Following the success of the Expression Ramper X3 released in early 2024, OBNE are yet again expanding on the concept of Expression Ramping and presents to you the Expression Ramper HK, an enhanced version of the expression movement shaper capable of manipulating expression-controlled devices with even more copious control and options.

With the Expression Ramper HK, Old Blood Noise Endeavours not only clad their top-selling utility device in a new graphical design originated by OKC art duo Holey Kids that makes it perfectly fit in with the rest of OBNE’s latest utility series releases. Additionally, the familiar Expression ramper gets a Tap Tempo switch that can be used to tap in the desired LFO speed, overriding the knob setting for Rate.

A super simple, yet highly innovative way to automate expression control, letting you conjure sounds you never thought possible from any pedal with an expression input. It’s time to release your Inner-Ramper!

A ramper is a device that creates motion on your expression-enabled devices. Simply put, the Expression Ramper HK allows you to pick two expression settings (point A and point B) and the way it moves between them.

It can either change settings in one motion or as a continuous LFO activated by a single footswitch.

Hook up the Expression Ramper HK to your expression-enabled effects pedal. Simply pick your first expression setting in the A position, then your second in the B position, and you’re good to go. It’s utilitarian, but opens up several sounds from your existing pedals.

Then, set Expression Ramper HK to move between A and B in one of six different ways. In Triangle mode, it glides in a linear Triangle wave sweep from A to B, while in Square mode, it will make instant Square Wave jumps. Both Triangle and Square are LFO modes - you start the LFO when you hit the footswitch once, then stop it as you press the switch again. Alternatively, 1 Shot mode triggers a cool one-off sweep, where every press of the footswitch jumps from one position to the other. The speed of the LFO or 1 Shot movement can be set via the Rate knob or Tap Tempo button.

To access the hidden three alternative shapes the Expression Ramper HK provides, simply hold down the tap button while switching the shape toggle. Now the Triangle shape changes to Smooth Random, which repeatedly moves to a random spot between A & B in a linear fashion, Square becomes Sharp Random, which immediately moves to a new random spot between A & B at the start of each cycle and the 1 Shot setting becomes 1 Shot Random, where each press of the footswitch snaps to a new random spot between A & B.

These simple and intuitive features can unlock worlds of sound. For instance, if you have Expression Ramper HK hooked up to a pitch-shifter, you can create classic Whammy-like octave glides in one-shot mode, stretchy modulation in Triangle wave mode or hypnotic pitch sequences in Square wave mode. Got an expression-enabled phaser? Turn it into a step-filter with Expression Ramper HK’s square wave. Or maybe an expression-enabled delay pedal? Use Expression Ramper to create swelling Feedback waves in Triangle mode or jump between two preset delay times in one-shot mode. The list goes on and on, and the possibilities are basically endless.

While it should suit most effects pedals right out of the box, Expression Ramper HK can easily be configured for different polarities or types of expression pedal simulation by using the internal jumpers.

All of this goodness is packed into a highly compact enclosure, ensuring that you can fit the Expression Ramper HK (or several Rampers) into any setup. Happy Ramping!