The Clouds Hill ECHO Floppy Disc Delay is a delay pedal whose heart is not tape, an analog BBD chip or a DSP, but a 3.5-inch floppy disc. Unveiled in April 2016, it takes the classic tape delay design and swaps the tape loop for a floppy, aiming at the kinds of tones that once needed tape heads and tape. Each unit is hand-made in Germany by Clouds Hill, so numbers are very limited1.
How a floppy disc makes a delay
The idea came from Clouds Hill, who wanted to make a tape echo pedal; NB-Instrument came up with the solution of using floppies instead of tape, and it was NB-Instrument who developed the pedal and builds them1. The audio section is designed, in the maker's words, "the old fashioned way, only discrete transistors, no op-amps or integrated circuits," while a digital motor control drives the disc and, as the maker puts it, "adds a variety of possibilities unthinkable in the days of Echolette and Cop"1.
"This design plus the unique magnetic properties of the floppy disk create a very authentic tape echo sound."
Controls
The controls follow the metaphor of an aging tape machine rather than the usual delay, repeats and tone knobs1:
- Acceleration and brake, for speeding up and slowing down the disc
- Tape machine "age simulation" for extra wow and flutter
- Random tape machine error simulation effect
What reviewers heard
gearnews.com's reviewer, judging by the demos available at launch, said the ECHO "sounds very similar to these" classic tape delay tones "to my ear"1. The pedal sits apart from other delays by using a floppy disc instead of tape, analog BBD or DSP technology to achieve its take on a delay1.
Availability
At launch in April 2016 the units were available for preorder, with numbers 2 through to 9 up for preorder at the time of the report1.
The ECHO is a very limited, hand-built pedal. The price given at launch was EUR €1999 RRP in April 20161.
Videos
Clouds Hill Music
Clouds Hill Music
Soundgas
Questions
How does the Clouds Hill ECHO use a floppy disc to make a delay?
The pedal is built on the classic tape delay design, but instead of tape heads and tape it records the signal onto a 3.5-inch floppy disc and plays it back to create the repeats. The maker says the design, together with the magnetic properties of the floppy disc, produces a very authentic tape echo sound. The audio section is built from discrete transistors with no op-amps or integrated circuits, while a digital motor control drives the disc.
What is the delay time range of the Clouds Hill ECHO?
The ECHO offers between 6 ms and 1.6 seconds of delay time, according to gearnews.com's report on the pedal's launch.
Is the Clouds Hill ECHO analog or digital?
It is neither a conventional analog nor digital delay. Instead of tape, analog BBD chips or DSP technology, it uses a floppy disc as the delay medium. The audio path is discrete transistor design, but the motor that drives the disc is digitally controlled.
Who designed the Clouds Hill ECHO?
The pedal was a collaboration: Clouds Hill had the idea to make a tape echo pedal, and NB-Instrument came up with the solution of using floppies instead of tape. NB-Instrument developed the pedal and builds the units by hand in Germany.
Can the Clouds Hill ECHO be controlled with a footswitch or control voltage?
Yes. The effect can be controlled by a footswitch and also has inputs for control voltage, which opens it up to modular and external control setups.
Where is the Clouds Hill ECHO made?
Each unit is hand-made in Germany by Clouds Hill, which keeps the numbers very limited.
Sources (1)
- Unique and boutique: Clouds Hill launch ECHO Floppy Disc Delay, gearnews.com, 2016-04-26