Hey everyone, this is Landon, founder of Chaos Audio.
We pride ourselves on transparency, innovation, and delivering high-quality products that enhance the musical creativity of our customers. Recently, a well-known influencer posted a video about our Stratus multi-effects pedal, but unfortunately, it contained numerous misunderstandings and misleading claims. We want to take a moment to clarify some key points and ensure that the facts about Stratus are clear.
1. Misleading Claims in the Video Title
The video in question was titled "These brands wanted me to lie. I said no and exposed them." This is incredibly misleading and falsely implies that Chaos Audio engaged in unethical practices.
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We reached out once in 2021 to discuss a potential collaboration and never asked this influencer to lie or misrepresent anything.
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Additionally, the thumbnail insinuates that our product is a scam, which is completely untrue. Chaos Audio has always been committed to honesty, quality, and transparency in everything we do.
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Our 1,000+ satisfied customers and 4.9/5 rating speak to the genuine value of Stratus, and we do not engage in deceptive marketing.
2. Customer Support & Accessibility
We previously had a phone support line, but as a small team, we couldn’t always be available to answer calls in real time. To provide better and faster support, we moved to an email-based system where we respond very quickly. Every customer receives timely assistance, and we are always open to answering questions or concerns.
3. Pricing & Effects – No Paywall Gimmicks
A common misconception is that Stratus forces users to buy effects individually at $15 each. This is not true. While we do offer additional effect purchases for flexibility, we also provide a one-time $99 bundle alongside Stratus that unlocks all Chaos Audio effects, making the total cost $348 for everything.
Considering that professional-grade single pedals often cost $150+ each, Stratus offers a huge value with an extensive library of high-quality effects in one compact device.
This approach also helps us, as a small team, keep our hardware at very affordable pricing even though the cost to manufacture at low volume is quite high.
4. High-Quality Built-in Effects
Stratus comes pre-loaded with 18 premium effects covering distortion, modulation, delay, reverb, fuzz, overdrive, and dynamics. These are not “cheap” effects—we put the same level of quality into our included effects as we do with our additional premium effects.
5. Performance – No Lag When Stacking Effects
One of the claims made was that stacking effects causes lag or performance issues. This is not technically possible with Stratus. The pedal runs on a hard real-time version of Linux, which means that no matter how many effects you chain together (up to 20), the latency does not increase. This is a major advantage over many digital multi-effects units, often larger in size, that struggle with latency.
6. MIDI Control is Optional – Not Required
Some viewers may have misunderstood how Stratus operates live. While MIDI control is available, Stratus has a built-in preset mode that allows users to switch between 14 presets using just the footswitches and color-coded LEDs. You do not need a MIDI controller to use Stratus in a live performance setting.
7. Does Stratus Require a Phone?
While a phone (or other device) is needed to initially program your effects and presets, Stratus does not require the app to function during live performances. Once your presets are loaded, you can operate it just like any traditional multi-effects pedal.
8. Third-Party Effects – Why Are Some Paid?
We are proud to partner with some of the best algorithm developers and pedal companies around, including ChowDSP, AIDA DSP, ManicFX, and Shnobel Tone. These independent brands put years of research and development into their effects and maintain full control over their pricing. These are the same premium algorithms you’d find in high-end hardware and software that cost $300+ per unit. We’re providing a way for musicians to access them affordably on Stratus.
Final Thoughts: The Value of Stratus
Stratus is designed to offer pro-level effects at an accessible price. With over 1,000 satisfied customers and a 4.9/5 rating, we know that the value, quality, and innovation of Stratus speak for themselves. We understand that not every product will be for everyone, but we strongly believe in fair and accurate representation of our brand.
If you have any questions, concerns, or need clarification, our team is always happy to help. We encourage open dialogue and welcome feedback that helps us continue improving. Thank you to everyone who supports Chaos Audio, and we look forward to continuing to bring innovative solutions to musicians everywhere.
- Landon McCoy
Founder, Chaos Audio
