T-Rex tape echo User Manual - page 7
HELPFUL HINTS
Sound quality:
As the motor´s speed is increased, so is the high frequency content of the delays. Con-
versely, if the motor is running at a slow speed, there will be a high frequency loss. The
Replicator has auto-compensation for this, in order to deliver the best sound quality at
any motor speed (delay time).
However, there will be some treble loss as the delay time approaches maximum. In
the old days, players would hear this when they modified their tape echos by slow-
ing down the (fixed) motor speed. Because the Replicator works on the exact same
principle, so will you.
This is just one of the many quirks that makes a tape echo stand out from other delay
designs and we encourage you to take advantage of this “split personality” by using it
musically and creatively.
Tap Tempo:
The minimum delay time that can be tapped is 250ms. Therefore we do not recom-
mend using tap tempo for setting short delay times, because the pedal will ignore
anything below 250ms. If you want to dial in a short delay that is in sync with the song
you are playing, you should adjust the delay time manually by turning the delay time
knob or by using an expression pedal.
Alternately, you can tap in a tempo that is twice as long as what you want and switch
to Head2(red) mode.
That will make the delay time half as long as the tapped tempo, but since the needed
delay time is twice as short, you end up with the right delay time that is in sync with
the tempo of the song.
The shortest delay time available is then 125ms. (Head2).
Saturation/Delay level:
The Saturation knob works like an input level control for the delays and the Delay
level knob works like an output level control, so turning one of them up will make the
delays louder (unless you saturate the record head). If turning the Delay Level up does
not give you enough effect, please check if the Saturation knob is set too low.
Delay Time/Feedback:
You can create various effects by turning these knobs in real-time. For example, if the
feedback is turned to maximum, the oscillation that occurs can be swept up and down
in pitch by the Delay Time knob.
To make this a bit easier to do while playing, the player can control these parameters
from expression pedals connected to the Replicator.
For best results, the feedback should be turned up right after the note(s) you want to
oscillate has been played. If the delays ring out before you turn the knob, the oscilla-
tion will be dirtier, noisier and not as evident.
Chorus:
The Replicator´s chorus effect is created by modulating the pitch of the delay signal.
As the delays ring out, the pitch of the notes will go up and down, much like using the
vibrato bar on an electric guitar. On older tape echo units, this modulation was caused
by wear and tear on the tape echo parts. On the Replicator, it is built in deliberately.
The effect is most effective when long, sustained notes are played at higher delay
level settings. When playing staccato notes or setting the delay level low, the chorus
will not be as audible.
The effect should be used to add some color or “movement” to the sound, and should
not be mistaken for a dedicated chorus unit.