The Aalberg Audio EKKO EK-1 is a digital delay pedal with tap tempo, built around a clean delay sound and a ping-pong stereo option. It is part of the EKKO range, whose pedals each offer four different mono and stereo configurations, the EKKO's stereo speciality being ping-pong delay, where the repeats alternate between the two sides of a stereo setup1.
MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen summed it up as a "Basic digital delay with tap tempo, with an option to change delay times and more from your guitar"1.
Controls
The EKKO EK-1 keeps things simple with three knobs and a footswitch1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time | Sets the delay time, from very short to over a second |
| Feedback | Sets the number of repeats |
| Level | Blends in the delay signal up to a 1:1 ratio with the dry sound |
| FX Select footswitch | Operates as a tap tempo |
Sound and how it compares
The delay sound is clean, with a time range from very short to over a second1. Where it differs from many delays is in what it does not do: Curwen noted that "you'd be disappointed if you like to manipulate feedback for dub effects, because this one doesn't go off into self-oscillation like an analogue delay"1. Self-oscillation is the runaway, repeating build-up some analog delays produce when feedback is maxed, a sound dub players often chase. The Feedback knob here simply sets the number of repeats1.
The related Ekko Delay with the Aero wireless controller offers advantages in that you can call up different delay times quickly, an option the EKKO EK-1's basic format does not match1.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's verdict was mixed. On the plus side, Curwen called the delay sound clean1. On the limits:
"Not terribly versatile or feature packed."
He also observed that "we feel that players want more from their delay pedals these days - either a range of delay types or a particular sound like analogue delay or tape simulation"1. In other words, the EKKO EK-1 is a straightforward tap-tempo delay for players who want a clean repeat sound in mono or ping-pong stereo, rather than a multi-mode delay box. If you are comparing it against pedals with a wider spread of delay types, the delay pedals page covers the broader field.
Videos
Eirik Stordrange
Questions
Is the Aalberg Audio EKKO EK-1 analog or digital?
It is a digital delay. MusicRadar's review describes it as a basic digital delay with tap tempo, with knobs for Time, Feedback and Level. Reviewer Trevor Curwen noted that it does not go into self-oscillation the way an analog delay can when you push the feedback, so players who like dub-style runaway repeats will not find that here.
Does the EKKO EK-1 have tap tempo?
Yes. In the EKKO's default operation the FX Select footswitch operates as a tap tempo, so you can set the delay time by tapping in rhythm. The related Ekko Delay with the Aero wireless controller goes further, letting you call up different delay times quickly from your guitar.
Can the EKKO EK-1 run in stereo?
Yes. The pedals in the EKKO range offer four different mono and stereo configurations, and the EKKO's stereo speciality is ping-pong delay, where repeats bounce between the left and right outputs.
Does the EKKO EK-1 self-oscillate?
No. MusicRadar's reviewer found you would be disappointed if you like to manipulate feedback for dub effects, because the EKKO does not go off into self-oscillation like an analog delay. The Feedback knob sets the number of repeats.
How long can the delay time on the EKKO EK-1 go?
The delay time runs from very short to over a second, according to MusicRadar's review, which describes the delay sound as clean across that range.
Sources (1)
- Aalberg Audio EKKO EK-1 review, MusicRadar, 2016-08-13
