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Pros:
- Extremely durable
- Does its job perfectly
- Offers a lot of control and precision
Cons:
- Will take up some space on your pedal board
The world of effects pedals is like a bottomless pit: once you step in it, there is no way out. Instead of being able to step out of it, you get dragged more and more. And I don’t even know how are you supposed to stop purchasing those new and inviting pedals when they seem so interesting and exciting. I guess that is the price we pay for the opportunities we have and that can be a bit harsh to our wallets. But I am sure we are all willing to sacrifice some extra money just to get the ability to improve our sounds. You might think that you will need only those devices that emit some sort of effect in that process.
But if we are being honest, the core of all those perfect performances is the result of the units that are in the shadow. You cannot hear them, you can barely see them but they impact your overall results quite a bit and improve your music a great deal. The shining member of those inaudible pedals is an expression pedal. This fella will not give you some mind-blowing effect, but it will help you in creating the most beautiful pieces. Today I will talk about EP-1 from Mission Engineering. If you want to get yourself an extremely useful tool, then stay with me as I introduce the features, controls, and sound of this one!
Features
Let’s just say that expression pedals aren’t the most versatile units in the world. Though they give you a great deal of control over your sound, since they do not emit any effect of their own, they do not have that much diversity on their own. Mission Engineering EP-1 follows the same pattern. Its biggest virtue is the amazing build quality it has. Its full-metal shell will withstand any abuse you throw its way and guarantee that you get your money’s worth even after years of heavy utilization. The interior looks pretty decent as well, making sure that the internal components coincide with the rest of your chain.
That means that this bad boy is compatible with many different types of electronic apparatuses, making it really easy to shove wherever needed. This thing will perform no matter what. EP-1 is a passive pedal i.e. it doesn’t need power in order to operate. It relies on a 10K potentiometer that promises to last through countless uses. But if you want to use its LED, you will have to insert a battery and you will be able to activate the desired indicator. What is more, this puppy offers an adjustable rocker tension so that you can tailor it to your needs and preferences (or your foot to be more precise).
That way you won’t make accidental mistakes just because the taper is too relaxed or tensed. EP-1 has a minimalistic design that will quickly turn into a staple on your pedalboard. It doesn’t have anything special in terms of appearance, yet it still seems really fancy from far away. Keep in mind that it will occupy some space on your pedalboard, so beware. This bad boy is something you can trust with everything you have since it won’t give up on you no matter what. This one is a keeper!
Controls
When it comes to controls on expression pedals, we don’t really have anything to talk about. Since they are essentially pedal-shaped knobs, all you have is a taper that allows you to go from lower to higher settings. They give you the opportunity to transition between different properties with your feet and eliminate the need to lean down and tweak that way. This can be extremely useful during live performances when you don’t have time to rotate the knobs and have to concentrate on your sound and playing.
EP-1 is just like that as well. Its central taper has a really good grip that will secure your foot on it, turning it into an extension of your body. It has smooth movement that will keep you in charge all of the time. Though we don’t have any knobs and switches here, EP-1 still increases your control over your tone and gives you more possibilities than you might expect.
Mission Engineering Expression Pedal Sound
When talking about the sound of EP-1, we are discussing its performance, rather than the actual sound. We can judge its capabilities by talking about the ways it interacts with other units. Either way, this pedal delivers wonderful results. Due to its high-quality circuitry, it doesn’t suck your tone regardless of being passive. You can stay assured that your signal won’t lose its qualities when connected to this one.
EP-1 has a smooth taper that transitions between lower and higher settings smoothly. It is really easy to diversify its functions: you can use it to create volume swells or get even more experimental and turn it into a wah pedal. The choice is yours, on its part this fella will do whatever it has to do to help you in that process. It gets on with other musical devices like a house on fire and will work perfectly with MIDI systems, amplifiers or any stompbox out there. What’s not to love about this one?
Conclusion
To sum up everything discussed above, Mission Engineering EP-1 is a perfect pedal for those who want to acquire a lifetime partner. This baby will stay with you till the end of days – that is how durable and reliable it is. It performs beautifully regardless of the chain and offers many possibilities for diversifying your options. For a pedal that doesn’t have an audible effect, this thing is a real loud one. The features of EP-1 speak volume and everything it has, brings you closer to your goals and professional performances. If you are willing to invest, this one would be an amazing choice. But it is, of course, up to your preferences. Good luck!
Click here to view more from 5 Best Expression Pedals.
Thanks for the nifty article. Mission EP-1 is one of the BEST, most durable expression pedals ever made! Not only does this pedal rock for guitar FX, but it works really well for Arturia KeyLab keyboards and NI Komplete Kontrol keyboards too.
Yes, EP-1 is great gear.