strymon/starlab

StarLab

Strymon

Time-warped reverberator with three reverb textures, Karplus-Strong string synthesis, delay/modulation effects, LFO, harmonics (shimmer/glimmer), and filter sections. Extensive CV I/O, stereo in/out, 24-bit 96kHz A/D-D/A, SHARC DSP.851

Capabilities 4

Delaydelay
Pre-delay section with up to 1.5s (7.5s with TAP/TRIG), feedback, tap tempo, clock sync, and ECHO ON to bus delay to wet output for delay/verb effects.851
LFOlfo
LFO with six waveshapes (triangle, square, ramp, saw, random, envelope) targeting delay time, SIZE/PITCH, or filter. Syncable to external clock; external LFO input also available.851
Physical Modelingphysical-modeling
Karplus-Strong mode provides monophonic delay-based string synthesis with pluck/bow gestures, 4-octave CV tuning, and dynamic damping.851
Reverbreverb
Multi-textural stereo reverb with three texture modes (sparse, dense, diffuse), adjustable decay, SIZE/PITCH control, INFINITE freeze, shimmer, and glimmer. 24-bit 96kHz DSP.851

Jacks 21 (19 in / 2 out)

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (19)
CLEAR CVtrigger0V to 5V851
DECAY CVcv-5V to 5V851
DEPTH CVcv-5V to 5V851
ECHO ON CVgate—851
EXT LFO INcv-5V to 5V851
FAVORITE CVtrigger0V to 5V851
FEEDBACK CVcv-5V to 5V851
HIGH DAMP CVcv-5V to 5V851
IN GATE CVgate0V to 5V851
INFINITE CVtrigger0V to 5V851
INTERVAL CVcv-5V to 5V851
LEFT INaudio≤10V851
LFO CLK INclock0V to 5V851
RIGHT INaudio—851
SHIMMER CVcv-5V to 5V851
SIZE/PITCH CVcv-2V to 2V1V/octave. In Karplus-Strong mode, tunes string over 4 octaves at 0-4V; DELAY/TUNE knob acts as fine tune.851
SPEED CVcv-5V to 5V851
TAP/TRIG CVclock0V to 5V851
WET CVcv-5V to 5V851
Outputs (2)
LEFT OUTaudio—851
RIGHT OUTaudio—851

