Strymon EC-1 [Single Head dTape Echo] (Strymon) Tape Echo

A Timeless Classic Reborn

The EC-1 recreates the classic 60s tape echo sound, with the rich overtones of a tube preamplifier, creating a dreamlike, floating sound.
Easily create any echo sound, from organic, dreamy modulations created by subtle mechanical imperfections, warm slapback to vast echo feedback beds with stunningly gorgeous stereo imaging.With perfectly tuned low frequency response, lush tape saturation, and sublime echo decay, the EC-1 delivers all the best that tube-pre-amp tape echo has to offer.
The ultra-low noise discrete analog JFET input circuitry provides excellent response to your playing, and the rear panel switch allows you to switch between mono-to-mono, mono-to-stereo, or stereo-to-stereo I/O. The ARM DSP chip also provides high processing power, consuming less power and accurately reproducing even the most subtle sound nuances.

●Preamp Input Signal Enhancer The EC-1 preamp employs meticulous vacuum tube modeling technology, allowing you to choose from two preamp circuits (modeling) that give the input signal an exquisite vintage feel.
One is based on the classic EP-2 tube preamp, with an enhanced high-end shelf perfect for brightening up dark humbucker sounds, while the other preamp option (default setting) is based on a modified preamp circuit from the EP-2 unit studied during the development of the EC-1, producing a warm, balanced response.
This option adds a nice weight, especially to single coils. Whichever preamp you choose, you can boost your tone up to +6dB, or you can bypass the preamp and output an unprocessed dry signal if desired.

●Strymon dTape System
Our proprietary dTape technology was first developed for El Capistan, and we further refined it to reproduce all the emotional nuances we encountered while studying a recently acquired, incredibly well-maintained tube Echoplex.
Our dTape system allows us to accurately replicate every aspect of all the tape echoes we've studied: in the EC-1, we include the effects of moving heads, tape conditions, bias settings, motor mechanical effects, capstan slippage, and all the other irregularities that add up to create the unmistakable, evocative sound of vintage tape echo.

●Record Level
Whether you want the cleanest repeats, subtle thickness, or downright dirty echo, you can instantly adjust tape saturation with the flip of a switch.
The three-position Record Level toggle switch adjusts the signal gain to the virtual recording head, from thin to thick, creating a pleasing transition in tone. The unity-gain low position optimizes bias for the cleanest repeats, while the medium position increases bias and boosts the input signal by 6dB for slightly saturated repeats. The high position boosts the input signal by an additional 12dB and increases bias for deeply saturated repeats.
This control also allows you to quickly and easily match the input signal level to the EC-1 to get the desired sound from any pickup type or pedalboard configuration.

Mechanics
With the EC-1, we thoroughly studied the variations in motors and mechanical parts and accurately identified their defects.
At the lower end of the Mechanics control range, only slow motor-related wow and flutter is reflected, but around 1 o'clock, these fluctuations diminish in favor of faster disturbances due to wrinkles, seams, and capstan slippage, accurately reproducing the sound of our EP-2 unit. This setting produces distinctively reverberant, three-dimensional echoes that span the entire stereo spectrum.
With the mechanics settings closer to maximum, the slower fluctuations become more prominent in the mix, and the unique combination of multiple imperfections produces some truly gorgeous, organic stereo modulation effects unlike anything I've heard before.

Tape Age
The frequency response of the echo repeats is determined in part by the bandwidth of the particular tape, with older tapes having narrower bandwidths and a sweeter, warmer sound in the high frequencies.
The EC-1 faithfully reproduces these characteristics by turning up the Tape Age control for warm repeats, or at its minimum setting for the full bandwidth sound of pristine tape.

Repeats
The EC-1 is designed to produce extremely rich, high levels of repeats, yet without causing uncontrollable feedback.
The wide sweet spot just above and below outgoing feedback creates a captivating background for lead and rhythm playing, and even if you turn the repeat control all the way up and play along with the unique pitch effects that only a sliding recording head tape echo can produce, these effects are accurately reproduced in both sound and response.

Spec
TRS MIDI/Exp jack for connecting and controlling external devices. Full MIDI support, with 300 presets and real-time parameter control. Full stereo I/O via TRS jacks. Seamless TAP tempo functionality. USB-C for DAW MIDI control and firmware updates. Ultra-low noise, high-performance 24-bit 96kHz AD/DA converters. 32-bit floating-point processing. Typical S/N ratio: 116dB.
9V DC power supply, center negative, minimum current 250mA
・Designed and built in the USA