Discomfort Designs Supreme Balloon Tremolo

Classic tremolo pushed into strange new territory

The Discomfort Designs Supreme Balloon is an advanced stereo tremolo and panner that combines classic amplitude modulation with an unusually deep set of tools for creating complex, evolving and unpredictable rhythmic textures. From smooth vintage-inspired pulses and rich harmonic tremolo to rapid stutters and irregular modulation patterns, Supreme Balloon can move effortlessly between the familiar and the experimental.

Traditional Depth and Rate controls provide an intuitive starting point for shaping the intensity and speed of the effect. A dedicated Speed footswitch instantly multiplies the current modulation rate by four, allowing you to jump from slow, gentle movement to rapid, stutter-like pulses in real time.

At the heart of Supreme Balloon is a flexible waveform engine built around Sawtooth, Sine and Square wave LFOs. Rather than simply switching between them, the Morph control allows you to move smoothly from one waveform shape to another, creating continuously variable modulation curves. The selected waveform can also be flipped or inverted within the morphing process, opening the door to asymmetrical pulses and unusual rhythmic movement.

The Split control lets you move seamlessly between traditional and harmonic tremolo. At lower settings, the entire frequency spectrum is modulated together for classic tremolo sounds. Increase Split and the signal is divided into separate frequency bands that are modulated independently, creating the rich, swirling and almost phase-like movement associated with harmonic tremolo.

For something less predictable, the Skip function introduces randomized dropouts into the LFO cycle. Depending on your settings, this can add anything from subtle rhythmic irregularities to missing beats and dramatic interruptions, transforming otherwise repetitive modulation into patterns that continually surprise you.

Both footswitches also offer momentary functionality, including momentary engagement from bypass and additional functions while the effect is active. Combined with its stereo operation and panning capabilities, Supreme Balloon turns one of the oldest effects in guitar history into a remarkably flexible instrument for movement, rhythm and experimentation.

Discomfort Designs Supreme Balloon Features

• Advanced stereo tremolo and panner

• Covers classic tremolo, harmonic tremolo and experimental rhythmic modulation

• Depth and Rate controls for modulation intensity and speed

• Speed footswitch multiplies the current modulation rate by four

• Sawtooth, Sine and Square LFO waveforms

• Morph control provides smooth transitions between waveform shapes

• Waveforms can be flipped or inverted for asymmetrical modulation patterns

• Split control blends continuously between traditional and harmonic tremolo

• Harmonic tremolo independently modulates separate frequency bands

• Skip function introduces randomized dropouts into the LFO cycle

• Momentary footswitch functionality

• Additional hidden functions available while the effect is active

• Power: 9V DC

• Current Draw: 100mA