The EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine is an EarthQuaker Devices octave pedal, currently around $229. Close alternatives include the Meris MR Hedra and the DigiTech HammerOn. It pairs well with the Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt and the Synergy SL2 Module.
EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine is a polyphonic pitch shifting modulation pedal and one of EQD's strangest, most experimental designs. It shifts pitch up or down in real time with adjustable tracking, adds shimmering modulated harmonies and detune, and features a Magic momentary switch that unleashes self oscillating, glitchy, runaway digital chaos. From subtle chorus like detune and octave shimmer to alien, arpeggiated and dissonant textures, it is built for sonic adventure rather than natural sounds. It suits ambient, experimental, shoegaze and psychedelic players who want lush shimmer, otherworldly harmonized textures and unpredictable, glitchy pitch effects in a single distinctive pedal.
What stands out
“From subtle chorus like detune and octave shimmer to alien, arpeggiated and dissonant textures, it is built for sonic adventure”
— from the listing
“The EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine is a polyphonic pitch shifting modulation pedal and one of EQD's strangest, most experimental designs”
— from the listing
“It shifts pitch up or down in real time with adjustable tracking, adds shimmering modulated harmonies and detune, and features a Magic momentary switch that unleashes self oscillating, glitchy, runaway digital chaos”
— from the listing
“it suits ambient”
— from the listing
“It is used for shimmer, detuned chorus textures, alien harmonies and full on glitchy chaos via the Magic switch, especially in ambient, shoegaze and experimental music”
— from the community notes
- shimmer
- pitch
- tracking
- digital
- ambient
- experimental
- chorus
- lush
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine is commonly used in
- Experimental
- Shoegaze
- Ambient
- Post Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Post Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the chain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Synergy SL2 Module after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H goes after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Friedman BE-Mini Head after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Ceriatone 2202H after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212 goes after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade goes after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the chain
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
17% matchGreer Black Mountain leans toward fuzzy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Eons
Walrus Audio
17% matchWhat Walrus Audio Eons brings here leans toward fuzzy — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss DD-2 Digital Delay
Boss
5% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Boss DD-2 Digital Delay after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the signal chain, where it won't crowd EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
5% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the signal chain, where it won't crowd EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Warm Audio Jet Phaser belongs after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine, since modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction goes after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the chain
Subdecay F-Bomb
Subdecay
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Subdecay F-Bomb goes after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the chain
Cheaper alternatives
Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork Plus
Electro-Harmonix
65% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, single rig, tight tracking
Electro-Harmonix Pico Pitch Fork
Electro-Harmonix
61% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, single rig, tight tracking
Electro-Harmonix Intelligent Harmony Machine
Electro-Harmonix
60% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, single rig, tight tracking
Electro-Harmonix Slammi Plus
Electro-Harmonix
55% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, tight tracking, one octave
Boss PS-6
Boss
49% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, tight tracking, one octave
TC Electronic Pitchfork
TC Electronic
46% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, one octave, digital
Boutique & premium upgrades
Meris Hedra Shifter
Meris
47% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, tight tracking, ambient
Alexander Pedals Fever Pitch
Alexander Pedals
47% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, one octave, ambient
Roger Mayer Octavia
Roger Mayer
45% similarityShared character: tight tracking, one octave
Roger Mayer Octavia Classic
Roger Mayer
45% similarityShared character: tight tracking, one octave, digital
Similar character
Meris MR Hedra
Meris
47% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, one octave
DigiTech HammerOn
Digitech
47% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, tight tracking, one octave
EarthQuaker Devices Arpanoid V2
EarthQuaker Devices
47% similarityShared character: tight tracking, ambient
Hotone Skyline Harmony Pitch Shifter/Harmonist
Hotone
46% similarityShared character: pitch modulation, tight tracking
Meris Enzo
Meris
44% similarityShared character: tight tracking, ambient
Walrus Audio Luminary
Walrus Audio
44% similarityShared character: tight tracking, one octave, ambient
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine?+
The closest matches in character are the Meris MR Hedra, the DigiTech HammerOn, the EarthQuaker Devices Arpanoid V2. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork Plus, Electro-Harmonix Pico Pitch Fork, Electro-Harmonix Intelligent Harmony Machine. Boutique upgrades: Meris Hedra Shifter, Alexander Pedals Fever Pitch, Roger Mayer Octavia.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt, Synergy SL2 Module, Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H — Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine in the chain.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine cost?+
Around $229 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).