Keeley Halo | Initial Impressions/Mini Review

[@RobertKeeleyTV]

Great video! Thanks for walking through the settings and adjustments. I like how you've changed it up to suit your taste. It's really hard to design a preset for both Guitar Center showrooms and the average player's ears. Since Andy always uses an expression pedal, the Level was set for his taste. Again, thanks exploring the Halo and suggesting so many good tweaks!

[@PsionicAudio]

Hey Robert, thanks for making such a cool device. The exp pedal explains the high mix settings. Easily changed though. When I get one for myself I think I’ll make a little breakout box to toggle between tap/hold and exp pedal use. Doing it all on the pedal is hard with my clodhoppers. Unless you have another way to add both exp and tap/hold externally?

[@PsionicAudio]

And I’m sorry about just phone audio on this one - though I think it did the guitar bits well. A real one will follow when the board is done.

[@RobertKeeleyTV]

@@PsionicAudio So glad you asked, I wanted to say in my previous post, that I've come up with remote footswitching boxes where the switches are twice the distance apart. I've wired up samples for the Hydra, Eccos , and Halo with slightly different graphics to match the pedal. It's simply two momentary switches in a box with a stereo/trs jack on it. That wires to the the A/B connection on the side of the pedal (not the expression pedal connection, the one next to it) I hope to get them on the website for sale in a month or so. I hope. One control that gets overlooked is the Saturate control. If a player wants to have a more typical, prominently voiced response from the repeated echoes, then turn the Saturate control down and the pedal behaves more like a typical echo without the magical ducking/compression/diffusion effect of the Saturate filtering.

[@PsionicAudio]

Too cool. I’ll be contacting you.

[@toploadtele]

@@RobertKeeleyTV - 5 Stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Thanks for the insider tips Robert! I absolutely love my Halo and look forward to learning more about what all it can actually do!

[@paulwatson8809]

Your comments line up perfectly with my initial thoughts on he Halo. You are one of the few youtubers whose opinions I trust fully, so no surprise there. I'll be hooking my Halo up to an expression pedal in a wet/dry setup before toning down and overwiting the preset levels. Looking forward to seeing your final tweaks!

[@leightintle2940]

HAHAHA! “In which case you might have the wrong channel…” understatement of the year right there, and also one of the biggest reasons why I love your channel. Though I kind of wish I had skipped this video, it’s likely you are “making” me spend more money, and yes, I’ve already watched the TPS and JHS episodes, but you are much harder to impress than they are. Which is the other biggest reason I love your channel.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

I really liked the adjustments made. Many fine tones with beautiful subtleties.

[@TeleBlaster]

I went through the same process. Dialing back some of the presets a little and moving the pedal to the front row (my Collider was at the back controlled with midi). Now I can do everything on the Halo with my foot. Since setting up an exp pedal..the presets may change again. Its a really really great pedal.

[@kennyjohnson336]

If I could yes I would If I could, I would buy this pedal

[@DainisKaulenas]

Timmons uses an expression pedal to control the effect level. I’m guessing that’s why it’s so wet OOTB

[@PsionicAudio]

I can see that. I’m going to talk to the client about making little box with a momentary footswitch to make tap tempo and feedback hold easier to do on stage.

[@jbolt247]

Great timing! I have been considering this pedal to replace my boss re-202 ( which I love ) but it just takes up so much real-estate on the board. So thanks for the no bs show and tell.

[@RaxFx]

as per Keeley support, some Halo pedals may not like Strymon (switched) power supplies, so beware. You cannot localize the "bad" ones via serial # - if the pedal becomes unresponsive after power up , you got a faulty one - Keeley will replace it.

[@PsionicAudio]

I avoid switching supplies. This board has the PP2 but soon will have the PP2+.

[@matthewf1979]

I tried the Halo out at GC last week. I like it. It’s a killer pedal, especially at its price point. I’m comparing it to my Source Audio Collider and it holds up very well. I would have bought the Halo, but I really don’t need/want more reverb/delay pedals. Having a reverb delay with an expression pedal input will change your life.

[@TeleBlaster]

I bought my Halo a few months ago at release. My Collider (and midi system) is now up for sale. The Collider is very good..but I couldn't be happier with the Halo. Does everything I need, sounds ace..and its small.

[@DetroitWrecker666]

That's interesting. I ended up getting a Filaments pedal a few years ago and I LOVE IT! It replaced my distortion pedals... I used a Super Overdrive for years. Then a few others. Then I was sold on the MXR Super Bad Ass Distortion. Then, I got the Keeley. I don't think I will ever use anything else. It really is a all in one distortion pedal.

