Now Available at Northeast Music Center!

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

The EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) HalfLife takes the crushing DNA of the celebrated Life Pedal and concentrates it into a compact, pedalboard-friendly octave distortion and clean boost. Designed in collaboration with Sunn O))), HalfLife combines a blendable analog octave-up, aggressive distortion with three clipping options, and an independent MOSFET clean booster for everything from articulate grind to enormous, collapsing walls of fuzz.
Available from Northeast Music Center, HalfLife is much more than another high-gain distortion pedal. Its signal path runs Octave → Distortion → Boost, allowing the octave/distortion and booster sections to operate independently while giving players tremendous control over how hard the pedal—and the amplifier after it—gets pushed.

KEY FEATURES

• Analog Octave-Up + Distortion + Clean Boost
• Developed by EarthQuaker Devices in collaboration with Sunn O)))
• Compact evolution of the Life Pedal concept
• Blendable analog octave control
• Approximately +60dB of distortion gain
• 3 clipping options: OpAmp / Asymmetric / Symmetric
• Independent all-discrete MOSFET clean booster
• Octave expression-pedal input
• Octave Distortion and Boost can operate independently
• Flexi-Switch® Technology
• Relay-based true bypass
• 9V DC, center-negative power
• 15mA current draw
• 5.00" × 2.75" × 2.25"
• Designed and manufactured by EarthQuaker Devices in Akron, Ohio

THREE SOUNDS WORKING TOGETHER

HalfLife combines three powerful ideas inside one remarkably compact enclosure: analog octave, distortion, and boost. The octave feeds the distortion, which then feeds the boost. That architecture allows HalfLife to move from focused distortion to harmonically explosive octave fuzz, then hit the front end of your amplifier even harder with the independent Magnitude booster.

BLENDABLE ANALOG OCTAVE

Instead of simply switching the octave effect on or off, the Octave control lets you gradually blend an analog octave-up into the signal. Turn it down for straight distortion, introduce just enough octave to add harmonic complexity, or push it fully clockwise and HalfLife moves into a much wilder, fuzz-like personality.
The octave is an all-discrete analog full-wave rectifier circuit positioned at the beginning of the signal path. Like classic analog octave effects, it is monophonic and becomes particularly pronounced with single notes played higher on the neck. An external expression pedal can also control the octave blend for dramatic real-time octave swells.

THREE CLIPPING VOICES

The three-position CLIP switch dramatically changes the character and response of the distortion:
OpAmp – Removes the clipping diodes for maximum output and a raw, grinding OpAmp response.
Asymm – Uses two silicon diodes and one LED for asymmetrical clipping, producing a smoother, slightly compressed response.
Symm – Uses the traditional pair of silicon diodes for the tighter, more compressed classic distortion character.
Instead of forcing one distortion personality onto every guitar and amplifier, HalfLife lets you choose the clipping response that works best with your rig.

MAGNITUDE — INDEPENDENT MOSFET BOOST

The Magnitude side is an all-discrete MOSFET clean booster designed to hit the front end of an amplifier hard without substantially recoloring the fundamental tone. It doesn't generate distortion by itself; instead, its substantial output can drive a tube amplifier into additional saturation, harmonics, and feedback.
Better still, the booster and octave/distortion sections have independent footswitches, allowing HalfLife to function as a distortion, a boost, or both together.

FILTER CONTROL

HalfLife's Filter is a low-pass filter covering approximately 500Hz to 30kHz. Counterclockwise provides more high-frequency content; clockwise rolls the top end back.
This makes the pedal far easier to integrate with different guitars, pickups, amplifiers, and cabinets—from dark, massive rigs to bright amplifiers that need the upper frequencies brought under control.

FLEXI-SWITCH® TECHNOLOGY

Both effects benefit from EarthQuaker Devices' Flexi-Switch® Technology, providing both traditional latching and momentary operation from the same footswitch. Tap normally to turn an effect on or off, or hold the switch to engage it only as long as your foot remains down.
That makes momentary blasts of octave distortion or boost possible without changing modes or adding another controller.

COMPACT SIZE — MASSIVE INTENT

One of the biggest advantages of HalfLife is right in the name.
EarthQuaker Devices describes it as the most compact, pedalboard-friendly version of the Life Pedal distortion circuit to date. At just 5.00" × 2.75", it delivers an enormous amount of sonic capability without demanding an enormous amount of pedalboard space.

BUILT IN AKRON, OHIO

HalfLife is designed and manufactured by EarthQuaker Devices in Akron, Ohio, with artwork by Sunn O))) guitarist Stephen O'Malley. This is a pedal with a very specific lineage and personality, but its usefulness extends far beyond doom and experimental music.
At Northeast Music Center, we see HalfLife as a serious creative tool for anyone who wants distortion with more dimension than a conventional drive pedal can provide. Use it for massive doom tones, aggressive rhythm sounds, octave-fuzz leads, feedback textures, or simply as a powerful distortion and independent boost.
Half the footprint doesn't mean half the sound. HalfLife is compact, aggressive, flexible, and unmistakably EarthQuaker Devices.

CONTROLS

Octave (O): Blends the analog octave-up into the signal
Distortion (D): Controls distortion gain, with approximately +60dB available
Filter (F): Low-pass filter for controlling high-frequency content
Magnitude (MAG): Controls output of the independent clean booster
Clip: OpAmp / Asymmetric / Symmetric clipping
Amplitude (AMP): Controls output volume of the octave/distortion section
Magnitude Footswitch: Engages the clean boost
Amplitude Footswitch: Engages octave/distortion
Octave EXP: Expression-pedal input for real-time octave blend control

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Effect Type: Octave Distortion + Booster
Signal Path: Octave → Distortion → Boost
Bypass: Relay-Based True Bypass with Flexi-Switch®
Octave Distortion Input Impedance: 1 MΩ
Octave Distortion Output Impedance: <1 kΩ
Booster Input Impedance: 500 kΩ
Booster Output Impedance: <1 kΩ
Power: Standard 9V DC, 2.1mm center-negative
Current Draw: 15mA
Dimensions: 5.00" × 2.75" × 2.25" (with knobs)
Manufactured In: Akron, Ohio, USA