Universal Audio
EP-34 Tape Echo
Creates Echoplex-style tape echoes, slapback, and self-oscillating delay effects with input coloration, adjustable tape-head timing, and wet-signal tone controls.
GUI Screenshot
From My Notebook
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The Overview
A Tape Echo You Can Perform
EP-34 Tape Echo models the delay, input coloration, pitch movement, and feedback behavior associated with vintage Echoplex units. Its delay slider acts like a moving record head: changing time during playback is part of the effect, not merely a neutral adjustment.
Recording Volume and the input sensitivity switch determine how hard the echo path is driven. Bass and Treble then shape the repeats without changing the dry source. The modeled dry path still has circuit character when Echo Volume is at minimum.
Practical Setup
Set delay time first, add Echo Repeats for the desired feedback, and bring up Echo Volume while listening in context. The original-style volume taper is intentionally uneven, so the midpoint is not a conventional equal wet/dry blend.
Use Wet on an auxiliary return; leave it off when blending within a track insert. Send can stop new audio entering the echo while existing repeats continue. Automated Send, time, and feedback changes make the processor useful for throws and dub-style transitions as well as conventional echoes.
Source: Manual - EP-34 Controls.
The Controls
Echo Timing and Feedback
- Echo Delay: Both slider handles adjust the same delay, from 80 to 700 ms.
- Echo Display: Shows the current time and accepts direct entry.
- Sync: Converts time to host-tempo note values. Parenthesized values indicate requests outside the available time range.
- Echo Repeats: Sets feedback. Minimum produces a single repeat; high settings can self-oscillate, including without a continuing input signal.
- Tension: Changes the response to moving Echo Delay. LO gives faster, snappier pitch transitions; HI makes them slower.
Drive and Tone
- Recording Volume: Sets the level recorded into the tape delay and therefore its distortion.
- Input LO/HI: Selects instrument-like or higher-gain microphone-like sensitivity. HI can be dirtier and can produce a large level jump.
- Input Meter: Indicates recording level; use it while setting the drive controls.
- Bass / Treble: Cut or boost low/high frequencies in the wet signal, each by up to 10 dB. They do not EQ the dry source.
Blending and Placement
Echo Volume sets how strongly the repeats are heard. Its hardware-style taper places a roughly equal blend high in the knob's travel rather than at noon.
Echo Pan positions only the wet echo; it is unavailable in a mono-output instance.
Wet removes the dry signal for send/return use and overrides Echo Volume. Check levels before switching, since the perceived output can jump.
Send stops new signal entering the echo when switched off. This differs from bypass: it allows existing feedback to continue.
Power bypasses the complete processor. Keep feedback and listening level controlled when exploring self-oscillation.
Source: Manual - EP-34 Controls.