The Analog Tape Delays of Jackpot! Recording Studio!
Adding echo in the old-fashioned way! -by Larry Crane
We have two dedicated tape delay units at Jackpot! Recording Studio. I say “dedicated” because, as some of you will know, any tape deck can become a tape delay if set up properly. If looking for tape delay units be careful these days, as many products are simply digital emulations of tape delays without the actual tape-based systems but seem happy to use the word “tape” with no compunction.
The Fulltone Tube Tape Echo (TTE) is based on the classic Echoplex units, and like the Space Echo it uses a 1/4-inch tape loop to record onto and playback. I don’t think this is in production anymore. The delay in both these types of units is created by the gap between the record and playback heads, and by varying the tape speed one can get longer or shorter echoes.
With the TTE you slide the Delay Time bar on the top which physically moves the repro tape head! By adjusting the Echo Repeats or Repeat Rate knobs we can feed the delay signal back into itself, causing more than a single echo to occur. Pushing it really far adds crazy regeneration, and then changing the tape speed can wobble the pitch. Check out this “dub-influenced” mix I did for Jerry Joseph to hear some extreme tape echo effects, starting around the 5 minute mark.
The Roland Space Echo RE-201 was the first tape delay unit Jackpot! purchased. I went over to Briz Loan & Guitar in Vancouver, WA, in the middle of a session (I think I drove over with Sam Coomes of Quasi) and found this tape delay for $250. They seem to go for at least $1000 more now.
The Space Echo has a multi-head echo system, so it can create some lusher, more reverb-y tones. It also has a tiny spring reverb built in. We had ours modded with a switch to allow Dry Cut so that the output is echo or spring only, as the original circuitry would blend in dry signal like a typical old school stomp box – something that sucks when mixing on a console or trying to record the effect only back into Pro Tools.
Overall, I have to admit this isn’t really my fave delay – I use the Fulltone TTE a lot more – but I know clients love the RE-201 and they always notice and talk about it first over the TTE. I really like being able to slide the tape head on the TTE to create pitchy wobbles, whereas the Space Echo varies the motor speed which results in a different outcome. But they are both real, fun, analog tape delays that can add a lot to any session!
Nothing like a real piece of tape. I missed the boat getting a space echo when they were affordable but picked up a wem recently and that’s fun (and noisy).