You want to talk retro? Let's talk retro. Back in the days, before digital delays and multi-FX boxes became a must, a serious guitarist's rig wasn't complete unless he had a tape-driven echo box. Analog tape. That brown-gray stuff that they used in recording studios. These temperamental beasts required a lot of maintenance.

The tape would also regularly jam up and die mid-gig. But everybody put up with the hassle because of the glorious effect that the grainy, yet pleasing tape gave. And you could overdub on the thing as well, allowing you to play instant duets with yourself. Everybody went digital, but there was nothing like the old box.

Akai remembers. They've figured out a way to digitally simulate a tape echo box with 4 heads. All the old sounds, none of the old hassle. Choose delay times from 10ms to 5.9 seconds, and adjust the "head gap" for delay time between heads. Switch on the HF Damp to simulate the analog delay sound.

If you wish to use this pedal as a regular digital delay, no problem, just change the configuration. The 2 footswitches are multi-functional, depending on which mode you are in. One of the right switch's functions is dynamic delay control - just tap the switch twice to set the delay time.

There are 4 outputs to simulate the 4 taps of the "recording heads." And last but not least, you can slip into "looping recorder" mode which allows you to do on-the-fly recording and playback up to 11.9 seconds. Bash out a chord sequence, then play over it.… read more Shred out a scale, and then play harmony with yourself. Get the picture?

Ambient musicians, place your orders now, because this is the piece you've been waiting for. And, we must say it: all you flower-power veterans who long for the days of the gray box full of brown spaghetti, this box will bring a tear to your eye.

Features
16-bit Digital Delay - Delay time from 0.5ms to 23.8 sec

Tape Echo mode with 4 tape-head parallel outputs for amplifier or mixer inputs

Simulates an analog 4-head tape echo machine

Looping Recorder with overdub mode - powerful tool for solo performances

Max. Recording time is 11.9 sec for loop (overdub) recording

HEAD GAP adjusts the delay time between the heads

Delay time is from 10ms to 5.9 sec

HF Damp simulates an analog delay sound

Feedback sets the feedback level for repeat times

Ratio allows adjustment of wet and dry mix

Dynamic delay control - sets delay time by tapping footswitch twice

True Bypass read less