The Arcade Audio Cheat Code is an Arcade Audio tremolo pedal, currently around $29.95. Close alternatives include the Mooer Trelicopter and the Hot Box Pedals Tremolous Optical Tremolo. It pairs well with the Park P50 Classic and the Cornell Romany 10 Tweed 10 watt Tube.

Arcade Audio Cheat Code

Arcade Audio · pedal

The Arcade Audio Cheat Code is a mini-format optical tremolo offering control over tremolo depth, bias, and speed. Controls include Depth (tremolo depth), Bias (optical bias point to adjust waveform character from smooth to choppy), and Speed (tremolo rate). True bypass, LED power indicator, 1/4-inch mono jack I/O. 9V power supply required. Part of the Arcade Audio video-game-themed line where the Cheat Code name references unlocking hidden control. Available through zZounds, American Musical Supply, and Amazon in a compact mini enclosure.

What stands out

  • “The Cheat Code stands out from crowded budget tremolo by including the Bias control, which allows fine-tuning of the optical circuit to move between smooth rounded tremolo and harder-edged gating”

    — from the reviews

  • “Use case: guitarists who want analog tremolo in a small enclosure on a packed pedalboard; the Bias control enables waveform shaping beyond what simple Rate and Depth tremolo pedals offer”

    — from the community notes

  • “Tone: optical tremolo character with adjustable Bias giving access to waveform shapes from smooth and rounded to choppy and gated depending on the bias setting”

    — from the community notes

  • “Available through zZounds, American Musical Supply, and Amazon in a compact mini enclosure”

    — from the listing

  • “True bypass, LED power indicator, 1/4-inch mono jack I/O”

    — from the listing

Trade-offs

  • “Signal-chain interaction: place before modulation and reverb in the chain; works naturally after drive pedals for textured amp-in-room tremolo sounds”

    — from the community notes

  • smooth
  • optical tremolo
  • bypass
  • optical
  • tremolo
  • musical
  • analog
  • waveform character

Good for

  • Busking
  • Live
$29.95View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 23, 2026

Genres the Arcade Audio Cheat Code is commonly used in

  • Country
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Arcade Audio Cheat Code

Park P50 Classic

Park

28% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Park P50 Classic leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Cornell Romany 10 Tweed 10 watt Tube

Cornell

23% match
$1466.72via Reverb

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Cornell Romany 10 Tweed 10 watt Tube leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Ceriatone British Style 2525

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, Ceriatone British Style 2525 brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Vox AC30S1 OneTwelve 30W 1x12 Combo

Vox

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, Vox AC30S1 OneTwelve 30W 1x12 Combo brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Fryette Power Station 100

Fryette

tonal match
$1199via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Fryette Power Station 100 leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Kustom HV30 Tube

Kustom

tonal match
$234.52via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Kustom HV30 Tube leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II

Mesa Boogie

tonal match
$1147.50via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Friedman PT-20

Friedman

tonal match
$1499via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Friedman PT-20 leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Pedals that stack with the Arcade Audio Cheat Code

Origin Effects RevivalDrive

Origin Effects

22% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Into a dynamic tone, Origin Effects RevivalDrive brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus

Dunlop

21% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes earlier in the signal chain

JHS Lucky Cat Delay limited edition

JHS Pedals

11% match
$281.42via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep JHS Lucky Cat Delay limited edition after Arcade Audio Cheat Code in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Arcade Audio Cheat Code — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Echoplex EP-3

Echoplex

11% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Echoplex EP-3 after Arcade Audio Cheat Code in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Arcade Audio Cheat Code — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

DigiTech DOD Compressor 280

Digitech

tonal match
$119.23via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

DigiTech DOD Compressor 280 leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

DigiTech XBS Bass Squeeze

Digitech

tonal match
$95.94via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

DigiTech XBS Bass Squeeze leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Fairfield Circuitry 20% More

Fairfield Circuitry

tonal match
$451.45via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Fairfield Circuitry 20% More leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Tech 21 CompTortion

Tech 21

tonal match

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, Tech 21 CompTortion brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Boutique & premium upgrades

Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Artec

66% similarity
$66.95via Reverb

Shared character: true bypass, tremolo, modulation

Carl Martin Surf Trem V3

Carl Martin

64% similarity
$76.22via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, modulation, smooth

Mr. Black Downward Spiral

Mr Black

60% similarity
$139via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, modulation, reverb

Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo

Dophix

60% similarity
$215.79via Reverb

Shared character: modulation, smooth, reverb

Dawner Prince Starla Tap Tempo Tremolo

Dawner Prince

59% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: analog, tremolo, modulation

Universal Audio Flow Tremolo

Universal Audio

58% similarity
$114.91via Reverb

Shared character: true bypass, tremolo, simple

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Mooer Trelicopter

Mooer

67% similarity

Shared character: true bypass, modulation, smooth

Hot Box Pedals Tremolous Optical Tremolo

Hot Box Pedals

63% similarity

Shared character: tremolo, modulation, simple

BBE Tremor V2

Bbe

62% similarity

Shared character: true bypass, smooth, reverb

Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo

Dunlop

61% similarity

Shared character: modulation, smooth, reverb

Anarchy Audio Flutterby Tremolo

Anarchy Audio

60% similarity

Shared character: analog, true bypass, tremolo

J. Rockett Mr Moto

J Rockett

57% similarity

Shared character: modulation, smooth

See all alternatives to the Arcade Audio Cheat Code (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Arcade Audio Cheat Code?+

The closest matches in character are the Mooer Trelicopter, the Hot Box Pedals Tremolous Optical Tremolo, the BBE Tremor V2. Boutique upgrades: Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo, Carl Martin Surf Trem V3, Mr. Black Downward Spiral.

What pairs well with the Arcade Audio Cheat Code?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Park P50 Classic, Cornell Romany 10 Tweed 10 watt Tube, Ceriatone British Style 2525 — Park P50 Classic leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own.

How much does the Arcade Audio Cheat Code cost?+

Around $29.95 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).

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