A Timeless Classic Reborn

Experience the dreamy sound of a classic ‘60s tape echo complete with the harmonic richness of the accompanying tube preamp. Enjoy organic and ethereal modulation produced by countless subtle mechanical imperfections, and easily dial in anything from warm slapback to expansive echo feedback beds with a strikingly gorgeous stereo image. With beautifully-tuned low frequency response, lush tape saturation and sublime echo decay, EC-1 provides all the best of what a tube driven tape echo can deliver.

Sound Design:

• Preamp - Input Signal Enhancer. Featuring meticulous tube modeling techniques, EC-1 offers a choice of two authentically reproduced preamp circuits that lend a subtle vintage character to your input signal. One is based on the classic EP-2 tube preamp and features an enhanced high-end shelf perfect for brightening up darker humbuckers. The other preamp option (the default setting) produces a warm, balanced response based on the modded preamp circuit in the EP-2 unit that Strymon studied during the development of EC-1. This option adds a pleasing sense of heft, especially to single-coils. Both preamp choices offer an optional boost of up to +6dB, or the preamp can be bypassed for an unprocessed dry signal if desired.
• dTape - Tale of the Tape. Strymon's unique dTape technology was first developed for El Capistan, and they have expanded on it to reproduce all the inspiring nuances encountered while studying a recently-acquired tube Echoplex that was in uncommonly superb condition. The dTape system allows precise replication of every aspect of every tape echo studied, and in EC-1 this includes the effect of the moving head, the tape condition, the bias setting, the mechanical effects of motors, capstan slippage and all the irregularities that add up to create the unmistakable, inspiring sound of vintage tape echo repeats.
• Record Level - Satisfying Saturation. Whether you want the cleanest repeats, subtle fattening or even downright dirty echos, you can instantly dial in the desired amount of tape saturation with the flip of a switch. Providing pleasing tonal shifts from thinner to fatter, EC-1’s three-way Record Level toggle switch selects the gain of the signal fed into the virtual record head. Choose the low position for unity gain with optimized bias for the cleanest repeats, medium for a 6dB input signal boost with increased bias for slightly saturated repeats, or high for a 12dB input signal boost with further increased bias for heavily saturated repeats. This control also gives you a fast and easy way to match EC-1’s response to your input signal level to obtain the desired sound from any pickup type or pedalboard configuration.
• Mechanics - The Beauty of Imperfection. For EC-1, fluctuations from motors and mechanical components were thoroughly studied to accurately capture their imperfections. At the lower end of the Mechanics control’s range only slower motor-related wow and flutter are present, but at around one o’clock these fluctuations are reduced in favor of faster disturbances from crinkle, splices, and capstan slippage which accurately replicate the sound of the golden EP-2 unit. This setting can create uniquely reverberant and three-dimensional echos that spread across the stereo spectrum. The slower fluctuations are mixed back in more prominently as you approach the maximum Mechanics setting, and the unique combination of multiple imperfections create truly gorgeous, organic stereo modulation effects unlike anything you’ve ever heard.
• Tape Age - Mature Media. The frequency characteristics of tape echo repeats are determined in part by the bandwidth of the actual tape stock, so older tapes will have a lower bandwidth with a warmer top end. EC-1 allows you to faithfully reproduce these characteristics by turning up the Tape Age knob for warmer repeats, or turning it toward minimum for the full-bandwidth sound of fresh tape.
• Repeats - Custom Vibe. EC-1 is designed to allow high levels of repeats that are truly lush but that don’t spiral into uncontrollable feedback. That wide sweet spot on the edge of runaway feedback can create intriguing sound beds under your lead or rhythm playing. Of course if you want to crank the Repeats control to maximum and play with the unique pitch effects that only a sliding record head tape echo can produce, those effects are all precisely replicated in sound and response.

Features:

• MIDI - Limitless Possibilities. EC-1 features full MIDI implementation and 300 presets, allowing you to control it remotely by sending MIDI commands from your controller or DAW via the EXP/MIDI jack or USB-C connection. Remotely bypass or engage the pedal, automate Speed or other knob adjustments in your DAW or recall unique presets for each song on your setlist — the possibilities with MIDI are limitless.
• True / Buffered Bypass - Choose Your Bypass Mode. EC-1 lets you choose between electromechanical relay-switched true bypass for a 100% untouched and unprocessed signal when the pedal is not engaged (which is the default), or Strymon's premium buffered bypass, which preserves your signal’s integrity by preventing the high frequency roll-off that can happen due to longer cable runs.
• JFET Input - Analog Touch. Uncompromised dynamics and feel. Exceptional touch sensitivity and responsiveness. EC-1 feels just as good as it sounds, thanks to a high-impedance, ultra-low noise and discrete Class A JFET preamp input.
• Stereo - Moving In Stereo. EC-1 features full stereo in and out capabilities, processing incoming stereo signals independently so that you can place it anywhere in your stereo effects chain. It can also receive mono input and still produce stereo output if you’d like to use it as the stereo origin point of your signal path. EC-1’s single TRS input and TRS output allows for stereo operation while maintaining a compact form factor. A dedicated rear panel Input switch allows you to determine the audio routing, selecting between Mono In → Mono Out, Mono In → Stereo Out, or Stereo In → Stereo Out (stereo in and out requires a TRS cable for each jack).
• ARM Processor - Power To The Pedal. An evolution in technology led by mobile phones and laptop computers now allows Strymon pedals to perform more simultaneous processes than ever before, and with significantly less power draw. That means more processing power for every sonic nuance, and less power consumption on your pedal board.
• Tap Tempo - March To Your Own Beat. Tapping in tempos with EC-1 works in a seamless way that would be impossible with a real tape echo. Confidently tap your tempos with no pitch shifting, no clicks, ramps or mutes. All the unique sliding head tape echo pitch-shifting effects are always available when setting tempo with the Time knob, but when tapping tempo EC-1 changes to new values smoothly and keeps you in the groove. Once a tempo has been tapped in, you can use the Time knob to set the Tap Division for triplet, eighth, dotted eighth, or quarter note resolution.

For more detailed specifications and audio examples, click here.