Quick Start

Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Whorl Rotary by Klowra.
Whorl Rotary: A sonic vortex veiled in the haze.
Whorl Rotary recreates the dimensional movement and modulation of classic rotating speaker systems through advanced physical modeling. Using a detailed simulation engine, it calculates the authentic mass of the treble horn and bass drum to recreate the true 3D Doppler effect through speaker mass simulation.
Whorl Rotary reimagines the psychedelic studio legends of the late '60s. With three precision-modeled cabinet configurations, it feels like a real Vibratone/Leslie running before you. By emulating the mechanical nuance of inertia, including fast/slow switching, a living envelope engine, and expressive braking—it perfectly reproduces the drag and air friction of the rotors.
Whether you crave the classic British psychedelic textures or the swirling blues modulation, Whorl captures every breath of your performance to drive this dynamically responsive physical engine.
Controls
RATE
Adjust the rotation speed. The light flashes in sync with the horn's rotation speed.
BAL
Adjust the volume balance between the drum and the horn. Turning counterclockwise shifts the balance towards the drum, while turning clockwise shifts it towards the horn.
TWEAK
A multi-function knob that adjusts specific parameters depending on the selected mode.
ACC
Adjust the acceleration for speed transitions. Turn counterclockwise for the fastest acceleration, and clockwise for the slowest.
Footswitch
Control ON/OFF; Press and hold to trigger specific functions based on the current active mode. The LED turns purple when a specific function is engaged.
MODE Button
Press the button to switch modes. This determines the TWEAK knob parameter and assigns the specific effect triggered by holding the footswitch. LED turns Purple when engaged.
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RPM Step (White LED)
Emulates a classic dual-speed rotary speaker, allowing you to operate at a primary speed and switch to a secondary speed.
TWEAK: Set 2nd Speed.
Specific Functions: Ramp to 2nd Speed with smooth transition.
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Spin (Blue LED)
A dynamic, envelope-controlled rotary effect where the rotation speed responds to your playing dynamics.
TWEAK: Adjust Trigger Threshold. LED flashes Purple when triggered.
Specific Functions: Force Spin to instantly accelerate, ignoring the threshold.
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Brake (Orange LED)
Simulates the mechanical braking of a rotary speaker cabinet, gradually bringing the modulation to a complete halt.
TWEAK: Adjust Brake Duration to determine time to full stop.
Specific Functions: Engage Brake; release to ramp back up to speed.
Voice Toggle Switch
Selects the acoustic profile (sound character) of the rotary simulation, dictating the physical resonance, cabinet size, and perceived spatial depth of the effect across three distinct voicings:
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I (Normal): Delivers a standard, balanced rotary speaker tone with traditional microphone placement.
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II (Large Cabinet): Simulates the expanded low-end response and pronounced physical resonance of an oversized rotary cabinet.
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III (Far Mic Distance): Emulates positioning the microphone further away from the cabinet, producing a more ambient, blended, and less direct modulation.
Indicator LED
The LED color indicates the selected MODE type. In bypass, the LED is off.
Rear Panel I/O
9V DC
Connect to a 9V DC power supply with a center-negative polarity and a minimum current rating of 150mA.
Note: If the power supply is insufficient, the pedal may malfunction.
IN L (Mono)
1/4" mono (TS) unbalanced left input for mono setups.
OUT L (Mono)
1/4" mono (TS) unbalanced left output for mono setups.
CTRL
3.5mm TS input for connecting an external footswitch.
Note: This input only recognizes TS footswitch signals to trigger the specific function. Its operation is identical to a long press of the onboard footswitch (momentary trigger, no insertion detection).
Power-Up Modes
How To enter Power-Up Modes:
Press & hold the footswitch while powering on the pedal. A flashing LED indicates successful entry. Once your settings are configured, press the footswitch again to exit Power-Up Modes.
In this mode, you can adjust the following settings:
Bypass Modes
Switch between modes by short-press the MODE button.
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True Bypass
The signal is routed directly through the pedal with no buffering or coloration.
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Green LED flashes to indicate True Bypass mode.
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Buffered Bypass
The signal is routed through a buffer with Analog Dry Through, allowing delay trails to continue after the effect is bypassed.
Red LED flashes to indicate Buffered Bypass mode.
LED Brightness
Adjust by rotating the RATE(ATTACK) knob.
- Turn fully left for dimmest.
- Turn fully right for brightest.
Inputs | 1 x 1/4" TS instrument jack Outputs 1 x 1/4" TS instrument jack |
Input Impedance | 500k Ohm |
Sampling Accuracy | 24-bit AD/DA Conversion & 32-bit Floating-Point DSP |
Power Source | 9V DC power supply required |
External Control | TS footswitch only |
Hardware Interface | USB-C |
Outputs | 1 x 1/4" TS instrument jack |
Output Impedance | 100 Ohm |
Max Input Level | +7 dBu |
Current | 150mA |
Bypass Mode | Bypass Mode Switchable: True Bypass, Buffered Bypass |
Dimensions | 51mm H x 92mm D x 38mm W
(2.0"H x 3.6"D x 1.5"W) |