The Keeley RK2000 Brings the Legendary Funk Siren Sound to a Modern Pedalboard

The Keeley Electronics RK2000 Funk Siren Delay is a stereo delay pedal built to recreate the legendary DM2000 “Funk Siren” ambient loop delay sound in a far more reliable, pedalboard-friendly format. Designed for players chasing expressive, warbling, pitch-bending delay textures, the RK2000 takes a rare and historically hard-to-maintain rack effect and turns it into a practical, gig-ready stompbox with modern control options. It captures the musical character that made the original sound so sought after, while delivering the convenience and flexibility today’s players expect.

Why the RK2000 Stands Out

The RK2000 is not just another digital delay pedal. It is designed around a very specific and highly desirable sound: ambient looping, dramatic modulation, pitch movement, and interactive performance control. Where many delay pedals are built for standard echoes and repeats, the RK2000 is voiced to become part of the performance itself. It offers the feel of a rare piece of vintage-inspired gear, but in a compact pedal format that is easier to use on stage, in the studio, or as part of an advanced modern pedalboard.

Core Tone and Musical Character

At its heart, the RK2000 delivers far more than simple delay repeats. Its signature sound comes from the interaction between Hold and Mod functions, creating everything from subtle movement and shimmer to unstable, tape-like warble and octave-style pitch wobble. This gives the pedal a uniquely musical and expressive voice that works beautifully for jam-band improvisation, ambient guitar, post-rock textures, cinematic lead work, soundtrack-style sound design, and experimental playing.

Players looking for lush spatial effects will appreciate how the RK2000 can move from short animated repeats to long, immersive delay textures that seem to breathe and evolve with the performance. It is a pedal designed to inspire creativity rather than just sit in the background.

Key Features

True stereo input and output make the RK2000 a strong choice for wide ambient rigs, stereo boards, and wet/dry setups. Preset capability gives players quick access to saved sounds for live and studio use. Expression pedal control adds real-time adjustability for dynamic performances, while remote switching support expands functionality for larger pedalboard systems. Tap tempo and subdivisions make it easy to sync delays to a song, and MIDI integration allows the pedal to fit comfortably into more advanced switching and preset-based rigs.

The RK2000 also offers ping-pong and pitch-shifted stereo delay textures, making it especially appealing for players who want movement, width, and immersive spatial sound.

Delay Controls and Sound Shaping

One of the strongest aspects of the RK2000 is its deep but intuitive control layout. The Input control governs the signal feeding the delay engine. Blend sets the mix of dry and delayed signal. Feedback adjusts the number of repeats, from subtle ambience to more sustained echoes. Filter shapes the tone of the delay repeats, letting players move between darker, warmer textures and brighter, more cutting delay tones.

Depth controls how far the modulation shifts the repeats, while Rate sets the speed of that modulation. Together, these controls let the RK2000 cover a wide range of movement, from slow, gentle motion to more dramatic and pronounced pitch-modulated textures. The Time control handles the delay offset and works with tap tempo for rhythmic applications and subdivision-based settings.

Hold and Mod: The Signature RK2000 Sound

What truly separates the Keeley RK2000 from standard delay pedals is the relationship between its Hold and Mod functions. Hold captures the current delay buffer for repeating playback, opening the door to sustained ambient textures and looping-style effects. Mod then introduces motion and pitch instability to the held sound, creating the signature “Funk Siren” voice players are chasing.

This interaction makes the RK2000 feel highly performative. Instead of simply switching the effect on and off, players can actively shape and manipulate the sound in real time. That makes it especially attractive to musicians who want their delay pedal to function as a creative instrument rather than just a utility effect.

Tap Tempo and Subdivisions for Live Use

For stage and rehearsal use, the RK2000 includes tap tempo functionality that allows players to dial in delay timing quickly and musically. Rhythmic subdivisions make it easier to match the pedal to different song feels, whether you want straight quarter-note repeats, dotted rhythmic textures, triplet movement, or tighter delay patterns that sit closer to the source signal.

