The Crazy Tube Circuits Echotopia is a retro tape echo style delay stompbox from the Greek pedal builder, presented at NAMM 2018 and shipping as of November 2018. It is mono in and stereo out, with four heads, each with its own mix/feedback control, so repeats can be spread across a stereo pair rather than stacked on a single output1. The name is fitting: Echotopia is the Greek word for soundscapes1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay time | 40 ms for head "I" up to 1200 ms for head "IV" |
| Echo feedback | Sets how repeats build and sustain |
| Mood | Tone of the repeats |
| Rate | Speed of the sine wave modulation |
| Depth | Amount of the sine wave modulation |
The modulation section adds movement to the repeats in the way tape machines drift and wobble, with rate and depth shaping a sine wave modulation1.
Stereo operation and bypass
The Echotopia runs in mono or stereo ping pong output operation. Internal switches set which head goes left or right, which lets a player decide how the four heads are distributed across the two outputs. The bypass is described as a smart true bypass mono/stereo operation: when the pedal is used in mono, it automatically puts all heads in the master output (L), so nothing is lost if only one output is connected1.
Footswitch and expression
A single footswitch handles tap tempo and instant oscillation, and there is an expression control for master mix or feedback. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio wrote that these "add extra flexibility" to the pedal1. Guitar Interactive Magazine, covering the pedal's unveiling, made a similar point about the footswitch: "The tap tempo/hold footswitch adds extra flexibility and makes the effect ideal for live situations"2.
Where it sits in the range
The Echotopia is one of several delays from Crazy Tube Circuits. The maker later released the TI:ME, a delay inspired by early digital delay units, and the Sidekick Reverb Delay Modulation, a multi-effect combining delay with reverb and modulation. Players comparing tape-style echoes against digital designs can see the wider field on the Delay Pedals page.
Videos
Pete Thorn
CrazyTubeCircuits
R.J. Ronquillo
Questions
How many heads does the Crazy Tube Circuits Echotopia have?
The Echotopia has four heads, each with its own mix and feedback control. Delay time runs from 40 ms for head I up to 1200 ms for head IV, and internal switches set which head goes to the left or right output in stereo operation.
Does the Echotopia work in stereo?
Yes. The pedal is mono in and stereo out, and it can run in mono or stereo ping pong output operation. Internal switches set which head goes left or right, and a smart true bypass mono/stereo operation automatically puts all heads in the master output (L) when the pedal is used in mono.
Can I use an expression pedal with the Echotopia?
Yes. The Echotopia has an expression control for master mix or feedback, which Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described as adding extra flexibility alongside the tap tempo and instant oscillation footswitch.
Does the Echotopia have tap tempo?
Yes. The pedal has a tap tempo and instant oscillation footswitch. Guitar Interactive Magazine, covering an earlier version of the pedal, described the tap tempo/hold footswitch as adding extra flexibility and making the effect ideal for live situations.
Is the Echotopia true bypass?
Yes. The pedal uses a smart true bypass mono/stereo operation that automatically puts all heads in the master output (L) when it is used in mono.
Sources (2)
- Crazy Tube Circuits Echotopia Tape Echo, Delicious Audio, 2018-11-05
- Crazy Tube Circuits Unveil New Pedals, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2017-01-22
