Tags: Delay effects units

Notes: Classy stuff from the London label's debut collab with one of our favourite synth brands. Classy stereo delay with analogue filtering and creamy valve distortion. Perfect for studio or live use.

Supplier's Notes:
Ninja Tune - an English independent record label based in London and Erica Synths have teamed up to create a custom dub delay effects unit, the Zen Delay.

Features
Controls: delay time, feedback, delay mod (5 presets), tap button, dry/wet, bypass switch, filter cutoff, resonance, drive, input level, filter mode

Inputs
Stereo In: 2x standard jack

MIDI In: standard MIDI socket

CV In: standard jack

Outputs

Stereo Out: 2 x standard jack

Delay times: 1-5000ms with 1/8...x8 of clock/tap rate in beat mode

Inspired by a trip to Berlin's trailblazing music hardware trade show Superbooth, Coldcut's Matt Black and longtime friend Dr Walker (Liquid Sky artist collective / Air Liquide) envisaged the exciting possibilities of a custom hardware effects unit. The result is the creation of the Zen Delay i the first-ever hardware effects unit produced in collaboration with an electronic music label.

Bringing together the best of the digital and analogue worlds, the Zen Delay is a BPM-synced stereo delay line, combining extreme feedback ranges for dub and experimental lo-fi effects with a multi-mode 24 dB synth filter and valve overdrive.

Created and manufactured by Erica Synths, the unit is housed in a metal case with Erica Synths' signature bakelite knobs and a valve circuit for extra analogue warmth. While sonically versatile, it is incredibly easy to use each function has a physical knob that you can play around with without diving into manuals or scrolling through menus on a tiny screen.

Crafted in close collaboration with DJs and producers, the Zen Delay was uniquely developed with both live and studio use in mind and is suitable for many different performance situations, musical styles and instruments. While most delay devices are designed as 'stomp boxes' for guitarists, the device is equally powerful in the hands of electronic music producers, artists and DJs, adding a unique, warm and powerful sonic character to drum machines, loops, vocals, synths, samples or any other source. Even full tracks or a live stereo mix can be enhanced by the combination of analogue and digital circuitry, breathing new life into iPad performances and giving traditional digital synths and drum machines a huge kick.

The Zen Delay is a product of our expertise on vacuum tube designs, our powerful, custom DSP platform and the great sound of our filter ICs made and developed in Latvia. It by far exceeded expectations in terms of how it sounds and feels when played. - Girts Ozolin

The Zen Delay is the analogue delay unit I've been waiting for. Stereo warmth, tone and texture. Perfect for live abusage, and studio madness love it - The Bug

The Zen excels at the sort of extreme dub possibilities Coldcut love. Feed it back! - Matt Black

For years I have dreamed of a state-of-the-art stereo valve dub delay for my MPC that perfectly masters all sound aesthetics from "badass" to "psychedelic hypnotically trashed" and now, have a look! There it is... the Zen Delay! - Dr Walker

Power: 12v (power supply for worldwide use is included)
In/Out levels: 3.2v peak to peak
DAC
114 dB dynamic range

-100dB THD+N

ADC
108 dB dynamic range

-98 dB THD+N

Dimensions: 21 x 15 x 5 cm
Weight: 870g

Notes: Digital delay meets analogue filtering in this versatile little effects box. Single-tap delay with loop option and clever time multiplication, plus low-pass and high-pass filters.

Supplier's Notes:
Digital delay settings combined with analog sound shaping

SPECIFICATIONS:

Audio output: impedance balanced 1/4" TRS Jack

Audio input: impedance balanced 1/4" TRS Jack

DC Input: 12VDC, 500mA, centre positive, 2.1mm*5,5mm barrel type connector

Dimensions: 145mm x 130mm x 60mm

12VDC 1A power supply included.

Notes: Ultra-characterful 80s grit from this unique stereo delay. The BIM's 12-bit circuitry gives all that vintage colour with modern features like perfect stereo balance, MIDI control and tap tempo.

Supplier notes:
BIM is a 12-bit stereo delay unit inspired by some studio delay processors built in the early 80s. These monophonic processors have been renowned for the quality and musicality of their sound. The processing was mainly analog (companders, limiters, low-pass filters, feedback path,...), and the signal was converted to digital just for the delay section, using 12-bit AD/DA converters and some RAM memory chips.

The advantage of this technology is particularly obvious when the sound is feedbacked many times through the whole analog and 12-bit circuitry. You'll hear a sweet degradation and dark damping that the 100% digital delay boxes can't offer. BIM was designed with the purpose of creating a unique, modern and versatile effects processor based on this 80's technology.

The sound of an old 12-bit digital delay has been mixed with modern features such as stereo processing, extra FXs, many user presets, MIDI control, tap tempo, compact size- therefore BIM is the best of both worlds!

BIM is the perfect companion for the musician, producer, sound engineer or live performer who is looking for a unique, warm and musical delay processor.

Notes: You've heard of parametric EQ, now meet the paranormal filter. Filter on steroids with experimental six-band EQ, delay and loads of LFO modulation. A powerful, creative take on a filter box.

Supplier's Notes:
Dementor Paranormal Filter is a powerful analogue filter with infinitive of option to modulate the sound, it's perfect to create field soundlandscape and introduce in the dark side of the sound with noise and harmonics feedback sounds.

The Dementor is a unique filter, EQ and delay that takes your signals and makes sure to add spice and character to your sound.

You send one or two signals through the machine by using the two independent signal inputs with level control. The special filter features cutoff and resonance control is LFO controlled - in fact, it's three LFOs for cut-off, resonance and time modulation. You also get an experimental six-band EQ called Nuances (not a usual EQ!) with level control and feedback. The echo/delay, is also LFO controlled.

Dimensions: 20 × 30 × 10 cm