Echo Fix EF-X3 - Five Synth Sketches with Tape

video upload by Jay Hosking

"Please support my work on Patreon: / jayhosking
Five song sketches featuring the EF-X3 tape delay, chorus, and reverb.

00:00 - Ambient, with Take 5
02:57 - Drums, with LXR-02
05:47 - Brooding, with SH-101
07:20 - Acid, with TT-303
09:41 - Ambient, with MS-20

Fair warning: MAS Distribution sent over the EF-X3 for me, not quite for free (I had to pay some significant customs/duty/taxes from the border) but for far less than the full retail price.

Here, I explore the Echo Fix EF-X3, a real tape delay with analog chorus and spring reverb. My favourite feature of the EF-X3 is that it has discrete outputs for each of the four tape heads plus another output for chorus/reverb, which means you can get some incredibly stereo tape delay mixes with it. Here, I usually panned two heads full left/right, and two heads 50% left/right, with the dry out and chorus output slightly panned and near centre. Ages ago, I had an Akai Headrush and I always loved having such a ludicrous amount of outputs; it's exactly the same delight here.

But I have to say, using a real tape delay is unlike any digital emulation I've tried. It's less behaved and has more texture than I had expected. And while it shouldn't matter, seeing the tape running is a thrill. It's an incredible physical presence on the table, super solid and with beautiful wood on the sides.

No one needs a real tape delay, of course, just like no one needs an analog synth and no one needs hardware. But for someone who has loved those records with long, cascading tape delays, for someone who loves the physicality of hardware, I've felt incredibly lucky to have the EF-X3 up on the table.

Thanks for listening.

Recorded to a DAW as a multi-track (dry channel, chorus/reverb channel, and channels for each of the heads) and mixed afterward. No external effects on the sound. EQ, compression, and limiting on the master.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

Ambient modular jam into the Wesaudio Rhea tube compressor

video upload by Sonic Circuitry

"With this 500 series stereo channelstrip, featuring the WesAudio Rhea tube compressor, I’ve got a great sounding chain for recording my modular synth, needing no additional plugins to finalize the sound.

The Hermod+ is sequencing modules by Vostok, with a zlosynth Kaseta adding tape saturation/delay on one of the voices. Then into the Weston Audio mixer, Strymon Starlab adding reverb, and the right output channel goes through the Echo Fix EF-X3 before it hits the 500 series chain."

Note this is the first post to feature zlosynth instruments.



Kaseta is a multi-purpose module inspired by reel-to-reel tape machines. It simulates magnetic hysteresis to provide warm saturation, its four independent delay lines can be used to sculpt rhythms or feedback loops, and it offers wow and flutter control. The module also goes beyond typical tape machine features, with free-moving delays, trigger sequencing, and an internal oscillator.

While the module works perfectly well as a regular delay, its flexible interface can also be wired up to provide a variety of effects, sounds or CV sources. The following list summarizes its main features. To learn more, see the User Manual.

Aluminium panel with high-quality anodized finish
CNC engraved lettering
20 HP, skiff friendly
Delay with 4 reading heads
Tape saturation simulation
Wow and flutter effects
Stereo output
Up to five minutes of recording
Internal oscillator
Trigger sequencer
LEDs visualizing dialed parameters

Lush FX for Synth & Studios // Echo Fix Spring Reverb & Chorus Vibrato Pedals (EF-P2 & EF-P3)

video upload by DivKid

"Of course these are great plugging guitars straight in (I do a bit of that in the video) but playing with the Echo Fix EF-P2 Spring Reverb & EF-P3 Chorus Vibrato pedals has shown how they really shine on synths, modular and in studio settings.

This is a Pedals & Patches series video where I explore pedal FX with modular gear, synths and in the studio for creative use cases and musical applications. With these we have spring reverb on fifthy synths, on claps for dub style beats, creating ghoulish metallic drones and retro organ stabs. The Chorus Vibrato creates some ridiculous thick synth tones for a bass guitar, adds some tasty wonk to modular synth riffs and gives warm cuddly nostalgia flavour to a guitar. All the examples are in the timing index below, skip around as you like.

More info from Echo Fix here // https://echofix.com/collections/pedals"

Echo Fix EF-X3 Chorus Echo Tape Delay Sound Demo (no talking) with MEGAfm and SH-01a synthesizers

video upload by Limbic Bits

0:00 MEGAfm // Dub Chords 1 (slowly adding the other tape heads to the mix)
3:20 Percussive FM Plucks (Reverb and short delays)
4:20 Dub Chords 2
6:41 SH-01a // BOC Pad
8:30 Analog Bass (Chorus)
9:20 Preamp Overdrive
10:16 Lullaby Lead
14:08 Some Chords (Tape Stop)