This rare pedal (made in Australia by the now defunct Frostwave) has a reputation for having something of a steep learning curve, and it's perfectly possible to get either no signal at all or speaker-shredding frequencies. But we found it pretty easy to get to grips with, if more than a little unpredictable, and in between the extremes are some superb possibilities for throaty analogue rumbles and sweeping auto-filter type effects.

Loosely based on the Korg MS20 filter, essentially it uses an envelope-control filter to produce a wide range of analogue-sounding textures. The input causes a control signal to be generated, which goes up and down as the input signal loudness contour goes up and down. This in turn sweeps the filter frequency back and forth. So yes, it's pretty wild with guitar or bass, and from our experience it's great with beats through it.

Frostwave

Demo by bigcitymusic

Demo by ShurSoma

Review by Gear Bug

Review by Talk Bass.com

Funk-A-Duck

Der Frostwave Sonic Alienator ist ein erweiterter Alias-Frequenzgenerator. Der Sonic Alienator kombiniert analoge Filter, akustische Dezimatoren und weiche Verzerrungsschaltungen in einer konfigurierbaren Weise und ist in der Lage, eine fast endlose Reihe von harmonisch verwandten Audio-Artefakten zu erzeugen.

The Frostwave Sonic Alienator is an enhanced Alias frequency generator. By combining analog filter, sonic decimator and soft distortion drive circuitry in a configurable manner, the Sonic Alienator is capable of producing an almost endless array of harmonically related audio artifacts.

Demo by Creative Media

Review by Audiofanzine

Sonic Alienator

The Frostwave Resonator is a very versatile analog filter. It can take any weedy sample, loop, mix or instrument and give it some fat analog tone or some crunchy lo-fi grit.

It can create filter sweeps, from subtle to extreme, generate booming sub bass, and take any standard instrument or signal and give it an "analogue" sounding treatment- run a flat drum machine or sound loop via the resonator and you will get big analog drums and samples on the other side....

The Resonator can also self oscillate, creating spacey, atmospheric sounds on its own without any input source. Combined with other effects some amazing and unique sounds can be generated.