catalinbread Belle Epoch+ Tape Echo

An upgrade in every way imaginable from the original Belle Epoch, Belle Epoch+ offers a classic Echoplex emulation with tap tempo functionality, soft touch switching, three different tape-age programs, better bypass options, a more robust preamp and buffer, higher dynamic range and longer delay times.

This is our first compact delay with full tap tempo functionality and numerous upgrades to our flagship tape echo simulator. After much research and development, Belle Epoch+ is the best version yet. Tapping beats is now easier than ever. Press and hold the footswitch to enter tap mode, and hold it again to enter tap bypass mode. Beyond the tap tempo circuit, Belle Epoch+ offers more headroom, a redesigned mix control, improved buffer bypass, noise gate, and better impedance specifications for rig integration. The preamp has been tuned to offer a higher dynamic range with the same feel and response as the original Echoplex preamp, delivering the more hi-fidelity, sparkling tone you'd expect from classic circuits. Additionally, we've expanded the feature set with three additional modes to simulate the aging of the virtual tape. Experience a variety of conditions, from a pristine "fresh from the factory" Echoplex to a dusty Echoplex that's been sitting in the attic for 40 years. Experience the next generation of the classic Echo unit!


SUSTAIN: Controls the amount of signal fed back into the delay line, increasing or decreasing the number of repeats. Lowering this value creates a harsh slapback delay, while increasing it creates a longer continuous repeat. Extreme settings can lead to self-oscillation.

MIX: Adjusts from 100% dry (signal going into Belle Epoch+) to 100% wet (delay signal only). On the original Belle Epoch, this control was active even in buffered bypass mode, but is now disabled.

TAPE FX: The "wow and flutter" associated with tape echo is what distinguishes it from a regular delay. This control adjusts the amount of "tape vibrato" in the repeats.

REC LEVEL: This control controls how hard the preamp hits the delay line, affecting the first repeat. This creates a measurable initial "attack" as the repeat decays. This control also includes a tape saturation circuit that emulates the crunch sound achieved with the EP-3. Turning the level up gives you a thick, high-gain initial burst, while turning the level down gives you an organic echo that sits a little lower in the mix and accentuates leads and solos.

ECHO DELAY: Controls the delay time, giving you a rich tape delay of up to approximately 900ms. Turning this knob in TAP mode returns the delay time to the knob position.


Adapter: Center negative DC9V
Current consumption: 200mA
Controls: SUSTAIN, TAPE FX, REC LEV, MIX, ECHO DELAY
3-way switch: PRG 1/2/3