Intensive Care Audio Vena Cava Filter

Vena Cava Filter

£220.00

Highlights

• Distortion with auto filter and ring modulation in one pedal
• From smooth swirl to glitchy, aggressive, sci-fi textures
• Responsive gain and modulation that tracks picking dynamics
• Eight LFO waveforms, tap tempo, blend and depth shaping
• Part digital LFO with analogue distortion and filtering stages
• Hand built and wired in London, England
• Stylish textured black powder coated metal wedge enclosure
• Two tone colour graphics with illuminated logo detailing
• LED indicates power, LFO speed and waveform movement
• Soft touch relay based true bypass switching
• Hybrid digital and analogue design
• Side mounted jack sockets for neat pedalboard layout
• Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty

Description

The Intensive Care Audio Vena Cava Filter is a high gain distortion pedal combined with a dynamic auto filter and ring modulation, designed for players who want far more than a standard drive sound. Sitting comfortably anywhere from alternative rock and experimental post punk to noise, industrial and modern psych, it can function as a richly textured distortion, a multi waveform modulation device, or an all out sonic disruptor. With blendable filtering and ring modulation, it moves well beyond conventional gain pedals while remaining genuinely usable in a real world rig.

At its core is a bright yet smooth distortion circuit that ranges from mild overdrive through to heavy, saturated and fat distortion. Even before engaging the filter or ring modulation, it delivers a bold, characterful voice with plenty of output and headroom. Introduce the auto filter and the sound begins to sweep, step and pulse according to the selected waveform. From fluid sine and triangle swirls to stepped, random and ramping patterns, the filter reshapes the tonal centre in rhythmic cycles, creating everything from chewy phaser like movement to aggressive, percussive stabs and glitchy sample and hold effects. The integrated ring modulator adds another layer of texture, capable of subtle octave down movement, metallic overtones or stuttering, almost broken speaker artefacts depending on how it is set.

In use, the Intensive Care Audio Vena Cava Filter feels lively and inspiring. Pick attack interacts with the gain structure, while the modulation depth and speed dramatically alter how the distortion sits in a mix. Slower LFO rates create broad, evolving sweeps that suit sustained chords and ambient passages. Faster settings push into tremolo like pulses, sci fi laser tones and tightly gated rhythmic patterns. With the Blend control rolled back, it behaves like a straightforward distortion; turned up, it becomes an expressive modulation instrument. It rewards experimentation, yet it is equally capable of delivering a focused, repeatable sound once dialled in.

Control is extensive but logical. The eight position Wave Function rotary switch selects from Random Slopes, Random Steps, Staircase, Sine, Triangle, Square, Ramp Down and Ramp Up LFO shapes. Freq sets the modulation speed, with the LED above it visually indicating the rate and waveform movement. Peak adjusts the depth of the LFO’s influence over the filter notch and ring modulation frequency, allowing anything from subtle tonal animation to extreme, resonant sweeps. The Ring control sets the base frequency of the ring modulator; fully clockwise disengages it, while lower settings can introduce octave down effects or stuttering textures. A dedicated Ring switch removes the LFO from controlling the ring frequency, letting it be set to a fixed value while the filter continues to move. The Voice switch selects between two filter voicings, including a narrower notch with greater high frequency emphasis. Gain governs distortion intensity, and Volume sets overall output level. Blend mixes between pure distortion and the filtered, ring modulated signal.

The circuit is a hybrid design, pairing digital LFO control with analogue distortion and filtering stages. This approach provides precise, stable modulation while retaining the immediacy and harmonic character of analogue gain. Soft touch momentary footswitches operate a relay based true bypass system, preserving signal integrity when disengaged and offering quiet, reliable switching. The right footswitch provides tap tempo control for the LFO, making it easy to match modulation speed to a drummer or track.

Each Intensive Care Audio Vena Cava Filter is built in London, England, using high quality components including Neutrik jack sockets. The distinctive wedge shaped metal enclosure features a textured black powder coat finish that feels robust underfoot and stands up to regular gigging. The graphics are clear and characterful, with two tone colour options and illuminated logo detailing that adds stage presence without compromising legibility.

An LED power indicator confirms when the pedal is active, while the modulation LED above the Freq control clearly shows LFO speed and waveform behaviour, making on the fly adjustments straightforward on darker stages. The relay based true bypass design ensures the pedal does not colour the signal when switched off, helping maintain clarity across larger pedalboards. Side mounted jack sockets make for efficient cable routing and tighter pedalboard layouts.

Backed by the manufacturer’s lifetime warranty, the Intensive Care Audio Vena Cava Filter offers long term reliability alongside its bold sonic range. For players seeking a distortion that can move from solid, muscular drive to complex, animated and experimental textures without adding multiple separate pedals, it stands out as a distinctive and creatively rewarding choice.

Controls

• WAVE FUNCTION: Selects eight LFO waveforms from smooth to stepped and random
• FREQ: Sets LFO speed; LED displays rate and waveform movement
• RING: Sets ring modulator base frequency; fully clockwise disengages
• RING SWITCH: Removes LFO from ring mod for fixed frequency control
• VOICE SWITCH: Selects between two filter voicings, including narrower high emphasis notch
• VOLUME: Adjusts overall output level with ample headroom
• PEAK: Controls LFO depth over filter notch and ring modulation
• BLEND: Mixes pure distortion with filtered and ring modulated signal
• GAIN: Ranges from mild overdrive to heavy, saturated distortion

Components and Technical Specification

• Hybrid digital LFO with analogue distortion and filter stages
• Relay based true bypass for signal integrity
• Soft touch momentary footswitches for quiet switching
• Dedicated tap tempo footswitch for LFO speed control
• Eight position rotary LFO waveform selector
• Neutrik jack sockets for durability and secure connection
• Top mounted input and output jacks
• Textured black powder coated metal enclosure
• Built in London, England
• Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty
• Powered by standard 9V centre negative supply (not included)
• Battery operation not supported
• Current draw measured with Truetone 1Spot mA Meter:
• Bypass: Approximately 32 mA
• Engaged (maximum): Approximately 76 mA

Current draw may vary slightly depending on control settings, circuit behaviour, and active features such as gain stages, modulation, filtering, or reverb tails. For best performance, use a high quality isolated power supply that matches the pedal’s current requirements. Always refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations, as incorrect powering may cause damage.

Enclosure Dimensions

• Length: 126 mm / 4.9 in 
• Width: 88 mm / 3.4 in 
• Height: 45 mm to 27 mm / 1.8 in to 1.1 in

Weight

• 388 g
• 0.86 lbs

Official UK Dealers

FX Pedal Planet Limited and FX Pedal Planet Online Store proudly serve as UK dealers for Intensive Care Audio. If we do not have the specific Intensive Care Audio product you are looking for, please reach out to us via the contacts page, and will order it on our next stock order for you at the best price and customer service.

Buy Today and Pay Over Time

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Klarna is a smooth and safe way to get what you want today, and pay over time. Afterpay allows customers to pay in four interest free instalments, budget your spending and earn rewards when you shop.

UK Deliveries

For our UK customers, we provide FREE 24 hour DHL tracked and signed delivery, ensuring your order arrives swiftly and securely.

International Deliveries

International deliveries are dispatched with DHL, ensuring fast shipping and efficient processing through customs.

For more information on deliveries and charges, please refer to our Deliveries and Charges.

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