Tape delay -ay-ay -ay...-ay-ay -ay...-ay-ay -ay

[giovanni]

Hi guys! I know we have the Hydra and the Sonomatic as DIY tape delays (are there more?), but I have been inclined to cave in and buy an actual digital tape delay. The option I am considering so far are the El Capistan (V1), Volante, Boss RE-202.

What do you guys think? Any favorites? Any others I haven't considered?

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

The hydra and sonomatic are both Echorec inspired, so neither is a tape style delay, but rather magnetic drum style delays

 

[Harry Klippton]

Digitech obscura is my favorite tape style delay, But don't tell anybody. You might also consider the belle epoch deluxe

 

[ADAOCE]

I’ve had a volante for about a week. It sounds great but I’m not sure I’m going to keep it because I think I’d rather have something else worth that much money for my uses. I haven’t really scratched the surface of it but it has a ton of sounds in it and the looper is actually pretty cool. If strictly tape is your thing the el cap might be a better option.

 

[Joben Magooch]

El Cap might be my favorite pedal ever but the Line 6 Echo Park is a close second...You can still find them for around $100 used and IMO it has no business being that good at that price

 

[sticky1138]

The best digital tape delay is the Boss DD-8

 

[bhcarpenter]

I’m fond of the Keeley Eccos. Huge amount of functionality for the form factor, but everything is right there on the knobs instead of buried in menus. Sounds killer as well.

 

[giovanni]

uhm so many options...

 

[SillyOctpuss]

It's hard to go wrong with the El Cap or the Belle epoch deluxe tbh.

 

[giovanni]

I’m slightly concerned about the preamps coloring the tone too much for either of those. Any thoughts on that?

 

[RetiredUnit1]

I used to have an actual reel to reel tape recorder with multiple playback heads, super high tech in the 70's

 

[giovanni]

I used to have an actual reel to reel tape recorder with multiple playback heads, super high tech in the 70's

Well, if I could afford it I would get a Roland Space Echo...

 

[Harry Klippton]

What is it about tape delay specifically that intersects you @giovanni ?

 

[giovanni]

Good question! I definitely like David Gilmour’s tones that use the space echo. From what I heard I like the multi head repeats and I like the idea of playing with the repeats tone/tape age and stuff like that. I always thought BBD delays were my favorites but after owning a few I realize tape style is probably more what I am envisioning. I tried a Volante in a store a while ago and I thought it was really good so that’s a strong contender. Hard to say at the end of the day until I actually own one and try it out for a while.

 

[iamjackslackof]

I managed to get a real tape T-Rex Replicator Jr. for the price of a new El Cap v2. Super happy with it.

 

[ADAOCE]

Mannnn so I snagged a source audio nemesis for under $200 bucks off reverb and my volante is already listed for sale. Volante does tape really well and you can really get into the details of specific tape and drum echo types but the nemesis is so much fun. The two tape algos are soooo good and all the other stuff is excellent as well. Sounds cliche but it’s hard to get a bad sound out of it. If you haven’t looked at one I would recommend it because they’re cheap and have so many features.


Side note source audio may become one of my favorite brands just due to the amount of tinkering they allow with their editors.