[@joekruger8033]

I love the Halo because it’s a great sound that doesn’t stand out in front. The only thing I dislike is the closeness of the foot switches, which I remedied with their remote switcher. This pedal is as comfortable as you get.

[@charbelalkobtawy3544]

I absolutely love this pedal. It’s a bit pricey for me though…I am pretty sure Andy Timmons controls the effect with an expression pedal.

[@halhawkins7641]

Coming along nicely!

[@peterschaefer1665]

Andy says the pedal comes with his presets. And keep in mind that he fades this in and and out with an expression pedal

[@cdnpunk2270]

I agree level was bit much in mono but it's out of the way in stereo. Try it.

[@stevesalazar9658]

Pretty sure the level is higher due ro how Andy uses it with the expression pedal. I would think if you're using it without ine you're going to have to adjust the effect level. It's made for his personal use in his rig. I'm waiting on my order to try it out as well. I ordered the Custom light version.

[@scottnovak849]

Agreed about the high levels in the stock settings. I thought something was wrong with it when i plugged it in lol.

[@MickeyMousehouse]

I’ve been thinking of getting one of these, just for the halo sound

[@PsionicAudio]

This is easily one of the very best sounding intuitive to use delay pedals I’ve had experience with. And I’ve used a lot of delays, both pedals and rackmounts. Suhr has a new one that also seems awesome but I haven’t tried it. My tc Flashback X4 is going away soon. Aside from the looping functions, the Halo does everything else in a smaller package. And the newer tc Ditto+ will be a nice dedicated looper.

[@NJSonye]

Based on his use of two Memory Man. He later started using Strymon Timeline that he said was overkill for what he wants. Robert & his DSP engineer added an extra tweak or two.

[@AmundBlixAaeng]

Keeley added a LOT of extra goodies to the algorithm you can't do with any other delay pedal on the market now. Crossfeedback, LFO's to the modulation and more, really something more like you'll find in a "Big Boy" Eventide or Lexicon. Just a fantastic sounding delay 🤩

[@NJSonye]

@@AmundBlixAaeng I’m looking forward to play one.

[@matchrocket1702]

I can't help it, I'm a sucker for tape echos. I gave my Roland 301 to my son-in-law who has a semi-pro studio. I didn't know he had been lusting after it for years. I recently filled that empty spot in my line up with an Echo Fix EF-X2, It's nearly identical to the Roland but much beefier and has a few extra features.

[@denmar355]

The reason you had to tweak the presets is that it really is to be used with a TRS expression pedal. That’s how Andy uses it and advocates for that control.

[@nickwilson9210]

Have you ever tried the nova delay it’s does that 2290 thing really well very fast. Why won’t tc make a 2290 pedal I feel like it would be a huge hit

[@mattjohnson6916]

Very informative review! Speaking of the SDD3K, did you ever try that pedal version they released a few years ago? If so, what did you think given your experience with the original units?

[@PsionicAudio]

Ok ish delay. They flubbed the preamp.

[@joemeyer6876]

You have caused me to exceed my db level on my beats earpods 😂😂😂. I must remove them now to conserve my hearing 🎧 Great Demo!

[@PsionicAudio]

Sorry not sorry

[@chriswareham]

Cool pedal, although when I saw it was a dual delay line with modulation I was hoping it would be as mad as the legendary Marshall Time Modulator. I guess that particular piece of gear is never going to be copied!

[@richardlynch5632]

HotCake has been a personal favorite for decades😉😎👍. Sooo many cool delays on the market. Creative tools indeed 😎👍 Having gun with the new 335👍

[@steffenbrix]

The Halo needs to be in stereo.....

[@TheCyberMantis]

I agree, the HALO should be on the bottom of the pedal board.

[@neslesman6708]

Mild chorus my ass. That was awesome.

[@Sam-n2f5q]

The level volume with the saturated levels are no good. And hard to use on the fly. Good sounds. But the design needs to be greatly improved

[@cedarbay3994]

Personally, I didn’t like the ducking. You could say I find it quite fowl.

[@joepeezy4sheezy]

Telos huh? Your next pedal should be called Kos-Mos…

[@nickwilson9210]

Andy says 90% he is on preset one

[@nickwilson9210]

And it sounds unreal when he plays

[@Sam-n2f5q]

Good sounds .but the design is completely no good