Parameters 25

NameTypeRangeBehavior
DECAYknob—Adjusts reverb fade-out time. At higher settings, decay time may be impacted by FILTER settings. DECAY CV offsets this value.851
DELAY/TUNEknob0ms – 1500msAdjusts pre-delay (or delay with ECHO ON) from 0 to 1.5s (logarithmic taper). When TAP/TRIG clock CV detected, acts as clock divider/multiplier. In Karplus-Strong mode, sets string tuning over continuous 4-octave range; becomes fine tune (12 semitones) when SIZE/PITCH CV detected.851
DEPTHknob—Adjusts LFO modulation depth. OFF at fully CCW (except env shape, where OFF is at 12 o'clock, CCW = negative envelope depth, CW = positive). When EXT LFO IN detected, acts as attenuverter.851
Zones
Negative envelope
Negative gain
Positive envelope
Positive gain
  • Negative envelope -100–0%In env shape mode, turning CCW from noon increases negative envelope depth.851
  • Negative gain -100–0%When EXT LFO IN is patched, DEPTH acts as an attenuverter of the incoming external LFO; turning CCW from the 12 o'clock minimum increases negative gain.851
  • Positive envelope 0–100%In env shape mode, turning CW from noon increases positive envelope depth.851
  • Positive gain 0–100%When EXT LFO IN is patched, DEPTH acts as an attenuverter of the incoming external LFO; turning CW from the 12 o'clock minimum increases positive gain.851
DRYknob—Sets the output level of the dry signal. No dry signal at minimum, unity gain at 12 o'clock, and +3dB boost at maximum. Dry signal is analog throughout.851
ECHO ONbutton—Busses delay output to WET output to mix with reverb. When bypassed, delay operates as pre-delay. In Karplus-Strong mode, mixes dry string signal with WET output.851
FAVORITEbutton—Recalls the currently selected Favorite preset. Hold and press a center button to switch presets. Hold until GREEN flash to save. Four onboard presets accessible from front panel.851
FEEDBACKknob—Applies regeneration to the delay (more repeats at longer delays, more resonance at shorter delays). In Karplus-Strong mode, affects string decay and structure resonance.851
GLIMMERknob—Dynamically enhances the harmonic spectrum of the input signal. OFF at fully CCW.851
HIGH BANDbutton—Selects which harmonics GLIMMER enhances. LED GREEN = high band; LED OFF = low band.851
HIGH DAMPknob—Removes high frequency content from regenerating reverb structure as turned CW. In Karplus-Strong mode, dampens high end harmonics as string decays. With LOW PASS engaged, becomes cutoff of 24dB/oct low pass filter.851
INFINITEbutton—Holds input audio to the reverb while allowing new audio to be processed on top. Also enables PITCH QUANTIZE mode (hold until amber blink). Preset functions accessible via the INFINITE button.851
INPUT GAINknob—Controls gain fed to reverb through a soft clipping stage. LED: GREEN=clean, RED=soft-clipping, BLUE=input gated via IN GATE CV.851
LFO TARGETswitch—Selects which parameter the LFO modulates: delay (delay time / string tuning in KS mode), pitch (SIZE/PITCH), or filter (HIGH DAMP / LP cutoff when LOW PASS engaged).851
LOW DAMPknob—Removes low end content at the output and in the regenerating reverb core as turned CW. In Karplus-Strong mode, removes low frequency content of the string.851
LOW PASSbutton—When engaged, changes HIGH DAMP to a 24dB/oct low pass filter at the reverb output. Secondary function (hold LOW PASS + turn HIGH DAMP): adjusts resonance (Q).851
LOW PASS Resonanceknob—Secondary function of HIGH DAMP knob (hold LOW PASS button). Adjusts Q of low pass filter. CW = peaking/sharp response; CCW = gradual roll-off.851
REGENbutton—Toggles between regenerative shimmer (applied within reverb structure, LED GREEN) and input shimmer (applied at input before reverb, LED OFF).851
SHAPEswitch—Selects LFO waveshape: triangle, square, ramp, saw, random, or envelope (responds to input dynamics, sensitivity set by DEPTH knob).851
SHIMMERknob—Adds pitch shifting to reverberated signal. OFF at fully CCW. Secondary function (hold REGEN): selects shimmer interval from -1 to +1 octave.851
SHIMMER INTERVALknob-1octave – 1octaveSecondary function of SHIMMER knob (hold REGEN to adjust). Selects pitch shift interval from -1 to +1 octave. Additional -detune (-10 cents) and +detune (+10 cents) options near 12 o'clock.851
SIZE/PITCHknob-1octave – 1octaveChanges reverb process rate and size. CW increases size and lowers pitch. Range is ±1 octave from center. In Karplus-Strong mode, DELAY/TUNE knob is used for tuning; SIZE/PITCH CV tunes to 4-octave range.851
SPEEDknob0.067Hz – 15HzControls LFO period from 15s (0.067Hz) to 1/15s (15Hz). When env waveform selected, controls envelope decay rate. When LFO CLK IN detected, acts as clock divider/multiplier.851
TAP/TRIGbutton—Tapping sets delay tempo. In Karplus-Strong mode, quick press triggers/plucks string; hold continuously excites/bows string.851
TEXTUREswitch—Selects one of three reverb structures: sparse, dense, or diffuse.851
WETknob—Sets the overall reverberated signal level sent to the output. WET CV offsets this level.851

Firmware history 0 versions

No firmware history recorded.

References 2

  1. [851]
    Strymon StarLab User Manual (Rev A)manual
    source 851 canonical ↗ archived ↗
    ● verified 2026-05-23
  2. [852]
    Strymon StarLab product pageproduct_page
    source 852 canonical ↗ archived ↗
    ● verified 2026-05-23