Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo Pedal V2 Overview
The El Capistan’s second-generation delivers the warm, saturated tape echoes that made the original a hit and boasts a range of upgrades, giving you enhanced usability and processing power.
El Capistan provides three different tape machine types in one pedal, each with three unique modes and extensive control over tape quality, machine health and tone shaping. Go from the full-range sonic stability of a fresh-from-the-factory echo machine to the heavily fluctuating sound of a road-worn unit in need of service. Enjoy the full-bodied sound of fresh tape, or dial in the dark, gnarled and vibey qualities of worn-out tape.
Strymon’s meticulously handcrafted dTape™ technology and powerful ARM DSP give you a range of tape experiences that would be unattainable with a single traditional tape machine. Plus you get sound on sound looping, all without the headaches of tape machine maintenance and repair.
What’s new in El Capistan version 2?
Spring Reverb
Some classic tape echo machines included small integrated spring reverb tanks tuned for limited bandwidth. For El Capistan, Strymon captured this vintage vibe while creating a spring reverb algorithm with a gorgeous, gentle character that stands on its own, in addition to enhancing delayed signals.
Hardware Improvements
A premium analogue JFET input circuit ensures superb responsiveness to your playing, and you can select mono or stereo input with the flick of a rear panel switch. All this, plus a new ARM DSP chip provides more processing power for every sonic nuance, with less energy consumption on your pedalboard.
MIDI
Full MIDI implementation means you can control just about every switch, knob, and setting remotely by sending MIDI commands from your controller or DAW via El Capistan’s EXP/MIDI jack or USB-C connection. Delay time can be synchronized via MIDI Clock Sync, and the sync setting can be saved for each preset. 300 MIDI preset locations are available for loading and saving your favourite settings.
Echo Through Eternity.
Classic single-note slapback. Rhythmic multi-head delays. Ambient, washed-out echoes that dissolve into waves of noise. El Capistan’s three different tape machines provide a huge variety of vintage delay sounds, offering unique functionality depending on what the Mode switch is set to.
Take Control.
A full suite of traditional delay controls makes El Capistan a practical addition to any board. Set your preferred delay time using the dedicated Time knob, and dial in everything from snappy slapback delays to long, spacious echoes. Need to dial it on the fly? Use the dedicated Tap switch to lock into your desired tempo without needing to turn a single knob.
The El Capistan was already a superb way to add authentic tape delay sounds to your pedalboard or studio setup - with new features such as full MIDI control, an analogue JFET input circuit and powerful ARM DSP processing it’s a huge step up from its predecessor.
- Hand crafted dTape algorithms deliver meticulous, nuanced reproductions of every stage of analogue tape delays
- Three tape machines in one: Fixed (one fixed playback head), Multi (multiple playback heads), and Single (sliding record head)
- Sound on Sound mode with instant tape splice and bulk erase. A built-in tape-style looper!
- Independent control of ‘tape speed’ for each head and independent control of head position; aperture-related bandwidth effects and frequency scaling of mechanical wow and flutter
- Bias level adjustment
- Five tape adjustment and tone shaping knobs: Time, Mix, Tape Age (!) Repeats, Wow & Flutter
- Super low noise, high perf. 24/96kHz A/D, D/A with 115dB signal to noise
- Analog dry path for a zero latency dry signal that is never converted to digital
- Dedicated Tap tempo and true bypass footswitches
- Expression pedal input with selectable control over any knob parameter
- TRS stereo input (with stunning new JFET preamp) and output, plus MONO/STEREO input switch on the back of the unit
- Full MIDI control, MIDI clock sync and 300 presets
- USB port for updates and MIDI over USB
- TRS MIDI jacks: allow bi-directional MIDI communication with a single cable using the Conduit interface
- Editor/librarian support via USB
- High impedance ultra low-noise discrete Class A JFET TRS stereo input.
- Low impedance independent TS stereo outputs.
- Expression pedal input allows the connection of a TRS expression pedal, MiniSwitch, MultiSwitch Plus, or TRS MIDI connection.
- USB jack for controlling via MIDI from a computer or for performing firmware updates.
- Dedicated tap tempo & On/Off footswitches
- Premium JFET analog front end
- Ultra low noise, high performance 24-bit 96kHz A/D and D/A converters provide uncompromising audio quality
- 520MHz ARM Superscalar processor
- 32-bit floating point processing
- 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response
- Audio Input Impedance: 1M Ohm
- Audio Output Impedance: 100 Ohm
- Strong and lightweight anodized dark gray aluminum chassis
- 9V DC power supply included
- Power requirements: maximum 9 volts DC center-negative, with a minimum of 300mA of current
- Dimensions: 4.5” deep x 4” wide x 1.75” tall / 11.4 cm deep x 10.2 cm wide x 4.4 cm tall
- Designed and built in the USA
