strymon - Strymon EC-1 Single Head dTape Echo – Deep Dive with Sound Designer Pete Celi
The EC1 pedal is inspired by the El Capistan and Echoplex EP series, offering a single head tape echo effect. It features a constant tape speed with a movable record head to vary delay time. The pedal includes familiar controls like time, mix, tape age, repeats, and mechanics, along with a three-way switch for recording and bias levels. This allows users to achieve clean or saturated repeats. The EC1 also offers preamp modeling options, including a modded EP2 preamp and the original EP22 preamp, with adjustable boost levels. The pedal supports USB-C, TRS MIDI, stereo input/output, and independent channel processing. It provides a wide range of delay times from 50 milliseconds to one second and allows for seamless tap tempo adjustments with subdivisions. The EC1 can be used as a standalone preamp, making it a versatile tool for musicians seeking classic tape echo sounds with modern flexibility.
Key Points:
- EC1 pedal inspired by El Capistan and Echoplex EP series for classic tape echo effects.
- Features include time, mix, tape age, repeats, mechanics controls, and a three-way switch for recording/bias levels.
- Offers preamp modeling with modded and original EP2 preamps, adjustable boost levels.
- Supports USB-C, TRS MIDI, stereo input/output, and independent channel processing.
- Provides delay times from 50ms to 1s, seamless tap tempo with subdivisions, and can function as a standalone preamp.
Details:
1. 🎸 Unveiling the EC1 Pedal: A Modern Echo Classic
- The EC1 pedal is inspired by the El Capistan and Echoplex EP series of mechanical tape units, highlighting its heritage and design influences.
- An exceptionally clean EP2 tube Echoplex from the 60s, serviced by renowned technician Caesar Diaz, was used as a model for the EC1, incorporating both original and modded preamp models.
- Key feature includes the ability to vary delay time by physically moving the record head, while maintaining a constant tape speed, mimicking the mechanical operation of classic echo units.
2. 🔧 Mastering EC1 Controls: Time, Tone, and Bias
- The EC1 includes familiar controls with time and mix settings on the top row, and tape age, repeats, and mechanics on the bottom row, allowing for precise sound customization.
- A three-way switch manages the recording level and bias level of the signal recorded to the virtual tape:
- Low setting (0 dB boost) for clean and clear repeats, suitable for more transparent soundscapes.
- Middle setting (6 dB boost) adds saturation, ideal for slightly distorted, warmer tones.
- High setting (12 dB boost) maximizes saturation, perfect for heavily colored, vintage tape effects.
- Secondary controls for the preamp offer three choices: no preamp modeling, modded preamp (from EP2), and original unmodded EP2 schematic, providing flexibility in tonal character.
- The preamp level ranges from 0 dB to 6 dB maximum boost, allowing dynamic changes in preset patches, enhancing versatility for different musical contexts.
3. 🛠️ Cutting-Edge Features: Independent Channel Processing
- The newest member of the 1fs family includes cutting-edge features such as USBC and TRS midi, enhancing connectivity options.
- It supports TRS stereo input and output, accommodating diverse audio equipment setups.
- The device offers three presets and full MIDI control of all parameters, allowing for extensive customization and control.
- Features a discrete JAT input circuit, which contributes to high-quality audio processing.
- Each channel processes audio independently, ensuring no interaction between the left and right channels, which enhances audio clarity and separation.
4. 🎚️ Exploring Preamp Dynamics: Modded vs. Original
- The modded preamp in the EP2 is designed to resemble the later EP3 preamp by reducing the natural high shelf present in the original circuit, which results in a fuller and more balanced sound profile.
- Users can isolate the preamp effect by setting the mix to minimum, allowing for precise audio testing without echo interference.
- The modded preamp improves both tonal quality and the overall feel, providing a more responsive and weighty sound experience.
- A built-in feature of the modded preamp is a 3dB boost at the midpoint of the foot switch, enhancing volume control and sound projection.
- Compared to the original, the modded preamp offers a significant tonal difference, specifically in its ability to add weight and fullness to the sound, which can be particularly beneficial for musicians seeking a richer audio experience.
5. 🎛️ Fine-Tuning Delay: From Clean to Saturated Echoes
- Delay time on EC1 ranges from 50 milliseconds to one full second, allowing for a wide range of echo effects.
- Starting with a low recording level helps maintain clean repeats by reducing tape age and mechanics, creating a well-tuned system.
- Increasing mechanics introduces slight wow and flutter differences in the two channels, enhancing stereo field naturalness.
- The first half of the mechanics knob adjusts wow and flutter without introducing tape crinkle artifacts, allowing for clean repeats.
- Moving past the midpoint on the mechanics knob introduces tape crinkle and capstan artifacts, adding character to the repeats.
- The settings capture the sound characteristics of the EP2 unit, particularly when tape age is minimized and mechanics are adjusted.
- Further increasing mechanics emphasizes wild flutter and tape artifacts, enriching the echo texture.
6. 🎵 Sonic Texture: Tape Age and Mechanic Effects
6.1. Introduction to Tape Age Effects
6.2. Impact of Record Level Switch
6.3. Signal Path and Saturation Control
6.4. Maintaining Sonic Wash
7. 🔄 Preamp Versatility: Tailoring Your Tone
- Preamp settings are adjusted using the foot switch and repeat knob, with color indicators: red for no preamp, amber for modded ep2, and green for original ep22.
- No preamp model provides a straight signal without boost, ideal for a clean, unaltered tone.
- The original ep22 preamp increases high frequency shelf, enhancing harmonics and presence, ideal for humbuckers needing brightness.
- The modded ep2 preamp reduces high frequency shelf, adding weight, suitable for Strat single coils needing depth.
- Tape age and mechanics settings do not alter preamp signal, ensuring clarity in preamp adjustments.
8. ⏱️ Timing Mastery: Tap Tempo and Subdivision Control
- EC1 device allows users to enter tap mode by pressing and holding the foot switch for one second.
- In tap mode, seamless tap tempo adjustments can be made, and users can set tap tempo subdivisions.
- The LED flashing blue-red indicates the device is in tap tempo mode.
- Users can set tap subdivisions by changing the time knob, starting from the default quarter notes.
- Subdivision options include dotted eighth notes, eighth notes, and triplets.
- To exit tap tempo mode, press and hold the foot switch for a second, returning to manual time operation.
9. 📦 EC1 in Action: A Comprehensive Feature Recap
- EC1 incorporates dtape technology into a compact pedal design, maintaining the Heritage and lineage of 1fs pedals.
- The pedal features simple, easy-to-use controls with stereo in and out capabilities.
- It offers independent processing per channel, enhancing audio control and flexibility.
- Includes models from the EP2 unit and seamless tap tempo functionality with tap tempo divisions.
- Variable record level capability, allowing it to be used as a standalone preamp.