I plug the power into my pedal board. What gives?

Do you have it daisy chained to other pedals for power? If so, that's the problem. Versions of the Robot made before 2023 require their own dedicated power source, whether it's a battery or an external adapter which is plugged into only the Robot. New Robots should not have this issue, though.

I can hear a bit of noise when I turn on my Rooms - what gives?

We designed ROOMS to be able to achieve the massive walls of sound that we always wanted from a reverb - this means that at low volumes, there is a small amount of audible noise. However, cranking the gain on ROOMS does not increase the noise floor so we suggest you set it loud and enjoy!

I noticed sometimes the LED flickers slightly when the pedal is turned off, is that normal?

In order to maintain true bypass switching in the Rooms, the LED is controlled by a somewhat sensitive circuit that can make the LED flicker slightly if a long reverb tail is still playing after you bypass the pedal. This is normal! If it seems to be really bad or is having issues staying lit or turning fully off, please submit a repair form and our team can help you out.

What's the difference between the current three-knob version and the old two-knob version?

The three-knob has volume control, which the original two-knob didn't. The rest of the pedal should sound identical!

How does the FX Loop work?

Just like the Echo Master, the FX loop allows you to put guitar pedals or other effects on your voice before it reaches the chorus and reverb effects. A difference with the Space Ensemble is you now have access to the pre-amp gain which is placed before the loop, and this should help you get better noise performance and drive guitar pedals at a more appropriate level.

Can I use phantom power (+48v) with the Space Ensemble?

Like the Echo Master, the Space Ensemble won't pass 48v through its XLR connections, so phantom power from a mixer or interface after the Space Ensemble won't get to your microphone. "In-line" phantom power supplies do exist though, and you can place these between the Echo Master and your microphone.

Is there a way to improve the noise floor?

The pedal, unlike the Echo Master, is intended to bring your mic closer to line-level and has an adjustable pre-amp. We recommend adjusting the GAIN trimpot as high as you can get before clipping to get the absolute best noise performance from the pedal. You can also use the pedal after a pre-amp to improve the noise floor in the same way.

What does the trimpot in the Space Bender do?

The trimpot inside controls the post-gain of the effect. Too many times have we all suffered through a chorus which kills your guitar in the mix and we sought to resolve this by putting this adjustment on the inside. It should scale from unity to +40 dB.

How is it different from the regular Fuzz War or Thee Fuzz War Overload?

Unlike both, it has two sets of internal dipswitches that give you hundreds of options for how you want it to sound, from bassy blowouts to treble boosted insanity.

My Fuzz Gun makes a lot of crazy noises even when I'm not playing. Is this normal?

Yup! The Supersonic Fuzz Gun is one of our wildest circuits, and will often chirp, scream, hiss, and sputter all on its own. Turning it to 'OSC' mode will bring an oscillation into the fuzz that you can control with your guitar's volume knob!

When I turn the pedal on and turn the knob, it's not quite freaking out as I expect, is there an issue with it?

The Total Sonic Annihilation can interact very differently with different pedals and it can be difficult to predict how to make it truly freak out. If you have the TSA2, we recommend playing with the different controls available on the TSA2 such as the Phase, Gain, and Limit to make pedals in the loop truly wail!

It sounds like certain settings make the pedal squeal on its own, is that expected?

Sure is! The expansive and extreme settings of the Waveformer Destroyer are intended to make unexpected and out-of-control tones. We hope you enjoy 'em!

Is the Waveformer MKII still available?

Unfortunately, we don't have any remaining units for sale, but keep an eye out online!

Where is My Order?

Once your order has been fulfilled by our team, a shipping confirmation with a tracking number will be emailed. You can download Route’s mobile app for iOS or Android to visually track your package and receive real-time notifications on its estimated delivery.

Can you mark my international order as a "gift" or lower the declared value for customs?

Well, now, that's illegal! So, no.

Will I receive tracking for my shipment?

Yes, tracking information is automatically sent to the email address you input on your order. You can also sign up for text message tracking info at checkout.

My package says it was "delivered" but it is not! Help!

Sometimes shipping carriers mark packages delivered when they are not and will deliver later in the day or the following day. Please also check with your neighbors. If it still hasn't shown up after a couple days of the said delivery, please contact us.

I ordered my pedal 2nd day shipping and it hasn't arrived in 2 days. What gives?

The rushed shipping you paid for is in regard to the carrier's shipping time, and does not include our handling time, which may vary. We're also closed on weekends. If you need a pedal ASAP we recommend writing us first to make sure we can get it to you by the date you need it or better yet, order through one of our dealers.

What is Route and Green Package Protection?

How Does Route Process Refunds or Reorders?

When Should I File a Claim?

What are Route’s Terms and Conditions?

Is Route a Licensed Insurance Company?

Yes, Route is a licensed insurance company with SEG Insurance Ltd. as its partner.

For more information, please review our Shipping Policy.

Do you accept returns?

We accept returns or exchanges as long as: they were purchased from this site, your package was delivered in the last 30 days, and it is still in like-new condition. Please email us to arrange the return.

Please note: We reserve the right to impose a restocking fee equal to 10% of the invoice price for goods shipped to you and returned to us.

Shit, I just ordered and now I want to cancel my order. May I do that?

If your order hasn't shipped yet, you may ask to cancel your order. Please realize that your refund may not reach your bank for several days, depending on your bank.

**Please note – We deduct a 10% restocking fee from all returns or cancellations. This is a recent policy change as a result of banks, Paypal, and other payment methods no longer refunding processing fees as of 2023.

The t-shirt I ordered is too small. Can I exchange it for a larger size?

Sure thing. You can exchange items as long as: they are still in like-new condition, package was delivered within the last 30 days, and you purchased directly from us. For clothing, it must be unworn. Please email us to arrange the exchange.

**Please note – We deduct a 10% restocking fee from all returns and you are responsible for covering the shipping cost to return it back to us.

I think there might be something wrong with my pedal, can I send it in to get fixed?

You can absolutely send it in, but because we offer free repairs, we like to make sure all other possible issues are covered. Often, a bad cable, dying battery, or incompatible power supply can cause all kinds of problems that might sound like a faulty pedal. Please test out your pedal with different cables, batteries, and power supplies to see if the problem persists. Additionally, check our Pedals FAQ for common questions pertaining to your specific pedal. If after checking all of that, you still have an issue, please fill out our Repair Form and our Repairs team will help you from there!

For more information, please review our Refund Policy.

Can my band be sponsored by Death By Audio?

If you mean free stuff, probably not. But you can write us and ask about artist pricing at info@deathbyaudio.com.

Can I play at your venue? Or come visit the shop?

Sadly, no. The beloved venue, Death By Audio, is no longer open due to some changes in the city. Although sharing the same name and warehouse, we never had anything to do with booking it anyway- that was our wonderful friend Edan Wilber.
Additionally, our new shop is small and we do not generally allow public visitors. Check our store list for the nearest place to check out the pedals.

Are you hiring?

Not usually, but please feel free to send us your resume and examples of your work and special skills.

Can we sell your pedals in our store or online store?

Most likely, yes! Please email Heather at heather@deathbyaudio.com.

For more information, visit our page on becoming a dealer.