This kind of timing control makes the RK2000 a strong fit not only for ambient players, but also for musicians who need a delay that can lock into a groove and become part of the rhythmic feel of a performance.

Presets for Stage and Studio

The RK2000 is built to do more than one trick. With onboard preset storage and expanded MIDI recall capability, it can serve as a flexible delay platform for players who need multiple sounds in a single set or session. That means you can move from subtle slapback-inspired movement to swirling ambient delay, then jump to a more dramatic pitch-shifted or modulated texture without having to manually reset controls between songs.

For guitarists using switchers, loop systems, or MIDI-based rigs, this level of recall adds serious practical value.

Expression Control and Remote Switching

Expression control gives the RK2000 another layer of performance flexibility. Players can use an expression pedal to sweep assigned settings in real time, creating evolving soundscapes, dynamic swells, or dramatic tonal changes while playing. This makes the pedal especially appealing for musicians who like to shape effects on the fly rather than rely on static settings.

Remote switching support also helps the RK2000 integrate into more elaborate pedalboard setups, allowing players to control important functions externally and streamline their workflow in live environments.

Stereo Operation, Ping Pong, and Rig Flexibility

The stereo architecture of the RK2000 makes it ideal for players who want a wider, more immersive delay experience. Ping-pong textures create motion across the stereo field, while pitch-shifted delay movement adds dimension and personality. This can make a huge difference in larger rigs, stereo amplifiers, direct recording setups, and atmospheric pedalboards where space and movement are part of the sound.

The pedal also includes startup and routing flexibility that helps it adapt to a variety of performance needs, whether you are running a simple mono setup or building a more advanced stereo or wet/dry rig.

MIDI for Advanced Pedalboard Integration

For players using modern MIDI-controlled systems, the RK2000 includes full MIDI capability for preset recall and parameter control. This makes it easy to integrate into complex switching systems, synchronize changes across multiple pedals, and access a larger range of sounds in a controlled, repeatable way. It is an especially strong choice for serious pedalboard builders, touring players, and studio musicians who need both unique tone and dependable control.

Power and Performance

The Keeley RK2000 Funk Siren Delay operates on 9–18V DC and requires 150mA of current. That gives players flexibility when powering the pedal while still offering the performance and headroom expected from a premium modern delay unit. Its compact footprint and advanced feature set make it a practical alternative to large vintage rack units and a strong addition to modern pedalboards.

Who the Keeley RK2000 Is For

The RK2000 is an excellent choice for players chasing Trey-inspired ambient delay sounds, but it also reaches far beyond that niche. It is ideal for guitarists who want a premium stereo delay with modulation, musicians building ambient or post-rock pedalboards, players who rely on MIDI and presets, and anyone looking for delay tones that feel animated, expressive, and musically alive.

It is also a great fit for musicians who love the idea of rare vintage-inspired effects but want something more reliable, compact, and stage-ready.

BuyOrBorrow Music Take

The Keeley Electronics RK2000 Funk Siren Delay is one of the most distinctive delay pedals to hit the market in recent memory. It offers a sound with real history and personality, but packages it in a format that works beautifully for modern players. With Hold, Mod, stereo operation, tap tempo, presets, expression control, and MIDI, the RK2000 delivers both iconic inspiration and real-world functionality.

For players who want swirling ambient loops, tape-like instability, expressive pitch movement, and a delay pedal that feels like an instrument in its own right, the RK2000 is a standout choice.

Specs

• Stereo delay pedal

• Inspired by the legendary DM2000 “Funk Siren” style delay sound

• True stereo input and output

• Delay time range from 1ms to 1023ms

• Hold function for infinite repeat-style textures

• Mod function for pitch-shifting, warble, and movement

• Tap tempo with subdivisions

• Preset storage

• MIDI control and preset recall

• Expression pedal support

• Remote switching support

• Ping-pong and pitch-shifted stereo delay sounds

• Power requirement: 9–18V DC

• Current draw: 150mA