TL;DR: Meris has released the Ottobit X, a full-sized evolution of their beloved Ottobit Jr. bitcrusher/sequencer pedal. This X-series upgrade packs 99 presets, a looper, and a comprehensive effects chain including preamps, modulation, delay, reverb, and pitch shifting — all aimed at shoegaze, lo-fi, ambient, and video game music producers. Available now in black and a limited-edition “Multidimensional Pink” for €699 / $666 / £599.
- 99 preset slots with complex effects chains combining bitcrushing, stutter, pitch shifting, modulation, delay, reverb, and preamp emulation.
- Dedicated knobs for bitcrush intensity, filter cutoff, and output level, plus a four-footswitch layout for preset navigation and looper control.
- Priced at $666 / £599 / €699 — the pink “Multidimensional Pink” edition appears to have sold out quickly at Thomann.
- Workflow mirrors other Meris X-series pedals (LVX, Enzo X, Mercury X), making it familiar to existing users but still deep and menu-driven.
- Built-in glitch sequencer can rhythmically modulate effect parameters, but the pedal’s standalone effects are compelling enough to use without it.
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What Is the Meris Ottobit X?
You could kind of see this coming after the Enzo X, the LVX, and the Mercury X. Here is the Meris Ottobit X! This multi-effects pedal combines a powerful bitcrusher with the dizzying modulation possibilities we’ve seen in Meris’ other X-series pedals. In other words, at its core, it’s an Ottobit Jr., but beefed up to be the ultimate lo-fi shoegaze pedal.
For fans of glitch sounds and VHS lo-fi effects, and for anyone who produces shoegaze, ambient, video game music, or other digitally distorted noise, the Meris Ottobit X is likely something of a holy grail. It offers 99 presets and lets you get sounds so broken and stuttery, so melancholic and endless, you’ll probably replace a whole set of other pedals and plugins with it.
The complex lo-fi sounds produced by the little Ottobit Jr., which combines a bitcrusher and a sequencer, have already garnered a growing fan base in recent years. With the Ottobit X, these sonic possibilities are expanded into entirely new dimensions. You feed it three notes from a guitar or synth and get epic, dark, glitchy soundscapes in return, for hours on end.
Sound Design and Signal Chain
The Ottobit X is essentially a massive sound degradation suite. You get presets consisting of effects chains with different flavors of preamps, bitcrushers, modulation effects, delays, reverbs, stutter effects, pitch shifters — just one massive sound degradation suite. And the quality and uniqueness of many of them are such that you often don’t even need the glitch sequencer, which rhythmically adjusts some of the effect parameters.
The bitcrusher itself is the heart of the pedal, but it’s the combination with the other effects that makes this thing special. The preamp emulations add warmth or grit, the modulation can get wildly unpredictable, and the delays and reverbs smear everything into beautiful, decaying chaos. It’s not just a bitcrusher; it’s a full lo-fi workstation in a box.
For those who love the rhythmic glitch possibilities, the built-in sequencer can modulate parameters like sample rate, filter cutoff, or pitch in sync with your tempo. But even without engaging the sequencer, the standalone effects are rich enough to keep you exploring for weeks. The ability to stack multiple effects in a single preset means you can go from subtle tape warble to full-on digital meltdown without touching a second pedal.
Workflow and User Interface
If you own or have used one of Meris’ other X-pedals, you should be able to figure the Ottobit X out in a flash. Although I’m still discovering new things about my beloved LVX to this day, Meris’ tutorial video for the Ottobit X helped me realize very quickly just how similar the workflow is.
Besides setting up the effects through the menu dials, you can directly adjust the intensity of the bitcrushing and the built-in filter using their dedicated knobs, as well as the output level. Three of the four footswitches let you navigate and switch between presets, while the right footswitch activates the looper. This layout makes it practical for live use, though the menu diving is not for everyone — Meris pedals reward patience with depth.
The looper is a welcome addition, letting you layer glitchy textures on the fly. It’s not the most advanced looper on the market, but for capturing a moment of broken beauty and building upon it, it works perfectly. The 99 preset slots mean you can store your favorite chains, and the dedicated knobs for bitcrush and filter give you immediate hands-on control when you need it most.
Market Context and Who It’s For
At €699 / $666 / £599, the Ottobit X is not cheap. But when you consider that it replaces a bitcrusher, a filter pedal, a modulation pedal, a delay, a reverb, a pitch shifter, a preamp, and a looper, the price starts to make sense. For studio producers and live performers who want one box to cover all their lo-fi and glitch needs, this is a serious contender.
The pink “Multidimensional Pink” edition seems to have already sold out at Thomann, which tells you something about the demand. The black edition remains available, but if history is any guide, these X-series pedals tend to hold their value and remain in high demand. Meris has built a reputation for quality sound design and robust build, and the Ottobit X continues that tradition.
Who is this for? Shoegaze guitarists who want to summon walls of broken, beautiful noise. Electronic producers who live for bitcrushed beats and stuttering melodies. Video game composers chasing that 8-bit/16-bit aesthetic with modern depth. Ambient artists who want textures that feel like decaying magnetic tape. And anyone who just loves the sound of digital destruction done right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Meris Ottobit X be used with synthesizers?
Absolutely. While it’s marketed as a guitar pedal, the Ottobit X works equally well with synthesizers, drum machines, and any line-level audio source. The bitcrushing and filter sections are particularly effective on synth sounds, and the sequencer can add rhythmic glitch patterns to your patches.
How does the Ottobit X compare to the Ottobit Jr.?
The Ottobit X is a significant upgrade. While the Jr. was a compact bitcrusher/sequencer, the X adds 99 presets, a looper, a full effects chain (including preamps, modulation, delay, and reverb), and dedicated knobs for bitcrush and filter control. It’s essentially the Jr. on steroids, with a much deeper sound palette.
Is the pink edition still available?
As of this writing, the “Multidimensional Pink” edition appears to be sold out at Thomann, though it may pop up at other retailers or in secondhand markets. The standard black edition is still widely available. Given the limited nature of these colorways, don’t expect the pink to return anytime soon.
I’ll be honest — I’m already saving up for one, though my coffee budget might have to take a hit for a month or two. Some sacrifices are worth making for the sound of perfectly broken audio.