Crazy Tube CIrcuits Mirage

Crazy Tube Circuits has a well-earned reputation for their drive and "amp-in-a-box" effects, but they are no strangers to modulation either. And their new Mirage Dual Engine Reverb is proof positive of that.  For what looks like a complex pedal, it's really two identical Reverb units in the same box, each with 16 available Reverb parameters: Eight "standard" reverbs and eight ambient/experimental settings. You can run these sides totally separate, or in series and stack effects for even more dramatic soundscapes. There are the typical mix, swell (decay) and excite (effect) controls, and getting going is quite easy. But as with many CTS products there are a host of tweaks including a send/return loop to insert other devices between the two sides of the pedal, there is an expression input, assignable footswitch functions, and internal dip switches to enable other optional parameters. If you think "Reverb is Reverb" the Standard bank of the Mirage presents a host of excellent sounding Reverbs that all sound musical and uniquely different. Unlike some pedals, differences between the Plate, Hall, Spring, etc. are easily discernable and worthwhile exploring. In addition, they are all very transparent, and don't color or obscure the natural tone of your instrument. If this is all the Mirage did it would be a top-notch Reverb.  The Ambient bank is where things get interesting, and the opportunities to explore and experiment are boundless. The mix and swell controls determine just how much you want to go off the deep end; but if you choose to go there you are truly painting with sound, creating cinematic landscapes that can be captivating, haunting or hypnotic. But used in moderation the Ambient side can slot into a lot of musical styles, making the ordinary sound different without sounding weird or artificial.  You might ask yourself, "I have Reverb, why do I need 16 different Reverbs?" The Mirage answers that question by providing very useable studio-quality effects that are also easy to use. The controls are intuitive, and there are no menus to dive through, or multiple parameters to pointlessly tweak for hours. If you want to be creative without spending hours reading the manual, the Mirage is no figment of your imagination.  Requires 9VDC center negative power supply, 210mA current draw In the words of Crazy Tube Circuits: Ethereal reflections. Infinite spaces. Total control. Mirage is a creative reverb platform built for guitarists, synth players, and sound designers who want studio-grade depth and hands-on performance in one compact unit. At its core are two fully independent reverb engines, each with its own set of controls and access to 16 meticulously crafted algorithms, organized into two intuitive banks. Choose from natural classics like plate, spring, cathedral, or push into ambient territory with shimmer, modulation, infinite sustain, and more. Mirage adapts to any rig. Run engines in series for immersive, layered reverbs. Split them left and right for stereo processing. Use them as independent reverbs in a dual mono setup, or insert pedals between them using the dedicated send and return loop. It’s a modular reverb system without the complexity. With real-time control via footswitches and expression input, Mirage invites live interaction, trigger swells, shift shimmer textures, or freeze trails on the fly. Internal switches let you fine-tune bypass behavior, kill dry, and signal routing to match your setup. Whether you're crafting cinematic ambience, adding subtle dimension, or building massive evolving soundscapes, Mirage delivers space that inspires on pedalboards, synths, and mixing desks alike. A more compact, single-engine version is also on the horizon for those who don’t need stereo routing or dual reverb engines.